Show whole topic
Jun 17, 2009 1:10 am
Jun 17, 2009 1:10 am
Subject: Re: Poll: My favorite played map SIZE is...
In my humble opinion, maps bigger than 128² are generally not fit for competitive play. Sure, you can have fun on them and play really long and epic games - but personally, i prefer to play games that can be finished in one session. It is so rare that circumstances and individual motivation allow a game with 4 or more players to be resumed on another day. Usually one party would already be so far behind as to not see a point in continuing to play and rather opt for a new game.
Additionally, the huge distances to cross bring heavy imbalance with them, insofar as players who are far from each other can macro up undisturbed, whereas players who spawn closer to each other are at a severe disadvantage, because they weaken themselves and restrict each other's expanding possibilities.
It also means that air planes are even more powerful / overpowered than they already are - plus the usually prolonged nature of such "epic" games brings out the many imbalances in the upgrading process and unit handling (e.g. range and price upgrades tend to overkill with time and units can be massed endlessly with no "uphold limit" and get hard to handle for player and game engine alike).
So, in short: Fast paced, action rich games with close borders, immediate tenson from the get-go and quick decisionmaking in macro and micro - that's what MAX is all about for me. Much love to the designer of the 64² three islands map.
Edit: 64², 96² and MAX standard 112² are missing from the poll. :P
In my humble opinion, maps bigger than 128² are generally not fit for competitive play. Sure, you can have fun on them and play really long and epic games - but personally, i prefer to play games that can be finished in one session. It is so rare that circumstances and individual motivation allow a game with 4 or more players to be resumed on another day. Usually one party would already be so far behind as to not see a point in continuing to play and rather opt for a new game.
Additionally, the huge distances to cross bring heavy imbalance with them, insofar as players who are far from each other can macro up undisturbed, whereas players who spawn closer to each other are at a severe disadvantage, because they weaken themselves and restrict each other's expanding possibilities.
It also means that air planes are even more powerful / overpowered than they already are - plus the usually prolonged nature of such "epic" games brings out the many imbalances in the upgrading process and unit handling (e.g. range and price upgrades tend to overkill with time and units can be massed endlessly with no "uphold limit" and get hard to handle for player and game engine alike).
So, in short: Fast paced, action rich games with close borders, immediate tenson from the get-go and quick decisionmaking in macro and micro - that's what MAX is all about for me. Much love to the designer of the 64² three islands map.
Edit: 64², 96² and MAX standard 112² are missing from the poll. :P
This post has been edited 3
times. Last edit on Jun 17, 2009 1:25 am by Nager.