GenCon Maps 2008

[Rÿchean]

Before we unveil the Maps for GenCon '08, I wanted to thank all those that helped with the map development and selection process:

Jexik, funrun, Ninthdoc, fezzikthedoor, wisinger, Velenne, UranusPChicago, bunjee, Revdyer, Kahrma, Gamebear, truth, grungebob, lonewolf, skynight, theGuru, Hahnarama

Also, special thanks to Ch1an0 for rendering quality map images.

The goal was to come up with a diverse group of maps in terms of game play and terrain. We chose maps for playability, uniqueness, and aesthetic value.

We have a variety of events with a variety of needs. Some of the events like Capture Raelin and Jumpstart will be played on larger maps with clear center points. Smaller maps will be used in the Damnation Alley to promote quick play. All of the maps will be used in the main event.

Gamebear is our featured cartographer as he has 2 entries in our map pool.

** Thanks to lonewolf for the Compilation of 2008 Gencon Maps (http://tinyurl.com/5nw7z7) * * 5MB DL

1. Turret Rocks by Kahrma

http://www.heroscapers.com/downloads//turret_rocks_6lu.jpg
A single ROTV build and a map Enshrined in the Battlefield of Valhalla. A semi controversial map that really adds to the diversity of the map pool. The somewhat large size and presence of a central location make it a map favorable for JumpStart and Capture Raelin. Because the balance of the map and design, the glyph of Astrid will always be used on this map unless the map is used for a non glyph event.
DOWNLOAD (http://www.heroscapers.com/community/downloads.php?do=file&id=220)

2. Feylund Fountain by Velenne

http://www.heroscapers.com/downloads//feylund%20fountain__8P3.jpg
A small cut throat style map. There are no glyph locations listed but, depending on the event, the glyph locations will be on each side by the rock, next to the small wall part of the Ruins. This map will be prime for Damnation Alley.
DOWNLOAD (http://www.heroscapers.com/community/downloads.php?do=file&id=647)

3. Fire Isles by yagyuninja

http://www.heroscapers.com/downloads//fire_isles_ej9.jpg
Another small, cut throat map. This Battlefield of Valhalla has been immensely popular. It's brutal play style makes it a diverse addition. Glyph locations will remain as documented. This will be used in Damnation Alley for sure.
DOWNLOAD (http://www.heroscapers.com/community/downloads.php?do=file&id=241)


4. Little Ramparts by Ch1can0

http://www.heroscapers.com/downloads//rampart_bov_01b_0Fw.jpg
A castle road map with a nice size footprint as well as a center point. We will be using only the non-wall version pictured above. The center glyph location will not be used. This map will be used for Capture Raelin and Jumpstart.
DOWNLOAD (http://www.heroscapers.com/community/downloads.php?do=file&id=284)


5. Mole Hills - Jungle Edition by Jonathan

http://www.heroscapers.com/downloads//mole%20hills%20jungle__T2s.jpg
New twist on a BoV classic. This map, despite it's size, will not be used for Jumpstart or Capture Raelin as it does not have a clearly fair central location. Glyph locations will be used for random glyphs.
DOWNLOAD (http://www.heroscapers.com/community/downloads.php?do=file&id=588)


6. Winter Holdout by Jexik

http://www.heroscapers.com/downloads//winterholdoutff_759.jpg
Jexik did a good job remaking this Hasbro classic. All the fun of the original Forsaken Waters with some added LOS blockers. The map will be played light snow, slippery ice for all events it is used in. The ede glyph locations will be used for random glyphs.
DOWNLOAD (http://www.heroscapers.com/community/downloads.php?do=file&id=335)


7. Embattled Fen by GameBear

http://www.heroscapers.com/downloads//embattled_fen_QiE.jpg
A nice size map with a central location, this one will be used in Capture Raelin and Jumpstart events and is a great all around map for any event. Another BoV map that gives us diversity. Glyph location will be used for random glyphs.
DOWNLOAD (http://www.heroscapers.com/community/downloads.php?do=file&id=134)


8. Higways and Dieways - Swarm Edition by UranusPChicago/Rychean

http://www.heroscapers.com/downloads//highways__KOk.jpg
The original Highways and Dieways used so little of the ROTV that a modified version was made with the Swarm master set. This allows us to get the most out of our resources and have H&D represented at least in a modified version. This map does have a central location that makes it suitable for Capture Raelin or Jumpstart. Glyph locations will be used for random glyphs.
DOWNLOAD (http://www.heroscapers.com/community/downloads.php?do=file&id=331)


