Shedim's Maps - Raknid (12/19/2012)

[Shedim Kabal]

Gorky Park 1v1/24 (1 RotV, 2 FotA, 1 TJ) PDF Virtualscape Google Doc



Separation Anxiety 1v1/24 (1 BftU) PDF Virtualscape Google Doc

Spoiler Alert!

Setup: Place the Glyph of Astrid and Gerda power side up as shown.

Um, yeah, Separation Anxiety is my first attempt at a single BftU map for Typhon's contest. I tried to take it in a different direction. Playtesting to commence in the next few days. Sam's going to try making a map, too, and because they're so small they might both fit on the table at the same time. Yay.

Thorgrim's Pass 1v1/24 hex (2 BftU, 1 TT) PDF Virtualscape

Spoiler Alert!

Through the howling winds and harrowing paths of Thorgrim's Pass, two armies blindly weave towards a battle whose winner will control more than just the Thaelenk Tundra stretching far below.

Setup: Place the Glyph of Dagmar (Initiative + and the Glyph of Valda (Move +2) power side up as shown.

Rules: Heavy Snow, Normal Ice. Destory all your opponent's figures.

Shurrak's Workshop 1v1/24 hex (1 RotV, 1 FotA, 1 VW) PDF Virtualscape

Spoiler Alert!

Setup: Place the Glyph of Wannok power side up and one randomly Treasure Glyph symbol side up as shown. After players have positioned their armies, place Shurrak on the Red Start Zone locations.

Rules: Both players may place up to two order markers on Shurrak ’s army card. When an order marker is revealed on Shurrak, the revealing player controls Shurrak for the duration of his turn (i.e. he temporarily becomes part of the revealing player’s army). After that turn, Shurrak becomes neutral again and is not controlled by either player. While Shurrak is neutral, he is always treated as an opponent’s figure. Shurrak will always perform leaving engagement attacks against figures that disengage from it. Shurrak can never receive wounds from the Glyph of Wannok. For more information see: http://www.heroscapers.com/community...ad.php?t=33801

Destroy all your oppenent's figures.

Print Guide: To save on paper, you can print pages 2, 6 and 8 of the PDF while still inferring how to build the map.

This was my alternate entry for the map contest, but I don't think it's going to get the playtesting needed to enter it. Something about throwing tournament players onto an untested lava and castle map seems unsavory (yeah, I'm considering it). Still, it looks fun fun fun. The optional rule of requiring players to say, "Ho ho ho!" when using Shurrak's Sweeping Sword Special Attack is highly recommended.

Gauth Feengotten 1v1/24 Hex (2 BftU, 1 SotM, 2 RotV - Ruins Only) PDF Virtualscape

Spoiler Alert!

The ruins of a forgotten city lie crumbling deep beneath the Aunstrem Hills; its great halls abandoned, its aqueducts spoiled. But the tunnels weaving through the hills, so long ago carved and traveled by the vanished Nidhog, now see lighter feet disturbing their ancient stones.

Seeking to use the tunnels for your own needs, you've stumbled across the skeletal remains of the once sprawling Ssaulth City within the maze of the Gauth Feengotten. But you are not alone. Defeat all of your opponent's figures.

Setup: Use any random classic glyph in place of the Glyph of Brandar.

Spelionyx 1v1/24 hex (1 RotV, 1 BftU) VirtualScape

Spoiler Alert!

Goal: Destroy all of your opponent's figures.

Setup: Randomly select 2 non-Brandar’s Chest Treasure Glyphs and place them symbol side up as shown. Place the Glyphs of Lodin and Gerda power side up as shown.

Stalactites: If a figure uses the Flying special power to move, roll an attack die when that figure starts its move. If a skull is rolled, place 1 wound marker on that figure. Figures with Stealth Flying are not affected by Stalactites.

Treasure Glyph Trap: Roll the 20-sided die. If you roll a 1-5, do not reveal the Treasure Glyph. Instead, your opponent may place the Glyph on any unoccupied Shadow Tile. If you roll a 6 or higher, turn the Treasure Glyph power-side up and place it on that Hero’s Army Card.

Background Credit

Netherwall 1v1/22 hex (2 BftU, 1 SotM, 1 RotV - Ruins Only) VirtualScape

Spoiler Alert!

