USA 2.1 [10 Mar 2013] Beta Baby!!

[isaiah40]

Found that mojo yet? Really want this one to come out.

Not yet, hopefully I'll find it after I take a couple weeks vacation from CC.

[Pirlo]

wow so big.. but looks fun!

[isaiah40]

Changes made:

1. Each bonus regions now is a single color
2. Removed the mega bonuses
3. Interstates are now +1 for every 5 cities on the interstates
4. Merged Pacific and Western bonuses into one
5. Removed Nome and Barrow Alaska
6. Added back in the road from Cleveland to Cambridge
7. Removed the secondary highways going into the Rocky Mountain Bonus

Click image to enlarge.

[nolefan5311]

MOVED back to the Main Foundry Workshop!

[koontz1973]

Freaking sweet man. Best news all day. Long live USA 2.1.

Have some dancing bananas.



All things considered, I like the new slimmed down look to this map. It looks a lot less cluttered with the singles colours.

[crazymilkshake5]

It looks good with the single colors, but i think you should put back in the mega bonuses.

[koontz1973]

crazymilkshake5, you are crazy. There is going to be enough on this map without going completely overboard. I liked the mega bonuses, but I am gladder to see them go.

[isaiah40]

:mrgreen:


It looks good with the single colors, but i think you should put back in the mega bonuses.

I would like to have the mega bonuses! iancanton does have a point that no one would go for them, so they have been tossed into file 13.

[AndyDufresne]

You know, I kind of like the white text for region names. Black text seems to blend in with all of the graphics and kind of adds to a crazy-eye effect, while white kind of pops out in a good way. Unfortunately you'd probably have to adjust the colors of your bonus zones to make white text work, but I am fond of it.

Nice to see this map back in production.


--Andy

[iancanton]

i note that there are 42 state capitals of states that have 4 or more cities. rather than having the capitals start neutral and troops everywhere else, have u considered starting everyone from these 42 state capitals only, with the rest of the map (except capitals) as single neutrals? this has the advantage of not letting player 1 starting with a huge attacking force without setting an artificial cap which slows down the game in the later stages, though it does wreck the isaiah trademark capital bonus.

ian.

Actually, it was a passing thought, though the way you put it makes total sense. There are 3 capitals that have an airport attached to them, I think those should start as 3 neutral. Instead of everything else starting with 1 neutral, how about if we have them start with 2? What should we have the initial placement be 2 or 3? What about capitals having an autodeploy of 1 or 2?

If you went down this route, and it would be a nice route even though it spoils the initial idea of the map pack copy, you could give...
each capital a +1 auto
airport capitals 3 neutral (as you said)
D.C. a 5 neutral but a +3 auto
Elsewhere, 2 neutrals. Easier to kill than one.

have u decided whether the starting regions will be the 42 (or 39) state capitals mentioned above, with single or double neutrals everywhere else? if we start on the capitals, then the capital bonus of +1 for every 2 capitals needs to be modified. on the other hand, if we start everywhere except on the capitals, then the new interstate bonus of +1 for every 5 cities has to be changed.

moorehead MN ought to be moorhead. is it possible to move it along I-94 much closer to st paul (but not so close that the road disappears), then rename it as minneapolis, without changing the connections? the position won't be exactly right, but minneapolis is on I-94 and the best-known place in the state.

have u considered changing moorehead to minneapolis, or is it there for a special reason (for example, someone's request)?

ian.

[ManBungalow]

Extremely nice.

Generally speaking, I see very few flaws in this map. Granted, I haven't analysed each individual bonus, but they mostly seem fair enough.

The part of the legend which says "All Hawaiian cities can attack each other". At least 95% of people on this site know what the map of Hawaii looks like, or could work it out from the map. Some of the others will go look it up. However, it doesn't show the word 'Hawaii' anywhere else on the map. For one of those 12 year-old international players we have on this site, that part may not make sense. Eh, it's not a big problem, but just something to consider looking at.

Similarly, I guess you could highlight an interstate route in the part of the legend which says "+1 for every 5 interstate cities".
I assume this means any 5 cities on one interstate line, and that they don't have to adjoining. This is, I'm sure, much more efficient in terms of the XML.