9. Jungle Swamp Road by Rychean

http://www.heroscapers.com/downloads//wolfswamproad__9hD.jpg
A creation of mine using the left over road not used for Feylund Fountain. Yet another facelift for a Hasbro classic. The jungle terrain provides stopping points along the path to help melee get to the fight. The map is also a nice size and has a central location that make it favorable for Capture Raelin and Jumpstart. Glyph locations will be used for random glyphs.
DOWNLOAD (http://www.heroscapers.com/community/downloads.php?do=file&id=565)


10. Ticalla Sunrise by Gamebear

http://www.heroscapers.com/downloads//ticallisunrise__1tR.jpg
One of the new downloads here, Ticalla Sunrise is a beauty with some nice features. This will be a general purpose map for all events. Glyph locations will be used for random glyphs.
DOWNLOAD (http://www.heroscapers.com/community/downloads.php?do=file&id=606)

___

Glyphs: Some events will not use glyphs and some events may use specific, predetermined glyphs. Some maps may use the static glyphs specified in the map download; some will use the glyph locations but the glyphs will be pulled at random from a pool. Turret Rocks will have a static Astrid except when used for the Capture Raelin event. This is the only place Astrid will appear during any of the events.
The glyph pool will be as follows:

Ulaniva (+1 unique attack)
Crevcor (+1 common attack)
Gerda (+1 defense)
Valda (+2 move)
Dagmar (+8 initiative)
Lodin (+1 to D20 rolls) in some cases the glyph of Brandar will be used to represent the glyph of Lodin

Start zone size on each map will be 24 hexes. We will not augment start zones for any event. The Heat of Battle is limited to 24 hexes worth of figures, even though the event does not use start zones in traditional fashion.

Questions: I do ask that questions in this thread be limited to he maps themselves rather than event game play. Event discussion and rules clarification should occur in this THREAD (http://www.heroscapers.com/community/showthread.php?t=18481)
___


* * * The intent is to have each map built five times for a total of 50 maps. The personnel running any and all the GenCon tournaments reserve the right to omit maps or add alternate maps as needed, for any or all of the events. Also, minor changes may be made to the maps for any or all of the events as the needs of the tournaments arise or issues are discovered. Alternate maps or may not be used depending on the resources provided. We will try our best to leave the maps as they are listed here with the minor changes already specified and will make every effort to update this information if there is a change prior to GenCon. * * *

[Hahnarama]

Hey boys and gurls don't let Ry's praise fool you...he deserves all of the credit for these maps. He just bounced ideas off the rest of us an d he took our recommendations and made sure all of these maps were :gencon: worthy.

I've play tested most of them but Ry gave hours if not DAYS of his own time to make sure they were balanced.

He deserves a HUGE round of applause.

[Revdyer]

This is a great selection of maps, Ry; and ALL the credit should go to you and the individual map creators.
<Revrep, of course>

[Codeman]

Thanks for getting these posted ... I would agree that they look good, the real test of course is building them and playing some games. Looks like I have to get some more Ticalla Jungle expansions so I can keep one of each built and ready to play.

Thank you to all that made this happen.... see ya at Indy!

[Onacara]

Great job Ry...pos rep sent :thumbsup:

[Shades fan]

Great job Pos Rep!
a quick question though, What map are you planning on using for the marvel games?

[Fezzikthedoor]

Hey boys and gurls don't let Ry's praise fool you...he deserves all of the credit for these maps. He just bounced ideas off the rest of us an d he took our recommendations and made sure all of these maps were :gencon: worthy.

I've play tested most of them but Ry gave hours if not DAYS of his own time to make sure they were balanced.

He deserves a HUGE round of applause.

Word. In fact, he deserves so much praise that normal clapping won't do; as we speak I am slapping my nekkid belly with both hands, slapping my thighs together vigorously, and typing with my tongue.

Thanks for the mention, but you did all the hard work for sure.

[Onacara]

Hey boys and gurls don't let Ry's praise fool you...he deserves all of the credit for these maps. He just bounced ideas off the rest of us an d he took our recommendations and made sure all of these maps were :gencon: worthy.

I've play tested most of them but Ry gave hours if not DAYS of his own time to make sure they were balanced.

He deserves a HUGE round of applause.

Word. In fact, he deserves so much praise that normal clapping won't do; as we speak I am slapping my nekkid belly with both hands, slapping my thighs together vigorously, and typing with my tongue.

Thanks for the mention, but you did all the hard work for sure.


Paris says....That's Hot!!!
http://pictures.directnews.co.uk/liveimages/Paris+Hilton_669_18276962_0_0_7001414_300.jpg

[Gulp]

Blasted! Embattled Fen, so we meet again. You've bested me in battle every time we've met, but that will change soon. August, Embattled Fen, August.

Great selection, Rychean. Nice to see Fire Isles in the mix.

[Grungebob]

Blasted! Embattled Fen, so we meet again. You've bested me in battle every time we've met, but that will change soon. August, Embattled Fen, August.