Goal: Destroy all of your opponent's figures.

Setup: Randomly select 3 non-Brandar’s Chest Treasure Glyphs and place them symbol side up as shown. Place the Glyph of Wannok power side up as shown.

Stalactites: When a figure uses the Flying special power to move, roll an attack die when that figure starts its move. If a skull is rolled, place 1 wound marker on that figure. Figures with Stealth Flying are not affected by Stalactites.

Treasure Glyph Trap: Roll the 20-sided die. If you roll a 1-5, do not reveal the Treasure Glyph. Instead, your opponent may place the Glyph on any unoccupied Shadow Tile. If you roll a 6 or higher, turn the Treasure Glyph power-side up and place it on that Hero’s Army Card.

Shadow of the Great City: All spaces adjacent to a Ruin are considered Shadow Tiles.

Inspired by the Chaos in the Catacombs map, I've decided to try a totally different sort of map making from my usual landscapes - while still attempting to make pretty straightforward, playable maps.

Netherwall uses a few more sets than I'd like (2 BftU, 1 SotM, Ruins from RotV), and there might be an overzealous use of Outcroppings... Along with the dreaded "move up to move out" issue. Hopefully I can get those under control in the next few maps. Anyway, thoughts?

[Shedim Kabal]

Spelionyx VirtualScape File
1v1/24 hex (1 RotV, 1 BftU)

Spoiler Alert!

Goal: Destroy all of your opponent's figures.

Setup: Randomly select 2 non-Brandar’s Chest Treasure Glyphs and place them symbol side up as shown. Place the Glyphs of Lodin and Gerda power side up as shown.

Stalactites: If a figure uses the Flying special power to move, roll an attack die when that figure starts its move. If a skull is rolled, place 1 wound marker on that figure. Figures with Stealth Flying are not affected by Stalactites.

Treasure Glyph Trap: Roll the 20-sided die. If you roll a 1-5, do not reveal the Treasure Glyph. Instead, your opponent may place the Glyph on any unoccupied Shadow Tile. If you roll a 6 or higher, turn the Treasure Glyph power-side up and place it on that Hero’s Army Card.

Background Credit

[Arcus]

I really like the ideas behind your maps. I especially like the idea of stalactites, and it makes perfect sense for cavern based maps.

Question: I noticed you have "gaps" in certain areas of your maps. Are figs allowed to step down into or fly over them?

[Shedim Kabal]

Spoiler Alert!

I like to think of the "gaps" as a lattice of crystals and limestone pillars, forming a sort of cage around the "rooms". There's enough openings in the spelaean weave for someone with sufficiant skill (represented by Range) to attack figures on the other side, but it's too tight or treacherous a space for figures to cross between. In short, no flying or moving through them, except with special powers like Tunneling.

"Negative space" is generally ill considered, but I really think it works for underground caverns.

[Arcus]

Originally Posted by Shedim Kabal

I like to think of the "gaps" as a lattice of crystals and limestone pillars, forming a sort of cage around the "rooms". There's enough openings in the spelaean weave for someone with sufficiant skill (represented by Range) to attack figures on the other side, but it's too tight or treacherous a space for figures to cross between. In short, no flying or moving through them, except with special powers like Tunneling.

"Negative space" is generally ill considered, but I really think it works for underground caverns.

I like negative space because it adds an extra dimension to the game, but I have yet to play with it in one of my own. I like your explaination and it fits perfectly with your theme. Well done my friend, well done.

[Shedim Kabal]

Gauth Feengotten PDF File
Gauth Feengotten Virtualscape File
2v2/24 Hex (2 BftU, 1 SotM, 2 RotV - Ruins Only)

Spoiler Alert!

The ruins of a forgotten city lie crumbling deep beneath the Aunstrem Hills; its great halls abandoned, its aqueducts spoiled. But the tunnels weaving through the hills, so long ago carved and traveled by the vanished Nidhog, now see lighter feet disturbing their ancient stones.

Seeking to use the tunnels for your own needs, you've stumbled across the skeletal remains of the once sprawling Ssaulth City within the maze of the Gauth Feengotten. But you are not alone. Defeat all of your opponent's figures.

Use any random classic glyph in place of the Glyph of Brandar.

[Shedim Kabal]

Added what will likely be my submission to the 2011 Beast of the East Map Creation Contest.

