14-Hex Start Zone Mini-Maps

[Nomad]

Only have 30 minutes or so to get a game in? Do you want a quick hitting, fast-paced match? Can different figures and different strategies than typical prove worthy? A smaller map with smaller armies might be the answer.

Grab a map and have fun.

I am hosting an event in Everett, WA, that has a limit of 350-armies utilizing 14-hex start zones. I am quite fond of the skirmish and scraps style maps that have been shared, but wanted more of the traditional tourney-format maps that are modified to have a smaller footprint. We have conducted some trial runs, with promising results.

Here is what I came up with ...

1) Each of the master sets have been revised. RotV was split into two sets. Some movement of hexes from one master to another was made so that each revised master set has close to the same number of hexes. There are five revised master sets - RotV1, RotV2, SotM, BftU, and Marvel. These are outlined in the second post.

2) Each of the expansion sets have been split into two. Also outlined in the second post.

3) Each map is built with one revised master set and two half-expansions with 14-hex start zones. With one of each master and expansion set, five complete maps can be built. The library of these mini-maps are contained in the third post of this thread. Cartographers - give it a shot and post in this thread, please name your map with the name and "-14" suffix. I will add them to the library.

4) The map size must not have a footprint larger than 22 x 22 inches. The reasoning behind this is that multiple maps can be easily placed on those ubiquitous plastic tables.

Thanks for checking this out. Please share your thoughts and questions.

[Nomad]

Below is how each master and expansion set for the smaller footprint has been revised. RotV was split into two sets, and then tiles were shifted to other sets so that each master contains about the same number of hexes. Each expansion was split in half, roughly.


Master Set Revisions

RotV1

Spoiler Alert!

grass
4 24-hex
3 7-hex
3 3-hex
3 2-hex
6 1-hex
rock
1 7-hex
1 3-hex
1 2-hex
2 1-hex
sand
1 7-hex
1 3-hex
1 2-hex
2 1-hex
water
8 1-hex
ruin
1 2-hex
Total hexes: 174

RotV2

Spoiler Alert!

grass
2 24-hex
2 7-hex
2 3-hex
2 2-hex
6 1-hex
rock
2 24-hex
2 7-hex
2 3-hex
2 2-hex
2 1-hex
sand
1 7-hex
1 3-hex
1 2-hex
2 1-hex
water
8 1-hex
ruin
1 3-hex
Total hexes: 174

SotM

Spoiler Alert!

swamp grass
2 24-hex
6 7-hex
2 3-hex
2 2-hex
2 1-hex
sand
3 7-hex
2 3-hex
1 2-hex
1 1-hex
rock
1 3-hex
1 2-hex
1 1-hex
grass
1 2-hex
1 1-hex
swamp water
20 1-hex
water
6 1-hex
hive
1 6-hex
Total hexes: 173

BftU

Spoiler Alert!

dungeon
2 24-hex
3 7-hex
2 3-hex
2 2-hex
2 1-hex
sand
3 7-hex
1 2-hex
1 1-hex
rock
3 7-hex
2 3-hex
1 2-hex
3 1-hex
grass
1 3-hex
1 2-hex
5 1-hex
shadow
8 1-hex
water
12 1-hex
outcrop
1 3-hex
3 1-hex
Total hexes: 173

Marvel

Spoiler Alert!

concrete
3 7-hex
7 2-hex
4 1-hex
warehouse
1 6-hex
grass
8 2-hex
2 1-hex
aphalt
3 7-hex
8 2-hex
3 1-hex
swamp grass
4 7-hex
swamp water
14 1-hex
sand
2 7-hex
water
7 1-hex
rock
1 7-hex
Total hexes: 173

Expansion Set Revisions

Volcarren

Spoiler Alert!

Volcarren1
lava field
2 7-hex
2 2-hex
3 1-hex
lava field
6 1-hex

Volcarren2
lava field
2 7-hex
3 2-hex
2 1-hex
lava field
5 1-hex

Tundra

Spoiler Alert!

Tundra1
glacier
1 6-hex
2 1-hex
snow
6 2-hex
6 1-hex
ice
11 1-hex

Tundra2
glacier
1 4-hex
1 3-hex
1 1-hex
snow
6 2-hex
6 1-hex
ice
10 1-hex

RttFF

Spoiler Alert!

RttFF1
1 15-tree
1 11-tree
road
1 5-hex
3 2-hex
3 1-hex

RttFF2
1 12-tree
1 11-tree
1 10-tree
road
5 2-hex
5 1-hex

Ticalla

Spoiler Alert!

Ticalla1
1 16-palm
3 bush

Ticalla2
1 15-palm
1 14-palm
3 bush

Castle

Spoiler Alert!

Castle1
walls
5 corner
3 straight
2 end
1 door
walk
1 9-hex
10 1-hex
other
25 battlement
11 ladder

Castle2
walls
5 corner
4 straight
2 end
walk
1 7-hex
11 1-hex
other
25 battlement
11 ladder

[Nomad]

Set 1 - 5 maps made with each revised master and expansion.
Build directions are linked just above the map image.

Bing-14: RotV1, Tundra2, RttFF1


Inkspots-14: Marvel, Tundra1, Volcarren1


Mungo-14: RotV2, Castle1, Volcarren2


Usafora-14: BftU, RttFF2, Ticalla2


Whitney-14: SotM, Castle2, Ticalla1



Set 2 - 5 maps made with each revised master and expansion.

Baccara-14: RotV1, RttFF1, RttFF2


Celine-14: RotV2, Tundra1, Ticalla1


Elton-14: BftU, Castle1, Volcarren2


Elvis-14: Marvel, Castle2, Ticalla2


Haley-14: SotM, Tundra2, Volcarren1



Others:

Sakamoto-14



Mbarga-14

[caps]

This is great! Thanks for sharing Nomad.

[Myriadite]

Agreed! I really like this idea.

[Nomad]

Originally Posted by caps

This is great! Thanks for sharing Nomad.

Originally Posted by Myriadite

Agreed! I really like this idea.

Thank you. I will share how participants respond to the smaller map after Saturday's event.

[Nomad]

Two more maps for our event on Saturday. They both use the Ruins of Belgar.


Sakamoto-14



Mbarga-14

[Nomad]

I hosted an event on Saturday that utilized the 12 posted 14-hex maps. Nearly 50 games were played. All seemed to enjoy the smaller maps and the quicker battles. Numerous people said that the maps were outstanding! Most impressively, they stated that not one map determined the outcome of a battle.

It was a fun and encouraging day knowing that the maps played well.

[Nomad]

On smaller maps, there is always the concern that whoever gets initiative in the first round is going to have an advantage. There are a few ideas that might mitigate that concern listed below. If you try any or can think of others, please share.


1. Armies start off the battle field and the first move comes from the back of the start zone (any tile that borders an edge). This might prevent Zelrig bombs and ranged explosions into the start zone.


2. In the first round, movement is reduced by half for each figure, rounded down.


3. In the first round, no ranged attacks or powers that could deal wounds on an opponent may be used.


Just throwing out some ideas.