Great selection, Rychean. Nice to see Fire Isles in the mix.Gulp, are you going to Gencon?

[Gulp]

Gulp, are you going to Gencon?


Yup!! I'm signed up for the big Friday championship, and I'll probably try to get into one of the Saturday Alley matches. I'm even thinking of dressing up for the tournament to intimidate my opponent. Just imagine, GB, looking across Ticalla Sunrise and seeing me dressed up in my gigantic Marro Hive costume! Intimidation Train, rollin' out!

[Grungebob]

Gulp, are you going to Gencon?


Yup!! I'm signed up for the big Friday championship, and I'll probably try to get into one of the Saturday Alley matches. I'm even thinking of dressing up for the tournament to intimidate my opponent. Just imagine, GB, looking across Ticalla Sunrise and seeing me dressed up in my gigantic Marro Hive costumelike Kelda! Intimidation Train, rollin' out!Yes very intimidating.

[DrLivingston]

Maps look great!

Excellent work Rychean

Wish I was going!

[Joah]

Nice work Ry, you have a "Butt face" headed your way.;)

[GaryLASQ]

Thanks Ry and company for getting these announced a month and a half before go time.

[SirGalahad]

Even though we will not be attending (GenCon starts the day our new school year starts), the Galahad Clan will be actively playing these maps in preparation for when we can make it.

Great work.

[lonewolf]

Even though we will not be attending (GenCon starts the day our new school year starts), the Galahad Clan will be actively playing these maps in preparation for when we can make it.

Great work.

We will be playing these maps at the AZ game day in August, so you can try them out there too.

[Jexik]

Great list Ry and thanks for all the work. Thanks for giving my remake a shot next to all those great maps.

[Rÿchean]

I wanted to thank Ch1can0 again for working with me on these images. He just sent the image for Highways and Dieways Swarm Edition. I changed it on the first page.

The map looks a heck of a lot better in this image:

http://www.heroscapers.com/downloads//highways__KOk.jpg

[Onion Knight]

Thanks for getting these up Ry and Ch1can0.
I'm going to build each of them tonight so I can begin an intense training regiment to prepare.

*leaves to buy beer*
:unsure:

[lonewolf]

I put all these maps together in one PDF document. It is 5MB.

Compilation of 2008 Gencon Maps (http://tinyurl.com/5nw7z7)

[Rÿchean]

Thanks for that, lonewolf; I added link to first page.

and + rep to you!!!!

[Onacara]

Thanks for that, lonewolf; I added link to first page.

and + rep to you!!!!


Ditto...thank you from us lazy people. + rep sent

[Revdyer]

I put all these maps together in one PDF document. It is 5MB.

Compilation of 2008 Gencon Maps (http://tinyurl.com/5nw7z7)
Revrep and a greenie from me for this, too.

[Cleon]

Thanks for all the great choices Rychean and everyone! And thanks a ton lonewolf, plus rep from me as well. I'm going to print the whole document out and start practicing on them (I LOVE Feylund Fountain BTW Velenne)!

[Xaqery]

Wow I go away for a weekend and BAM! Very nice work. Thanks.

I just printed out the PDF that lonewolf made. Well done.

- Dwight

[SirGalahad]

I put all these maps together in one PDF document. It is 5MB.

Compilation of 2008 Gencon Maps (http://tinyurl.com/5nw7z7)

Terrific idea! Now even I can build these without relying on my 10-year-old. :D

[playa1]

I put all these maps together in one PDF document. It is 5MB.

Compilation of 2008 Gencon Maps (http://tinyurl.com/5nw7z7)

Terrific idea! Now even I can build these without relying on my 10-year-old. :D

This is the coolest thing ever!

[Jexik]

Although this borders on the line between map discussion and gameplay, how and when are glyphs going to be revealed when the tournament actually begins?

(Symbol-side up? Symbol side down? Symbol side down until order markers are placed... initiatives rolled?)

[Grungebob]

Although this borders on the line between map discussion and gameplay, how and when are glyphs going to be revealed when the tournament actually begins?

(Symbol-side up? Symbol side down? Symbol side down until order markers are placed... initiatives rolled?)
Someone can correct me if I'm wrong but we always have the players place random glyphs (from a limited pool selected by us) face down on the glyph spots. Just before placing order markers and rolling initiative the glyphs are turned up to reveal them. (This affects your order marker placement and allows for strategy based upon the newly revealed glyphs).

[lonewolf]

Although this borders on the line between map discussion and gameplay, how and when are glyphs going to be revealed when the tournament actually begins?

(Symbol-side up? Symbol side down? Symbol side down until order markers are placed... initiatives rolled?)
Someone can correct me if I'm wrong but we always have the players place random glyphs (from a limited pool selected by us) face down on the glyph spots. Just before placing order markers and rolling initiative the glyphs are turned up to reveal them. (This affects your order marker placement and allows for strategy based upon the newly revealed glyphs).

