Soliciting newbies for BtS PBEM / Tech Thread

[Xenon]

I'd probably prefer asymmetrical, it's a bit boring exploring a mirrored/symmetrical/patterned map.

Seconded, as long as the mapper can keep it well balanced.

[Catwalk]

Maybe we should start discussing how the map should be made, in case we get a mapmaker who'd like an easy time of it.

1) Roll up a Fractal map with whatever settings we want
2) Manually pick 4 starting locations that seem overall reasonable
3) Mess around with the capital sites so there is an obvious optimal spot to use
- put a PH on all capital sites (maybe put copper on it too?)
4) Balance all capital sites reasonably (no need for identical starts)
- 2 food resources
- 1 early luxury resource
- roughly same amount of grassland, forests and hills
5) Adjust rest of the map as needed
- strategic resources: Make sure all players have copper and horses available at capital site (IMO), other strategic resources scattered about
- stone and marble: Any suggestions? I like putting them out of easy reach in the early game
- forests: Fairly even amount of forests for each player
- rivers: Same
- mountains: Make sure mountains don't annoy players too much

Feel free to comment on all of the above.

[Azza]

My personal map guideline preferences would be;

• Everyone can make contact with everyone else at worst with galleys.
  
• Either everyone on the same continent, or one continent per person.
  
• All starting locations have the same food resource(s) in them, and the same early luxury (or none).
  
• Surrounding lands aren't noticeably better or worse for any particular civ.
  
• Copper, Horses and Iron should be the same distance from the starting tile for every civ, rather than guaranteed in the BFC. Otherwise the early resource UUs are much more powerful, since you're guaranteed to use them, and the resourceless UUs are weaker.
  
• Stone and Marble I'm not fussed on as long as it's balanced by the mapmaker.
  

[Xenon]

I'd slightly prefer everyone on the same landmass, but enabling contact with everyone using galleys is fine, too. Lakes, seas and gulfs (if present) could provide expansion and offensive options.

[Catwalk]

I guess spreading strategic resources out a little bit could be interesting. Would certainly encourage warfare, as you'd have better chances of crippling your enemy with a good blow. I also prefer everybody on the same land mass, with enough water to matter. I wouldn't have a problem with starting resource types differing a little bit. For example, having a silver instead of a gold could be balanced out with getting wet corn rather than dry corn.

Let's discuss basic settings too. Here are my preferences:

Size: Small/Standard
Sea Level: Low/Medium
Wrap: Flat
Speed: Normal (if we expect to reliably get 1t/day) or Quick (if we expect closer to 1t/1.5 days)
Difficulty: Monarch or Emperor (with flat wrap)

[Sian]

just so ... the map i have (which i still offer) is small (40x40) torodial and semi symmetrical, and built after the same basic idea as 29 (sans centers)

[superjm]

I'm GMT-5 (or -4 I guess, EDT and all) and can make time to squeeze out a turn pretty much any part of the day.

As for map preferences, if we get a good mapmaker I trust they'll come up with something balanced. Normal speed is fine, but I think Quick would be better to ensure answiftly paced game.

[Catwalk]

How about waiting a day or two to see if anyone is up for creating an assymetrical map, then take Sian up on his offer if noone wants to do that? PBEM29 had a really good map.

[superjm]

Are there any additional play restrictions to consider, for example more wonder bans? Stuff like Mausoleum, Cristo, etc.

[Catwalk]

Feel free to make suggestions. I personally don't mind those two. Maybe GLH.