The Conquer 500

[thenobodies80]

any chance we can get this moved back to the melting pot

[ Moved ] back to the melting pot under mapmaker request

Nobodies

[ender516]

This map has a lot going for it, but let me make a correction on your Starting Forces information (the second one in your initial post: maybe you should rename it Initial Distribution or some such thing). Since track locations 1 and 26 are starting neutrals, there will be only 28 locations to divide among the players, so quoting your first post but highlighting my changes, we get:

Starting Forces
Players are assigned the pit crews as starting positions.
Additional track locations excluding 1 and 26 are assigned randomly.

In a 2 player game
- both players would have 4 pit crew each. (8/2)
- both players would have 9 track locations each with 10 remainder set to 3 neutral. (28/3)

In a 3 player game
- all players would have 3 pit crew each with 2 remainder set to 1 neutral. (8/3)
- all players would have 9 track locations each with 1 remainder set to 3 neutral. (28/3)

In a 4 player game
- all players would have 2 pit crew each. (8/4)
- all players would have 7 track locations each with no additional neutrals. (28/4)

In a 5 player game
- all players would have 1 pit crew each with 3 remainder set to 1 neutral. (8/5)
- all players would have 5 track locations each with 3 remainder set to 3 neutral. (28/5)

In a 6 player game
- all players would have 1 pit crew each with 2 remainder set to 1 neutral. (8/6)
- all players would have 4 track locations each with 4 remainder set to 3 neutral. (28/6)

In a 7 player game
- all players would have 1 pit crew each with 1 remainder set to 1 neutral. (8/7)
- all players would have 4 track locations each with no additional neutrals. (28/7)

In a 8 player game
- all players would have 1 pit crew each. (8/8)
- all players would have 3 track locations each with 4 remainder set to 3 neutral. . (28/8)

[dolomite13]

Yep i need to look over the whole thing and make sure it all jives... I only work 1/2 day friday and I will do that then

=D=

[MrBenn]

Due to the single lane around the track, I imagine that the initial couple of rounds as people grab little bonuses where possible will be crucial - once somebody is receiving more armies per turn than anybody else, the logical thing would be to build a stack until they have enough to creep around the board slowly.

The only time I can see people making a "dash" for the finish line is in an escalating game with the larger cashes rolling in.

Part of me would like to see a second or even third "lane" (similar to circus maximus perhaps); although you could have more sections on the outer lane (round the bends).

I like it when map ideas get me brainstorming!

[WidowMakers]

I agree. at least 1 more lane would be very nice.

[dolomite13]

Due to the single lane around the track, I imagine that the initial couple of rounds as people grab little bonuses where possible will be crucial - once somebody is receiving more armies per turn than anybody else, the logical thing would be to build a stack until they have enough to creep around the board slowly.

The only time I can see people making a "dash" for the finish line is in an escalating game with the larger cashes rolling in.

Part of me would like to see a second or even third "lane" (similar to circus maximus perhaps); although you could have more sections on the outer lane (round the bends).

I like it when map ideas get me brainstorming!

Thanks I will see what I can do about additional lanes around the track =)

=D=

[ender516]

Due to the single lane around the track, I imagine that the initial couple of rounds as people grab little bonuses where possible will be crucial - once somebody is receiving more armies per turn than anybody else, the logical thing would be to build a stack until they have enough to creep around the board slowly.

The only time I can see people making a "dash" for the finish line is in an escalating game with the larger cashes rolling in.

Part of me would like to see a second or even third "lane" (similar to circus maximus perhaps); although you could have more sections on the outer lane (round the bends).

I like it when map ideas get me brainstorming!

Thanks I will see what I can do about additional lanes around the track =)

=D=

This raises the possibility of having a different victory objective. Perhaps holding a single lane all around the track would be practical. Also outer lanes on curves could be longer (more territories), but not adjacent to the corner territory inside the curve. If certain territories at the corners were used for lane changing, you could even have a victory condition of a path around the track that could change lanes at different points. It might be simpler just to put multiple lanes in the straightaways. Lots of possibilities down these lines, eh?

[dolomite13]

I started making changed to the track but the image isn't really all that friendly to making nice clean lanes so I will be working on it this week to see what I can do with it. It's a little harder with the shape I am using vs the oval track of that gladiator map. Should have something this week.

=D=

[MrBenn]

The concept of this map is very good, and is one of the few maps that I am interested to see develop. There is a mixture of opinion about how convoluted the gameplay/instructions are going to be; and there is no doubt that the gameplay is going to need a fair bit of work. Having said that, there is plenty of scope for flexibility while sticking to your vision of the players attempt to maintain their cars working condition while conquering the racetrack.

Here's some food for thought about the racing grid to contemplate while you acquaint yourself with the gameplay guidelines:




[moved to the Gameplay Workshop]

[dolomite13]

Thanx Benn I will look at that today =)

[00iCon]

What is that?

How about just certain areas, like corners and the final straight, in which you can overtake?

I think one great fallacy is you don't begin in you car...

[dolomite13]

I downloaded a slotcar track designer program last evening and I think that I can use slot car lanes to show attack direction, the only problem I see thus far is that there are no 3 lane slot car tracks. But I think I can do a decent 2 or 4 lane track so I will continue looking into it for a few days and post some ideas.

I think one great fallacy is you don't begin in you car...