That is how it was played last year at GC.

[Rÿchean]

GB has it. Though the intent it to keep Turret rocks with a static Astrid at all times unless it is non glyph event. I have found that Turret Rocks just play more completely and evenly with that Astrid in place. It will be the only place Astrid will be used.

For the Mind Shackle event, we will use a static placement of Lodin (probably represented with a Brandar) in addition to other random glyphs.

For the most part, the events will be run as GB stated above. We do plan on running Damnation Alley with just static glyphs like move +2 and defense +1 to speed those games along.

[Grungebob]

GB has it. Though the intent it to keep Turret rocks with a static Astrid at all times unless it is non glyph event. I have found that Turret Rocks just play more completely and evenly with that Astrid in place. It will be the only place Astrid will be used.

For the Mind Shackle event, we will use a static placement of Lodin (probably represented with a Brandar) in addition to other random glyphs.

For the most part, the events will be run as GB stated above. We do plan on running Damnation Alley with just static glyphs like move +2 and defense +1 to speed those games along.
Thanks for those specific details Ry!

[Onacara]

Ok I just have 1 question....Who is going to explain to my wife why I have to have 10 maps built until the 19th of August?

[Jexik]

Thanks for the responses, GB and Rÿ.

Ok I just have 1 question....Who is going to explain to my wife why I have to have 10 maps built until the 19th of August?

You?

[Codeman]

Two Thumbs Up

I just played a couple of games on both " Fire Isles " & "Ticalla Sunrise" I like them both.

They have a small footprint, and I've taken some flack for using small maps at the Tree Town Open, but that will not stop me as these two maps may fill the bill for the Jungle/Swamp map and the Lava map at the TTO on NHSD.

Nice maps - Yagyuninja & Game Bear

[Onacara]

Two Thumbs Up

I just played a couple of games on both " Fire Isles " & "Ticalla Sunrise" I like them both.

They have a small footprint, and I've taken some flack for using small maps at the Tree Town Open, but that will not stop me as these two maps may fill the bill for the Jungle/Swamp map and the Lava map at the TTO on NHSD.

Nice maps - Yagyuninja & Gam

Fire Isles has been built and on a board under the couch for quick play since before the Battle of the Border...it is a fun map to play on and is going to be the first map I make when I make my permanent maps.

[Codeman]

Two Thumbs Up

I just played a couple of games on both " Fire Isles " & "Ticalla Sunrise" I like them both.

They have a small footprint, and I've taken some flack for using small maps at the Tree Town Open, but that will not stop me as these two maps may fill the bill for the Jungle/Swamp map and the Lava map at the TTO on NHSD.

Nice maps - Yagyuninja & Game Bear

Just built and played on "Winter Holdout" tonight. A larger footprint ( actually a perfect fit for my 28" x 36" panel that I carry and haul maps on - big plus in my book ). I also like that it is built with one master set and only one expansion ( another plus in my book for a tourney map).

As I built the map I believe I ran across some of Jexik thought patten as he laid out the snow and ice placements along with all the hexes and their elevations. All the hexes seem to have their own special purpose on the map. This is easily my favorite map of the three. So I would say this is also has to be a shoe-in for the TTO Tundra map on NHSD. Great map Jexik hope to get some games on this one at Gen-Con.

[Onacara]

I got to play on Ticalla Sunrise today in my last game at the Saratoga Slugest and have to say it is a fun map but I need to give it a couple more spins since there is a definite difference in game play depending on which starting zone you get.


Which brings up a good question...how is this handled at GenCon? Is it just whoever is assigned to a map just picks a side to start or is there like 1 red and 1 blue start zone and you get assigned a map and a start zone?

[Star Wolf]

I was just at a florida tournament today playing on fire isles facing an opponent who had jotun. He threw about half my army including kaemon awa into the lava.:evil:

[robbdaman]

I was just at a florida tournament today playing on fire isles facing an opponent who had jotun. He threw about half my army including kaemon awa into the lava.:evil:

:lol: That's funny. I usually have terrible luck with throw.

R~

[Eirikr]

Sorry if you feel you are repeating yourself or that this has already been made abundantly clear but I really want to be sure I understand you correctly in regards to random glyphs in the Championship event and others.
The glyphs will be revealed after players have set up their figures in the starting zone, and before players have placed their order markers for round 1. Glyphs will not be placed symbol side up, to be revealed when they are landed on.
Thank you for your patience,
Eirikr

[Codeman]

I got to play on Ticalla .........................since there is a definite difference in game play depending on which starting zone you get.


Which brings up a good question...how is this handled at GenCon? Is it just whoever is assigned to a map just picks a side to start or is there like 1 red and 1 blue start zone and you get assigned a map and a start zone?

