Here's the map in its current state:
Additionally, having changed the map into the above, I'm presented with 2 clear choices of where the map can go in the XML and both of which sound quite interesting to me. I'll outline them below by copy-pasting the updated text in my opening post:
BelJoDoe wrote:As some of you that have been following the map idea, I would like to create a map where the players begin only in those rich areas, with the rest of the map being grey-neutral, size 3 armies that can be conquered but which do not provide anything other than a bridge to another part of the world and also a territory bonus (which on a 300+ map, could prove significant).
If people would like me too though, I might create 2 versions of this map. One with the 'sea of grey' on and the other being a normal map.
There are benefits to both possibilities:
1) Using a sea of grey will reduce the starting deployment, for a 6-player game, to 3 armies, as per usual. Players will fight normally in their region and, with 14 regions, each the same size, each player should have similar chances to obtain and hold a region. After that, players will have to wade through the grey territories to reach and attack their neighbours. Some players may choose to simply carve out mini kingdoms and soak up that often over-looked territory bonus, which, if you conquered every territory, would produce a deployment of 107 armies (not including the bonuses).
... personally, the above game play possibilities turn me on.
2) If every territory is 'playable' from turn one, in a 6-player game, each player will have 17 armies to deploy on turn one. This will create a bloodbath right from the start and continuing until the game ends, where ever escalating cards will be unlikely to out-do the territory bonus possibilities.
The first game possibility would create a more 'epic' game, I think, while the second might be much more fast, furious and bloody. As mentioned then, if there is interest in the map, I would like to turn it into two, differently playable versions, using the XML.
>>> May I have your opinions, please?