[Shedim Kabal]

Got a couple more games on Thorgrim's Pass (10th Reg and Iron Golem v. Wyrmlings x2 and Moltenclaw), and made some modifications based on the results. The Glyph of Thorian was a lightning rod, sucking up most of the action, so I nixed it for the Glyph of Valda (Move +2), which is probably more even to the Initiative glyph. I also tried to protect the glyphs a bit better from the center height, but that tended to crunch the map up. I decided to go ahead an open the outer edge up then, since movement was already showing weakness in the early matches. Finally, I fixed the double space army start zone punishment square (I left the glacier for visual "symmetry").

So far, the x'ed locations look like trouble, but I hope the purple chokepoints won't be, since there's more choices in path. I wish I was better with rats, so I could really test that out, but it looks like she's taking Greenscales and Nilfheim, which I'm thinking will give me a good idea of how that'll play out.

My favorite part of this map is how difficult it is to place Raelin without holding your army back.

[Shedim Kabal]

Well, another game down:

Dzu-Teh x2, Nakita Agents, Greater Ice Elemental and Iron Golem v. Nilfhiem, Greenscales x2, Raelin, Red Wyrmling x2 and White Wyrmling x2

It was a pretty epic fight. Used to the Green Machine, she overextended Nilfhiem, allowing me to get some significant wounds on him before the Greenscales caught up (which happened right after she snatched the Move Glyph from me with her Wyrmling bonding).

But even with an early end to the Ivory Pillar, my army was pretty ragged; a lone Nakita and a Dzu-Teh remained of my squads, while a wounded Iron Golem fell unexpectedly to an errant lizard in my start zone. She wasn't doing much better though: two Wyrmlings, Raelin, and a Greenscale on the Iniative glyph.

Flying has a huge and obvious advantage in the Pass, but she decided to pound that point home to me with a game of Ring Around the Glacier with my Icicle playing the part of Monkey and her Wyrmling making its best Weasel face. It only ended when she leaned a little heavy on the Iniative glyph, rolling an 7 to my 17. Pop goes the Weasel.

The Greater Ice Elemental healed up slogging through the hills on his way after the remaining Greenscale, who fell on his precious glyph. Raelin finished the game when she once again showed herself less than merciful and one-shotted me from height.

I did take home more than just the difficulty of the heavy snow. The outer lanes are too narrow. Which pretty much means the map needs a full rebuild for competitive play, but also:



This square altered the game way too much. Note to self: watch elevation changes along outer edges.

On the plus side, the shadow bands are really neat. They act almost like a deccelerant, but also protect slower armies against elevation changes. And I still like how difficult it is to place Raelin. It's hard enough that Sam's trading her out for more Wyrmlings next time. Widening the map lanes while keeping that front and center (it's sort of a metaphor for all line of sight) is my new challenge.

[Shedim Kabal]

Full rebuild of Thorgrim's Pass is completed. I've opened up the map a bit (ok, a lot), and spread the heavy snow around in a much less punishing - yet still, I hope, dynamic - manner. But now that the competition is heating up in the map contest - with some pretty excellent submissions in a similar vein, it's really a question of whether the play is compelling enough.

The picture above is actually version 1-2, but there's only one change between it and the newest revision. Can you spot it?

Spoiler Alert!

I've done my best to squeeze the Zelrig rating down while still keeping the pathing accessible to double-spaced figures; cutting out areas where a single figure can block access to height without even having to be engaged.

I also really like the new start zone layout and early glyph capture. There's something of a story there, but it also encourages you to get out and make a run for it; both glyphs are about speed, and the map despite its twisting ways favors armies that get out and move aggressively. Maybe it's that if you don't, the Krav will be hitting your start zone from height (and shadow!) by the second order marker...

Hope to get a couple more games in by Saturday, but it's crunch time around here.

If I can only get one more game in, is there an army that you think could break this map?

[Shedim Kabal]

I made a couple changes to the map: first, I switched a couple of hot lava for lava field, for stability under the castle. And second, I moved Shurrak's start zone outside the castle. It's not that he can't fit - he can, it's just not convenient. (Forgive the SotM standing in for ice and snow, Thorgrim's Pass is still getting play ATM.)

[Typhon2222]

Hah hah hah, a huge glacier atop castle walls. Love it.