At the past Gen-Con Events we have roll a D-20 once both parties get to the map, then set up our army.

[Onacara]

I got to play on Ticalla .........................since there is a definite difference in game play depending on which starting zone you get.


Which brings up a good question...how is this handled at GenCon? Is it just whoever is assigned to a map just picks a side to start or is there like 1 red and 1 blue start zone and you get assigned a map and a start zone?

At the past Gen-Con Events we have roll a D-20 once both parties get to the map, then set up our army.


Well that is simple and makes alot of sense. Thanks. (PS I have the boys assembling the last few maps right now and have assembled a Codeman inspired rack to hold them all in the big closet co my wife doesn't yell at me that they are all over the place. :thumbsup: )

[lonewolf]

Sorry if you feel you are repeating yourself or that this has already been made abundantly clear but I really want to be sure I understand you correctly in regards to random glyphs in the Championship event and others.
The glyphs will be revealed after players have set up their figures in the starting zone, and before players have placed their order markers for round 1. Glyphs will not be placed symbol side up, to be revealed when they are landed on.
Thank you for your patience,
Eirikr

I can only comment on last year....random glyphs were placed before setup face down, after setup and before order markers the glyphs were revealed.

[Jexik]

Two Thumbs Up

I just played a couple of games on both " Fire Isles " & "Ticalla Sunrise" I like them both.

They have a small footprint, and I've taken some flack for using small maps at the Tree Town Open, but that will not stop me as these two maps may fill the bill for the Jungle/Swamp map and the Lava map at the TTO on NHSD.

Nice maps - Yagyuninja & Game Bear

Just built and played on "Winter Holdout" tonight. A larger footprint ( actually a perfect fit for my 28" x 36" panel that I carry and haul maps on - big plus in my book ). I also like that it is built with one master set and only one expansion ( another plus in my book for a tourney map).

As I built the map I believe I ran across some of Jexik thought patten as he laid out the snow and ice placements along with all the hexes and their elevations. All the hexes seem to have their own special purpose on the map. This is easily my favorite map of the three. So I would say this is also has to be a shoe-in for the TTO Tundra map on NHSD. Great map Jexik hope to get some games on this one at Gen-Con.

I'm glad that you like it!

But I just want to clarify a few things:

1. The center section of the map is largely still of Hasbro's design. The glyph locations and hill elevations are all essentially identical. The big difference is replacing the 21 water tiles with 21 Slippery Ice tiles.

2. The Snow on the other hand, is light snow. It wasn't placed as carefully as you seem to give me credit for. It's mostly aesthetic, and used to replace the sand and single/double hexes on level 1, and situationally elsewhere. The glyphs aren't really balanced around Heavy Snow.

3. The ruins, starting zones, glaciers, and most of the smaller bumps and sniper perches are the main differences between this and the Hasbro classic.

[Onacara]

Two Thumbs Up

I just played a couple of games on both " Fire Isles " & "Ticalla Sunrise" I like them both.

They have a small footprint, and I've taken some flack for using small maps at the Tree Town Open, but that will not stop me as these two maps may fill the bill for the Jungle/Swamp map and the Lava map at the TTO on NHSD.

Nice maps - Yagyuninja & Game Bear

Just built and played on "Winter Holdout" tonight. A larger footprint ( actually a perfect fit for my 28" x 36" panel that I carry and haul maps on - big plus in my book ). I also like that it is built with one master set and only one expansion ( another plus in my book for a tourney map).

As I built the map I believe I ran across some of Jexik thought patten as he laid out the snow and ice placements along with all the hexes and their elevations. All the hexes seem to have their own special purpose on the map. This is easily my favorite map of the three. So I would say this is also has to be a shoe-in for the TTO Tundra map on NHSD. Great map Jexik hope to get some games on this one at Gen-Con.

I'm glad that you like it!

But I just want to clarify a few things:

1. The center section of the map is largely still of Hasbro's design. The glyph locations and hill elevations are all essentially identical. The big difference is replacing the 21 water tiles with 21 Slippery Ice tiles.

2. The Snow on the other hand, is light snow. It wasn't placed as carefully as you seem to give me credit for. It's mostly aesthetic, and used to replace the sand and single/double hexes on level 1, and situationally elsewhere. The glyphs aren't really balanced around Heavy Snow.

3. The ruins, starting zones, glaciers, and most of the smaller bumps and sniper perches are the main differences between this and the Hasbro classic.

We just built this one too and will hopefully get a couple of games in today unless my kids decide to stay in the pool all day. Looks like alot of fun...which means I will probably hate how I play on it :rofl:

[Jexik]

I played another game on Winter Holdout, and I'm reminded of something that Rÿ said about not being able to win on one of his own maps, I think it was Faultline. In any case, in a 450 point game, I only managed to kill 80 points worth of stuff this afternoon, only taking out GaryLASQ's brother's Raelin. I think it had more to do with absurd dice rolling than a map design flaw, or strategic blunders on my part. I've never seen a game like that before.

