Typhon2222's Maps — updated Caldera (April 22).

[Typhon2222]

Originally Posted by 1Mmirg

I like the second. I'm not even sure it really requires that much more commitment (just changes when you make the choice, perhaps). I like the middle and the water better.

Have you tried the stalagmites out to see what configuration feels best? I like the idea, I just wonder (not having tried it) if it would be better if one of the 7s was behind the 3-hex one--making it more central. Totally unimportant, but the kinds of things that OCDs like me think about...

1Mmirg, thanks oodles. After spending so many hours obsessing with the minutiae of these things, counting hex paths endlessly, it's easy to lose sight of the big picture -- such as how the middle and the water look. That's really helpful.

I'll fiddle with the outcrops....

[Typhon2222]

Here's the newest revision (v3) of Leviathan. I trimmed off the flab from the sides. The result is a leaner, more compact map that plays faster and is friendlier to melee. (Also looks better too. I like the spiraling arcs and curving ridges, if I do say so myself. I often think maps look better in VS than in real life. But in this case, I feel the opposite. )

EDIT: there's a later revision, version 4, below.


Leviathan (v3) Download PDF
Uses: 1 SotM, 1 BftU.

[1Mmirg]

When my table clears again, I'll have to build it. Definitely a good looking map in VS--love to see it live.

(Interesting rock formation. I'd like to see that one live too--don't like the way the stalagmites look in VS much.)

[Typhon2222]

Some random comments on LEVIATHAN (v3)

• Proof against Z-bombs.
• Eight walk to left glyph. Eight walk to right glyph. I.e.,.... bring on the Zombies! Nine walk to central glyph. (Technically eight, but a speed bump means that a Move 4 unit won't be able to reach it on OM2.) Marcu can still pull his glyph-grabbing cheese though. Can't have it all.
• Going right seemly slightly preferable to going left: it gets you to level 3 faster, and is better situated for attacking and holding the glyph. This advantage is countered by the SZ separation and the seven-hex swamp hill between them, which limits the number of units you can easily commit to the right. Going left makes it easier to send in reinforcements.
• There are 4 single-hex tiles at the top level (level 4), and for walkers they're equidistant from both sides.
• No easy choices for Raelin. The level-4 side perches are out of her reach. She can just make one of the central level-4 perches, and that might seem tempting. But she's exposed there: it's hard for her to bring up reinforcements quickly enough to provide protection, while her opponents can swarm her.
• No good dragon perches that I can see either.
• Maybe it's the vaguely yin-yang shape of the spiraling arcs, but looking at this map on the table soothes me.

[Killometer]

I think that Leviathan looks like it really benefitted from the lipo you gave it's edges. I also like the Drudge love with the high swamp water (I've been really keen on that lately). Now you just need to find a way to make them within 5 spaces of each other so that the Drudge can really maximize their use.

Originally Posted by Typhon2222

I often think maps look better in VS than in real life. But in this case, I feel the opposite.

I almost exclusively feel the opposite (especially any map with jungle).

[BlackHeadedLuckSucker]

Originally Posted by Killometer

I almost exclusively feel the opposite (especially any map with jungle).

I Second Killometer On This.

[Typhon2222]

Originally Posted by 1Mmirg

When my table clears again, I'll have to build it. Definitely a good looking map in VS--love to see it live.

(Interesting rock formation. I'd like to see that one live too--don't like the way the stalagmites look in VS much.)

Thanks 1Mmirg. Given your aesthetic eye, that means a lot.

I've discovered that the clump of stalagmites looks better if the 3-hexer is rotated to put the highest peak in the middle. Also does a better job of blocking all LoS between the adjacent level-4 dungeon perch and the level-4 swamp perch on the other side of the clump.

[Typhon2222]

Originally Posted by Killometer

I think that Leviathan looks like it really benefitted from the lipo you gave it's edges. I also like the Drudge love with the high swamp water (I've been really keen on that lately). Now you just need to find a way to make them within 5 spaces of each other so that the Drudge can really maximize their use.

Originally Posted by Killometer

I almost exclusively feel the opposite (especially any map with jungle).

Mmmm, that's true. Jungle looks sparse and pitiful in VS.

[Typhon2222]

Folks, what do you think of Leviathan's Shadow placement? I'm pretty convinced that the Shadow hex near the middle, directly adjacent to the level-4 dungeon perch, does a good job there. But I don't have strong feelings about any of the others.

Always hard to know whether to place Shadow with movement out of the SZ in mind, or from another place on the map (for example, units who might try to move from the middle of the map out to the side zones).

The one I'm most thinking of changing is the Shadow beside the Wannok. Maybe lift it up to the center of the seven-hex swamp tile on level 3, right beside the level-4 perch? Could put a swamp water tile beside the Wannok instead....

[Typhon2222]

Photo of Leviathan, with some of my custom spray-painted terrain.

[1Mmirg]

Originally Posted by Typhon2222

Folks, what do you think of Leviathan's Shadow placement? I'm pretty convinced that the Shadow hex near the middle, directly adjacent to the level-4 dungeon perch, does a good job there. But I don't have strong feelings about any of the others.

Always hard to know whether to place Shadow with movement out of the SZ in mind, or from another place on the map (for example, units who might try to move from the middle of the map out to the side zones).

The one I'm most thinking of changing is the Shadow beside the Wannok. Maybe lift it up to the center of the seven-hex swamp tile on level 3, right beside the level-4 perch? Could put a swamp water tile beside the Wannok instead....

I like the Shadows next to high/critical points, personally. And not on height themselves, so I like where you have things.

You are right though that if I did move some Shadows that the ones by the Wannoks would make the most sense. I can see moving them up next to the level 4 height, though it does put them up pretty high themselves at level 3.

[Typhon2222]

Originally Posted by 1Mmirg

I like the Shadows next to high/critical points, personally. And not on height themselves, so I like where you have things.

You are right though that if I did move some Shadows that the ones by the Wannoks would make the most sense. I can see moving them up next to the level 4 height, though it does put them up pretty high themselves at level 3.

Thanks 1Mmirg. Glad to know there's no glaringly obvious option I'm missing.