make it harder for someone to be eliminated early in quads, by letting each pitcher start with 10 instead of 12 and the mound have 15 neutrals rather than 12.
reduce the neutrals on the bases from 5 to 4, on the defenders from 3 to 2 and for each baseball from 2 to 1. there is evidence from
castle lands that 4 neutrals is about right for a +2 bonus; this map is much more open, so 5 neutrals would deter players from taking the bases in most games. a similar argument applies for the defenders' neutrals being reduced. there's no need to have 2 neutrals on the baseballs, since their sheer number means it's impossible to block someone by stacking.
consider an increase in neutrals from 1 to 2 for the batter, to stop it from being hit for easy spoils every time at the start. actually, once it's been conquered, players are likely to follow each other out, so a single neutral for each baseball encourages players to use different parts of the field rather than simply to follow the previous player. if this is done, then the total neutrals to kill before reaching the field at the start remains at 3.
are the home runs +4 for each? writing the +4 twice removes any doubt.
ian.