[Onacara]

Ok so I got 2 games in on Winter Holdout playing the same army vs the same army both times. I won both but have to say I preferred starting from the blue start zone. Very fun map Jexik.

[Cleon]

Ok so I got 2 games in on Winter Holdout playing the same army vs the same army both times. I won both but have to say I preferred starting from the blue start zone. Very fun map Jexik.

Same here (except I played and liked the red starting zone, and played my same army twice but 2 different opponents) and I agree, great map Jexik! I love how there's 4 glyphs, how there's many LOS blockers, and the layout of each starting zone.

[lonewolf]

I love how there's 4 glyphs, how there's many LOS blockers, and the layout of each starting zone.

I am pretty sure that we will be playing only the outside two glyphs at Gencon, so you might want to eliminate the other two for your playtesting.

[Cleon]

I love how there's 4 glyphs, how there's many LOS blockers, and the layout of each starting zone.

I am pretty sure that we will be playing only the outside two glyphs at Gencon, so you might want to eliminate the other two for your playtesting.

Thanks for the heads up, lonewolf. :)

[Rÿchean]

Lonewolf is correct. Of course, it does say the outermost glyph locations in my first post. ;-)

[Eirikr]

Sorry if you feel you are repeating yourself or that this has already been made abundantly clear but I really want to be sure I understand you correctly in regards to random glyphs in the Championship event and others.
The glyphs will be revealed after players have set up their figures in the starting zone, and before players have placed their order markers for round 1. Glyphs will not be placed symbol side up, to be revealed when they are landed on.
Thank you for your patience,
Eirikr

I can only comment on last year....random glyphs were placed before setup face down, after setup and before order markers the glyphs were revealed.
Thanks lonewolf, and thankyou for your patience. I've never played that way before but tried it out this weekend. I like it, makes sense in a tournament setting I think. I will continue to try out the gencon maps using this system since if you were wrong I'm sure someone would have let us know by now.
Thanks again and +rep for you.

[playa1]

We've been playing like MAD on Gen Con Maps, but I'm still waiting for my Jungle trees to come in from Sandy (just ordered last week). In any case, I have a couple of observations and wondered if others thought the same. I also have a question for the powers that be (see last paragraph).

First impression is the small maps (probably good for minimal terrain use and quick games). I found Fire Islands, Highways and Dieways/swarm, and Felund Fountain really make for quick games. It seems to favor my son's swarming armies that can get reinforcements to the front really quickly -- I've played a couple of marro Hive on Highways and Fire, and it is also a plus since the 12 space limit pretty much covers the whole board.

Been playing Winter Holdout lately, and find it more difficult for my son's swarm armies and more advantageous for ranged armies.

Played on Turret Rocks with a few other friends last Sunday and we found it particularly slanted for flying armies. In fact, a flying army that I tend not to do very well with dominated the board over and over again!

I wanted to know if all the boards will be used in the championship competition. It seems that Turret Rocks would be more apt for capture Raelin and Jumpstart. Will it only be used in those Gen Con competitions?

[lonewolf]

I wanted to know if all the boards will be used in the championship competition. It seems that Turret Rocks would be more apt for capture Raelin and Jumpstart. Will it only be used in those Gen Con competitions?

Again, from my experience last year, there seemed to be a pretty even number of each map built. I believe that this was the objective.

I also believe that the goal is to achieve that balance that you were talking about where different maps favor different styles of armies and different styles of play. The question then becomes "Can you adapt the army you have to the map you are assigned, even if it isn't advantageous to your particular army?"

This is your challenge!

[Cleon]

I'd say my GenCon Championship army can be adapted to many map types, since it has range, pretty good movement, a squad I'll use for a swarming wave, and an excellent glyph grabber. I love it :D .

[Revdyer]

lonewolf makes a good point. I've said that there are at least three major elements of luck (or randomness, if you prefer) in a tournament where you play on some but not all of the maps:

1) the maps you do play on
2) the armies you face (and who is playing them against you)
3) the dice

All are important and they have to come together for you to win. (They're not equally important, of course; but that will vary for various reasons.)

[mogrebla]

What a GREAT selection of maps from the Heroscape community's unofficial Map-Builders' Hall of Fame! I see all my favorite designers here, some of my favorite maps, and some classic maps with terrific new twists.

The LI Heroscapers are going to use this set of maps for our Islandscape tournament on July 26, which we're billing as a warm-up for GENCON. We'll let you know how they play out!

[Rÿchean]

I wanted to know if all the boards will be used in the championship competition. It seems that Turret Rocks would be more apt for capture Raelin and Jumpstart. Will it only be used in those Gen Con competitions?

