This is the sixth post in a series about the theory of mapmaking.
Part 1 was about glyph placement,
part 2 was about map footprint size and shape, and
part 3 was about map orientation and map symmetry,
part 4 was about elevation variance and small landings, and
part 5 was about the interplay between line of sight blockers and map choke points. This installment is about how quickly figures, particularly common squads, can deploy on a given map.
The move toward more compact maps has benefited some figures in obvious ways. Zelrig can deliver more 1-OM bombs, and melee figures are less vulnerable to retreating or turtling ranged figures. However, I would note that maps that allow figures to reach the action at the center of the board in a single OM don't just benefit melee over range. They benefit common figures over unique figures.
The great advantage common figures have over unique figures is that they can continue to get a full activation on each OM even...