[Abandoned] Struggle for Oil: Central Asia

[pamoa]

based on a Raskholnikov idea
gameplay and graphics by pamoa
code by ender 516
A command room map for government officials dealing with the issue of oil supplies, transit and geopolitical rivalries connected with oil.
A complex CC map which anyone who loves large maps with a variety of options and who are interested in nowadays questions will be eager to play.

A MULTI-LAYERED BONUS STRUCTURE TO REFLECT THE CENTRAL ASIA COMPLEXITY
territorial conflict = normal regions' bonuses and contested territories
local economic power = capitals and metropoli
USA intervention power = US fleets on "request" of any local government
oil infrastructure = refineries and ports (tankers)
local political instability = uprisings
religious instrumented terrorism = Al-Mahdi and terrorists

Click image to enlarge.

above small version
superzise stamp : large 1000x1000 and small 800 x 800

START

24 starting positions (8 capitals + 8 metropolises + 8 terrorists)
47 freely distributed territories
71 territories at start in total

18 neutrals (8 uprisings(1) + 4 key territories(3) + 5 sea/fleet(reset3) + al-mahdi(8))
89 territories in total

REGIONS' BONUSES

+_5 for _6 Eastern Europe territories
+_6 for 10 Russia territories
+12 for 10 Kazakhstan territories
+_3 for _6 Turkey territories
+_3 for _3 Caucasus territories
+_4 for _4 Central Asia territories
+_5 for 10 China territories
+_2 for 10 Middle East territories
+_4 for _6 Iran territories
+_4 for _6 Afpak territories
+_4 for 10 India territories
81 territories part of a region

_2 contested territories
_3 seas
_2 fleet
_1 al-mahdi territory
89 territories in total

Previous versions
v.05small
v.04small
v.03small
v.02small
v.01small
first draft
Sources map
Central Asia refineries and pipes
Caucasus oil

show: previous introduction by Raskholnikov

[natty dread]

Well. At first sight this looks interesting. I would recommend doing a draft of the small version with 888:s to ensure everything will fit properly. You don't want to run into the same problems you had with the napoleon map...

[Raskholnikov]

That's pamoas's opinion too. He's working on it.

[pamoa]

Hi guys
I'm working on the graphics
as soon as we can I'll post version 1

[Industrial Helix]

How exactly the largest oil producing nation in the world ended as non-playable on this map is beyond me. I'm of course talking about Saudi Arabia.

The graphics are pretty rough on the eyes at this point, but I expect that will improve as Pomoa is quite proven.

I think its overcomplicated though the core idea is pretty good.

I think you should super simplify the Baltic/Caspian sea things.

You also need to get rid of the refinery connection lines. Perhaps let the refineries sit on their territories. You can replicate the pipline dynamic with a sort of hold 3 refineries for +2, hold 5 for +4, ect.

I'll be keeping an eye on this one.

[Raskholnikov]

How exactly the largest oil producing nation in the world ended as non-playable on this map is beyond me. I'm of course talking about Saudi Arabia.

Of course it is in play. It will look better and clearer on the first draft Pamoa will post

The graphics are pretty rough on the eyes at this point, but I expect that will improve as Pomoa is quite proven.

Indeed!

I think its overcomplicated though the core idea is pretty good.

Yes, we will simplify some things. In particular, tankers will not have any conection lines but be connected with their territories.

I think you should super simplify the Baltic/Caspian sea things.

Yes, that will be done. In addition, the Caucasus / Caspian area will have an enlarged window, for more clarity.

You also need to get rid of the refinery connection lines. Perhaps let the refineries sit on their territories. You can replicate the pipline dynamic with a sort of hold 3 refineries for +2, hold 5 for +4, ect.

I'm not sure I want to get rid of pipelines at this early point, since the map's purpose is to show the connections between refineries, pipelines and tankers. We'll post the first version and then consider all suggestions

I'll be keeping an eye on this one.

Thanks for your kind comments - much appreciated. Look forward to your continuing input and advice on this one.

[GSP JR]

This has an interesting concept going for it. I like the idea, and would like to see what can be done to it.

On the strategy, does holding a state mean the capital or the entire state? Just wanted to clarify that.

Could you find a way to add in another fleet and have limits to the reach of the fleets. Maybe have one stationed in the Gulf, since the US typically has a fleet stationed in that area?

I'd like to see where this one goes, nice concept!

[Raskholnikov]

This has an interesting concept going for it. I like the idea, and would like to see what can be done to it.