Turret Rocks as well as all the listed maps will be present in the main event. Given your assessments of Turret Rocks it reinforces my decision to include it. Every one of the selected maps favors a different style of army over another but being as all the maps will be played in the main event, no one type of build will have an advantage. If you build your army to do well on Turret Rocks it will probably have a hard time on Fire Isles. The maps were selected for a variety of reasons and diversity from one another was certainly a major element.

[Revdyer]

The selection of these maps is simply expert, Rychean. I, and many others, appreciate the many, many hours of work, study, and play that have gone into this task. Thank you.

[Onacara]

The selection of these maps is simply expert, Rÿchean. I, and many others, appreciate the many, many hours of work, study, and play that have gone into this task. Thank you.

My wife is not part of that list since I have maps all over the house now..but I appreciate it as does my son who now gets to play on different maps while I am at work.

[Velenne]

Ry's such a smartypants.


Hey, what am I doing in this section of the forum? And what's that smell?

[Jexik]

Yeah for every map that might favor a dragon (like Turret Rocks) there is a Highways and Dieways out there that makes it really hard to place certain dragons because of all of the dang trees.

Winter Holdout might be longer with high heights to climb, but it's balanced out by Fire Isles.

With 10 maps out there, you can't design your army to try to exploit any one map, but you should be ready for any of them...

[Revdyer]

Ry's such a smartypants.

I've got no idea whatsoever of the intelligence of Ry's pants. But I do know his brain is working primo!

[playa1]

The selection of these maps is simply expert, Rÿchean. I, and many others, appreciate the many, many hours of work, study, and play that have gone into this task. Thank you.

I totally agree. I could tell that the boards were very well chosen to appeal to a variety of army builds. I was hoping that Turret Rocks would be considered. It just seemed so different since it had only one glyph (always Astrid). As we practice on one board after another, they are all just so much fun! It is incredible that the tournament has such a great source of fair tournament boards! It is a testament to Ry as well as this site as a whole!

[stumpy_man]

I'm not sure if this was answered earlier in the thread as I haven't read the whole thing but for the Glyph placement on Feylund fountain could you explain a bit more specifically where the glyphs will be. I think they are by the rock next to the small part of the ruin where it juts out so that is the only part of the ruin it is touching.

Thanks.

[Rÿchean]

correct

[Shades fan]

The selection of these maps is simply expert, Rÿchean. I, and many others, appreciate the many, many hours of work, study, and play that have gone into this task. Thank you.
I feel so left out.since I nominated 3 of them.:lol:
I understand that most of the work most likely went in before I nominated some, but still.:D

Great job Ry!

[stumpy_man]

Great Job shades fan. :D

[stareknight]

i will be going im going to the tourneys the moment they open long live scape

[Revdyer]

i will be going im going to the tourneys the moment they open long live scape
Congratulations, stareknight; I hope to meet you there. You'll discover that at GenCon the use of the Shift key and punctuation marks is free. Oh, wait! It's free here too! Hooray! <grin>

[Cleon]

i will be going im going to the tourneys the moment they open long live scape

I also hope to see you there, meeting people you talk to on here and/or new scapers in real life at tournaments is very fun! If you have tickets for events and have scheduled them, may I ask what events you are in, if not then what events are you planning on going to?

[mogrebla]

I noted earlier in this thread that we would be using these beautiful Gencom maps for the LI Heroscapers' Islandscape tournament, which we've billed as a warm-up to Gencon. I also promised a brief review, so here it is.

Our tournament only had 5 rounds, so most of us (there were 20 players) only played on 5 of the 10 maps. My impression is that everyone was well-pleased with the maps, and that armies with advantages on one map were definitely disadvantaged on others, exactly as intended.

The only thing we found difficult was dealing with the random glyphs. It was logistically a problem to collect a large enough pool of the candidate random glyphs before hand, then have them ready for distribution to the various maps as players land on them. Pardom my ignorance if you've already done this at Gencon and had no problem with it, but I thought it was worth bringing up. Onacara was with us at Islandscape, so I'll ask him to chime in with his opinion.

This will be my first time to Gencon, and I'm looking forward to meeting many of you.

[Onacara]

The glyph thing was a bit confusing but I am pretty sure that Ry, GB and Truth know what they are doing and it will be extremely easy when we get there.

[paradox22]

It was logistically a problem to collect a large enough pool of the candidate random glyphs before hand, then have them ready for distribution to the various maps as players land on them. Pardom my ignorance if you've already done this at Gencon and had no problem with it, but I thought it was worth bringing up.