Some races you don't start in your car. But I haven't seen one of those since the 70's ... the cartoon Speed Racer is an example of where they stood next to their car and jumped in when the race started. Not every episode but in some =)

=D=

[Doc_Brown]

This looks like a great idea! I had a quick thought about how you might lay out the territories when you add extra lanes. I would suggest that the territories in adjacent lanes be offset for the most part. Here's a quick MS Paint sketch of what I mean:

This way, territories on the track can attack 1 and 2 spaces ahead in their own lane, and they can attack the territory diagonally ahead in the adjacent lane (or lanes if you decide to have 3). It would be a bit more difficult to get this to work right around the corners if you have more territories around the outer lane(s). However, you might be able to get around that by saying that you can't change lanes around the steepest parts of the curves (indicated by a thick solid line between the lanes in those sections).

[MrBenn]

The idea you've described reminds me of Conquer Club Racing. It's worth having a read through that thread

I mentioned this way back when - there might be some ideas in there about how to have multiple lanes; although you don;t necessarily need to have the same number of lanes all the way around the track.

The image I posted above (hand-drawn corner with horses and carriages) is to show how lanes could work around a corner - longe around the outside. In general, staggered lanes (as per the suggestion above) will be more confusing - particularly when it comes to start/finish lines.

[Hopscotcher]

I really like this and I really hate racing!!!!

Some wiggle room would definitely be good with an extra lane or partial lane!

My general thought is that since players start on the Crews and the Crews can Bombard each other, this seems to make going 1st very advantageous. Sure, 26 can get the Crews, but that too seems to put too much emphasis on the Pit Crew.

I would Prefer to make it so the Pit Crews can not attack or bombard each other, but have to go through the Pit Equipment. So Crews can attack Equipment and Equipment can Attack Crews, but Crews can't attack each other (just clarifying. I'm tired lol)

This way, the Pits will still be very important, but people will also focus on the track.

Thoughts???

[hahaha3hahaha]

This looks like a great idea! I had a quick thought about how you might lay out the territories when you add extra lanes. I would suggest that the territories in adjacent lanes be offset for the most part. Here's a quick MS Paint sketch of what I mean:

This way, territories on the track can attack 1 and 2 spaces ahead in their own lane, and they can attack the territory diagonally ahead in the adjacent lane (or lanes if you decide to have 3). It would be a bit more difficult to get this to work right around the corners if you have more territories around the outer lane(s). However, you might be able to get around that by saying that you can't change lanes around the steepest parts of the curves (indicated by a thick solid line between the lanes in those sections).

[dolomite13]

I agree that pits probably shouldn't attack or bombard each other. I will look at alternatives like the equipment.

[iancanton]

u don't have to have many lanes. two are enough. if u have any more, then the track starts to lose its shape.

i also believe that u should receive no track bonuses unless u have fuel in ur car. this will give an extra reason to protect ur car instead of assaulting the pits.

ian.

[Mad-elph]

Being an avid racing fan I might suggest that if you want to add extra lanes, don't do it throughout the track. I'd just add a second racing line to every other corner. This will conform more to the norm of racing, and lessen the burden on you a bit. I am not sure how you will code it so you'd only need one line instead of the entire track... but I will assume that baring an escalating game you'd probably have finished off almost everyone before you get around the track.

[dolomite13]

u don't have to have many lanes. two are enough. if u have any more, then the track starts to lose its shape.

i also believe that u should receive no track bonuses unless u have fuel in ur car. this will give an extra reason to protect ur car instead of assaulting the pits.

ian.

Great idea =)

[yeti_c]

I'm not sure about this one - the one overriding thing I get though - is that the track seems to go the wrong way.

C.

[dolomite13]

I'm not sure about this one - the one overriding thing I get though - is that the track seems to go the wrong way.

C.

Do you mean counter clockwise? that is typical of american racing. Fans of Nascar live by the motto "Drive Fast and Turn Left". And when I took a tour of the Indy 500 racetrack a few years ago they gave us a ride around the track and it ran counter clockwise.

=D=

[Mad-elph]

Oh and think I like the idea of one lane the whole way anyway. I'd probably prefer it that way

[yeti_c]

I'm not sure about this one - the one overriding thing I get though - is that the track seems to go the wrong way.

C.

Do you mean counter clockwise? that is typical of american racing. Fans of Nascar live by the motto "Drive Fast and Turn Left". And when I took a tour of the Indy 500 racetrack a few years ago they gave us a ride around the track and it ran counter clockwise.

=D=

Partially - but I think it's something else as well... perhaps the placement of the territory labels.

Note that it's not a nascar track as there are right turns too?!

C.

[Mad-elph]

I'm not sure about this one - the one overriding thing I get though - is that the track seems to go the wrong way.

C.

Do you mean counter clockwise? that is typical of american racing. Fans of Nascar live by the motto "Drive Fast and Turn Left". And when I took a tour of the Indy 500 racetrack a few years ago they gave us a ride around the track and it ran counter clockwise.

=D=

Partially - but I think it's something else as well... perhaps the placement of the territory labels.

Note that it's not a nascar track as there are right turns too?!

C.

Again avid F1 fan here, but I believe NASCAR tried street course racing as recently as a couple years ago. They wanted to reply to comments of "HARD and LEFT". They even ran at the same Track F1 races on in Montreal, over a minute more a lap... hehe. But judging from the cars its based on Indy, seeing as how they are pretty much the Panoz evolution of car.