I'm still not quite sure how you want the starting neutrals to be placed, but all in due course..

Good luck with the progress of this map.

[isaiah40]

You know, I kind of like the white text for region names. Black text seems to blend in with all of the graphics and kind of adds to a crazy-eye effect, while white kind of pops out in a good way. Unfortunately you'd probably have to adjust the colors of your bonus zones to make white text work, but I am fond of it.

Nice to see this map back in production.


--Andy

I could place a dark outer glow around the white text, that way it will be easier to see on the lighter colors.

i note that there are 42 state capitals of states that have 4 or more cities. rather than having the capitals start neutral and troops everywhere else, have u considered starting everyone from these 42 state capitals only, with the rest of the map (except capitals) as single neutrals? this has the advantage of not letting player 1 starting with a huge attacking force without setting an artificial cap which slows down the game in the later stages, though it does wreck the isaiah trademark capital bonus.

ian.

Actually, it was a passing thought, though the way you put it makes total sense. There are 3 capitals that have an airport attached to them, I think those should start as 3 neutral. Instead of everything else starting with 1 neutral, how about if we have them start with 2? What should we have the initial placement be 2 or 3? What about capitals having an autodeploy of 1 or 2?

If you went down this route, and it would be a nice route even though it spoils the initial idea of the map pack copy, you could give...
each capital a +1 auto
airport capitals 3 neutral (as you said)
D.C. a 5 neutral but a +3 auto
Elsewhere, 2 neutrals. Easier to kill than one.

have u decided whether the starting regions will be the 42 (or 39) state capitals mentioned above, with single or double neutrals everywhere else? if we start on the capitals, then the capital bonus of +1 for every 2 capitals needs to be modified. on the other hand, if we start everywhere except on the capitals, then the new interstate bonus of +1 for every 5 cities has to be changed.

moorehead MN ought to be moorhead. is it possible to move it along I-94 much closer to st paul (but not so close that the road disappears), then rename it as minneapolis, without changing the connections? the position won't be exactly right, but minneapolis is on I-94 and the best-known place in the state.

have u considered changing moorehead to minneapolis, or is it there for a special reason (for example, someone's request)?

ian.

I was thinking of having all the capitals start with 5 neutral, and have starting groups as in Salem's Switch - probably a grouping of 5 territories? With the interstate cities, after talking with nolefan, it would probably be a good idea to start a few of those territories as neutral as well to prevent any drop. Maybe start them with 5 neutral as well?? Or would 3 be better? Maybe place neutrals on every 3rd city along an interstate. For instance Phoenix to Baton Rouge has 6 cities that can possibly be dropped. If I can make El Paso and Houston start as neutral. Between Salt Lake City and San Diego is another example. I can make Beaver and Colton neutrals. If I do this then would I have to change the Interstate bonus?

I forgot to change Moorhead to Minneapolis, I'll get it done next update.

[nolefan5311]

What do you think about making the interstate bonus +1 for every 5 consecutive cities?

[AndyDufresne]

The part of the legend which says "All Hawaiian cities can attack each other". At least 95% of people on this site know what the map of Hawaii looks like, or could work it out from the map. Some of the others will go look it up. However, it doesn't show the word 'Hawaii' anywhere else on the map. For one of those 12 year-old international players we have on this site, that part may not make sense. Eh, it's not a big problem, but just something to consider looking at.

Why not just add the outline of the Hawaiian Islands behind the text? Since you have some other images in the legend, it may not look out of place.


--Andy

[isaiah40]

What do you think about making the interstate bonus +1 for every 5 consecutive cities?

It could be done, at the same time I don't think I want to make it too hard to get the bonus. I'll see what ian has to say.

The part of the legend which says "All Hawaiian cities can attack each other". At least 95% of people on this site know what the map of Hawaii looks like, or could work it out from the map. Some of the others will go look it up. However, it doesn't show the word 'Hawaii' anywhere else on the map. For one of those 12 year-old international players we have on this site, that part may not make sense. Eh, it's not a big problem, but just something to consider looking at.

Why not just add the outline of the Hawaiian Islands behind the text? Since you have some other images in the legend, it may not look out of place.


--Andy

That can be done easy enough.