On the strategy, does holding a state mean the capital or the entire state? Just wanted to clarify that.

We are reviewing this; it will be clearer in the up-coming draft.

Could you find a way to add in another fleet and have limits to the reach of the fleets. Maybe have one stationed in the Gulf, since the US typically has a fleet stationed in that area?

We have already; the US 5th Fleet will be stationed in the Indian Ocean just at the entrance of the Gulf. US fleets will be conquerable by one-way attacks from any capitals and, in turn, will be able to attack all tankers, refineries and terrorists. They will revert to plus 3 neutral at the end of each round.

I'd like to see where this one goes, nice concept!

[pamoa]

here we are
first shoot

Click image to enlarge.

[Raskholnikov]

Amazing work pamoa! Thank you for getting this done!

If you guys like this, let's move it to Gameplay. I'm aware there's a lot of work to do there. This is just a first draft and we intend to work on gameplay quite a lot. Your comments and suggestions are welcome.

R

[natty dread]

You're missing a pixel.

show: joke spoiler

In all seriousness though, it looks real nice. You'll have to work on clarity - there's lots of stuff going on on the map, I'm not sure if that's a bit too much... I'm thinking you might have an easier ride through the foundry if you would just simplify the map somewhat. But then again Raskholnikov has never been known to do things the easy way...

Graphically, I have very mixed feelings about this. I like the blue colour scheme and the industrial look. They look nice. But at the same time it kinda makes everything blend together so it's a bit hard to find anything on the map... I realize this is just a first draft, but I thought this would give you something to work on when you advance to later forums.

Another criticism is, that the insets are a bit hard to place on the map - at least for those who don't know the geography. When you use insets, they should be used so that you can easily see which part of the map the inset represents, and this is going to need some work.

Overall, I like the map, looking forward to see how this develops.

[Raskholnikov]

n all seriousness though, it looks real nice. You'll have to work on clarity - there's lots of stuff going on on the map, I'm not sure if that's a bit too much... I'm thinking you might have an easier ride through the foundry if you would just simplify the map somewhat. But then again Raskholnikov has never been known to do things the easy way...

Well we do need to work on gameplay so we're open to suggestions.

Graphically, I have very mixed feelings about this. I like the blue colour scheme and the industrial look. They look nice. But at the same time it kinda makes everything blend together so it's a bit hard to find anything on the map... I realize this is just a first draft, but I thought this would give you something to work on when you advance to later forums.

Keep in mind this is a starting points map with no bonuses given for countries as such. But I see your point and hopefully there will be a way to tone down the blueness of the land and emphasise the colored contours.

Another criticism is, that the insets are a bit hard to place on the map - at least for those who don't know the geography. When you use insets, they should be used so that you can easily see which part of the map the inset represents, and this is going to need some work.

I am always amazed at claims that people playing these maps don't know geography. The vast majority do - and those who don't when they join learn vert quickly given the range of maps here. Be it as it may, if this becomes a serious concern - which I doubt, looking at many other similar inserts in other maps-, we'll find a way to place an idicator to correlate the map area with the corresponding insert.

Thanks for your positive feedback and constructive suggestions. Look forward to more as the work progresses.

[Raskholnikov]

In anticipation of gameplay questions, here is a map showing my preliminary view of the neutrals situation at the start of the game.

Notes: Lvov would be a metropolis, and Astana would be Kazakhstan's capital, with a +2/+3 autodeploy.

None of this is settled, just my view of how the game would balance out. Comments from all welcome.

I'd also like comments on the pipelines. Do they add to the game strategy? Are they too much? I personally like them, but I think this is an aspect where constructive feedback would be very helpful from the very beginning.

Click image to enlarge.

[Industrial Helix]

Hate to tell you this, but the map needs serious simplification.

There is no way that small map will ever pass through the graphics workshop.

Here is what I suggest: Reduce the territories. You have near 100 territories which is way too much for the gameplay complexity you're going for, I'd highly recommend no more than 60.
Get rid of the cities and perhaps keep the capitals.
Lose the tankers as you just don't have room.
Drastically reduce the number of refineries. For example those three in North China? Merge to just one territory with 1 refinery. If you reduce the number of refineries, perhaps you can keep the pipline.

The graphics are quite neat and they defintiely capture the feel. But the gameplay needs some serious streamlining.


It

[Raskholnikov]

Thanks Helix. We obviously need to take a close look and make some decisions, but there is a difference between stramlining this and making it into a totally different map. Since we are talking about gameplay and you like the graphics in principle, can we move on from the idea stage to the gameplay stage please?