What we've done at our local tourneys is to make paper glyphs on the computer, cut them out and laminate them. That way if they get lost or misplaced it's no big deal and we always have pleanty to go around. We just place the correct number at each map for players to use and we are good-to-go. :2cents:

[Taeblewalker]

I noted earlier in this thread that we would be using these beautiful Gencom maps for the LI Heroscapers' Islandscape tournament, which we've billed as a warm-up to Gencon. I also promised a brief review, so here it is.

Our tournament only had 5 rounds, so most of us (there were 20 players) only played on 5 of the 10 maps. My impression is that everyone was well-pleased with the maps, and that armies with advantages on one map were definitely disadvantaged on others, exactly as intended.

The only thing we found difficult was dealing with the random glyphs. It was logistically a problem to collect a large enough pool of the candidate random glyphs before hand, then have them ready for distribution to the various maps as players land on them. Pardom my ignorance if you've already done this at Gencon and had no problem with it, but I thought it was worth bringing up. Onacara was with us at Islandscape, so I'll ask him to chime in with his opinion.

This will be my first time to Gencon, and I'm looking forward to meeting many of you.

I was certainly pleased, especially since I finally got to play a jungle map at a tournament (I somehow missed the jungle maps at Saratoga).

As for the random glyph system, I think it should involve simply having the D6 handy, a way to mark the map locations for them, and having the glyphs in a handy cup nearby for placement. I'm sure the guys at GenCon will have it all worked out.

[Grungebob]

It was logistically a problem to collect a large enough pool of the candidate random glyphs before hand, then have them ready for distribution to the various maps as players land on them. Pardom my ignorance if you've already done this at Gencon and had no problem with it, but I thought it was worth bringing up.

What we've done at our local tourneys is to make paper glyphs on the computer, cut them out and laminate them. That way if they get lost or misplaced it's no big deal and we always have pleanty to go around. We just place the correct number at each map for players to use and we are good-to-go. :2cents:
We also have bags of printed glyphs.

[ReverendBayes]

Downloaded the Mole Hills - Jungle Edition map today and played a tough

Laglor-Q9-Rae-Krav army

vs. a

Stingers-Rats-Cyprien army


With all that jungle brush, the Stingers-Rats were too much and won. Really great map!

But more importantly, I wanted to let Ry and anyone else know that the download of this map has a jungle tree attached to only one adjacent hex. This is against the jungle tree placement rules.

I'm not sure if this merits an update to the map; I just wanted to bring it to attention.

[Rÿchean]

I could have sworn I updated that....I will get it fixed.

EDIT - It did fix it. I just failed to upload the corrected file. My apologies; the individual download is good now.

[MattserTruckRally]

Downloaded the Mole Hills - Jungle Edition map today and played a tough

Laglor-Q9-Rae-Krav army

vs. a

Stingers-Rats-Cyprien army


With all that jungle brush, the Stingers-Rats were too much and won. Really great map!

But more importantly, I wanted to let Ry and anyone else know that the download of this map has a jungle tree attached to only one adjacent hex. This is against the jungle tree placement rules.

I'm not sure if this merits an update to the map; I just wanted to bring it to attention.


The Stingers + Cyprien is a dreaded combination for the Vydar Range army to deal with. Just more proof that no combination in Heroscape is unbeatable. I'm glad you had such success with it!

[gamjuven]

What maps will be used for the fly above cursed lands tourney? Or at least what will the height be on most of the maps. I'm thinking of actually using some non-flying units but I want to make sure I can win with them and not have to worry about how tall they are.

[Grungebob]

What maps will be used for the fly above cursed lands tourney? Or at least what will the height be on most of the maps. I'm thinking of actually using some non-flying units but I want to make sure I can win with them and not have to worry about how tall they are.
The same maps that the other events are being played on

[Onion Knight]

I could have sworn I updated that....I will get it fixed.

EDIT - It did fix it. I just failed to upload the corrected file. My apologies; the individual download is good now.

That really is a fun map, Rychean. Great job. I'm especially glad for that update because it only takes Gulp a few beers before he continually knocks that tree over.

I think that's why he's called "Gulp."

:lol:

[Xaqery]

I could have sworn I updated that....I will get it fixed.

EDIT - It did fix it. I just failed to upload the corrected file. My apologies; the individual download is good now.

That really is a fun map, Rÿchean. Great job. I'm especially glad for that update because it only takes Gulp a few beers before he continually knocks that tree over.

I think that's why he's called "Gulp."

:lol:
This is funny because my boys and I just built this field saturday and I bet we knocked over that tree 20 times in the first two games. I am glad to see that that is not the way the map is supposed to be.

Thanks for the update.

[Jexik]

Actually, I usually find the correctly placed tree in the middle which is adjacent to that 3 hex sand piece gets knocked over the most.

Nevertheless, it's a great facelift on the first BoV map.

[Shades fan]

Could we leave this thread up the whole time, that way we can look back upon it for past GenCon maps that were used.?:D