Raids of Valhalla - Discussion Thread.

[Kaemon Awa 123]

This is the discussion thread. See the Display Thread for a list of inducted maps.

By-laws for the Raids of Vahalla

Spoiler Alert!

SECTION 1: Submission guidelines and tips
1. Maps shall contain exactly 16 hexes of start zone for each player. Start zones must be identified in the build instructions and must accommodate the Marro Hive in some capacity.
2. Maps should be balanced for 1-on-1 competition between two (2) 200-350 point armies
3. Maps are not to exceed 1 MS and up to 2 terrain expansions. There are exceptions; please note the set classifications at the bottom of this section.
4. Use of the Marvel Warehouse Ruin is allowed. The second level spaces may be removed and a clear note of whether it is removed or attached must be made. Use of the Marro Hive as a line-of-sight blocker is allowed with the SotM set. Keep in mind the fewer expansions a map includes the more likely it is to be used. Submitted maps must state what sets are needed.
5. Anyone can nominate a map for consideration, but it will not go through the judging process without a majority vote of the Council.
6. Submitted maps must include build instructions.
7. Glyphs are not required, but any number may be used to enhance a map.
(a) Maps containing symbol-side up Treasure Glyphs must state which glyphs are Treasure Glyphs, otherwise mystery glyphs will be treated as standard glyphs. (Until another means of marking Treasure Glyphs becomes available, any face-up Brandar can be designated in the build instructions as a symbol-side up Treasure Glyph.)
(b) Symbol-side up Treasure Glyphs must include a description of the trap the map uses in the build instructions. Trap design will be considered in judging the map.
8. Nominations should be in .pdf format. Special circumstances may warrant exception.
9. Maps should not heavily favor any one special ability to the point that it makes the map non-competitive if an army does not contain that ability (i.e. range, flying, etc.).
10. Do NOT slap a map together and nominate it for consideration. Nominated maps must have some games played by more than one person. Additional game play experiences and observations are encouraged.


Classification of Heroscape sets:

• Master Sets. One of the following may be used as a master set:
  • Rise of the Valkyrie
  • Marvel: The Conflict Begins
  • Swarm of the Marro
  • D&D: Battle for the Underdark
• Expansions: Up to two of the following may be used.
  • Road To The Forgotten Forest
  • Volcarren Wasteland
  • Thaelenk Tundra (Special restriction: at most one of this set may be used.)
  • Fortress of the Archkyrie (Special restriction: at most one of this set may be used)
  • Ticalla Jungle
• Hybrid Master Sets: One of the following may be used in place of an expansion, but may not be used with Rise of the Valkyrie:
  • Marvel: The Conflict Begins (Except when also used as a master set.)
  • D&D: Battle for the Underdark

SECTION 2: How maps are judged
Maps nominated for consideration will go through the following process after a majority of acceptance votes by the judges:
1. Maps will be playtested competitively at least once by all judges, using 200-350 point armies. Candidates for approval will be playtested more than once.
2. Consideration for approved maps will be given, generally, based on the following criteria and in this order: balance, interesting play, and aesthetics.
3. Time for consideration is: as long as it takes for the judges to make an informed decision.
4. Great maps will be approved; not good ones. Don't let this discourage you.
5. Judge discussions will occur in a public and private forums on the non-official Heroscape web site: Currently www.heroscapers.com
7. Reviews on maps will be public with status and results presented.
8. Maps that receive a super-majority of 75% (currently 5 out of a possible 6) of the Council will be formatted and given the Raids of Valhalla Seal of Approval. Judges may abstain from a vote on a particular map, thereby reducing the total number of votes needed for acceptance.

SECTION 3: Self-governance
1. The Council will contain six judges, but may function with a minimum of four. The current judges are: Kaemon Awa 123, Shockma Ranyk, Stryphe, Son of Arathorn, Bamoguy, Robber
2. Judges will maintain their position unless:
a) They are not heard from by fellow judges on the official non-official Heroscape web site for a period of 31 days, or
b) They abstain for a total of three months or for three consecutive maps under review, whichever comes later.
3. If a vacancy on the council occurs, judges will be replaced by those who:
a) show interest in serving, and
b) after consideration of the sitting judges receive 75 % vote of approval. Voting and discussion of a replacement judge may occur in private.
4. Judges will not be allowed to vote on their own maps. During the judging of their own maps their vote will be considered an abstention for the percentages needed to both playtest and approve the map. Their vote will NOT be counted as an abstention for purposes of the "three consecutive maps" criteria in Section 3-2-b.
5. These by-laws may be changed and amended at any time by a 75 % vote of sitting judges.

Maps not yet accepted for review:

None

Maps currently under review:

None

[Scapemage]

Interesting...small maps for quick games...

[Killometer]

Originally Posted by Kaemon Awa 123

Other changes I would like to make, please give opinions:

-Legalize the Warehouse Ruin

Emphatic no, at least if you want the maps to be generally balanceable for tourney play.

The problem with the Warehouse Ruin is that only Flying (or Dropping, Stealth Leaping or Grappling) figures can get to the top of it. So if the Warehouse is on a map, any army with flying ranged units autowins against any army limited to melee ground units.

[Kaemon Awa 123]

Originally Posted by Killometer

Emphatic no, at least if you want the maps to be generally balanceable for tourney play.

The problem with the Warehouse Ruin is that only Flying (or Dropping, Stealth Leaping or Grappling) figures can get to the top of it. So if the Warehouse is on a map, any army with flying ranged units autowins against any army limited to melee ground units.

Really? I don't have a Marvel set, didn't know that you could go on top.

Thanks for the pointer, I'll take it off the list.


Also, I'm still looking for judges, spots will be given on a first come, first serve basis with potential exceptions for users who have proven their knowledge with maps.

[mac122]

Originally Posted by Kaemon Awa 123

Really? I don't have a Marvel set, didn't know that you could go on top.

Thanks for the pointer, I'll take it off the list.


Also, I'm still looking for judges, spots will be given on a first come, first serve basis with potential exceptions for users who have proven their knowledge with maps.

If the floor piece is not inserted, there is no place to land. In that situation, it would make an excellent LOS blocker.

[Kaemon Awa 123]

So it's possible to remove the "floor" without permanantly ripping it off? Because I doubt many people would like having to break their ruin to build a SKoV map.

[mac122]

Originally Posted by Kaemon Awa 123

So it's possible to remove the "floor" without permanantly ripping it off? Because I doubt many people would like having to break their ruin to build a SKoV map.

It is removable without breaking it (I checked that before I posted before).

[Kaemon Awa 123]

Ok then, after reading both the FAQ and Marvel Rulebook, I see nothing that would object to that, therefore if there are no further objections, the Skirmishes of Valalla Will allow the Marvel Warehouse Ruin as a LoS blocker only, with second floor spaces removed

[Shockma Ranyk]

I think this sounds like a great idea for a project. I've recently been gearing towards smaller maps myself.

I'd be interested in judging.

[Kaemon Awa 123]

OK, we have our second judge, Shockma Ranyk.

There are four spots left, anyone else intrested in becoming a judge must send me a PM and post in the thread.

[Kaemon Awa 123]

Still looking for judges, although you can nominate a map whenever you want.

[personwholives]

I think this is pretty interesting. It'll probably be easier to get games together for this then WoV (which I also judge in), and I like smaller games anyway.

Count me in, once you have more judges.

Note, you should also take a look in your bylaws. I don't think you'll be giving any maps the Battlefields of Valhalla seal of approval (2.8 ).