The 1x BftU Challenge (Map Creation Contest)

[Typhon2222]

Originally Posted by Eirikr

Congratulations to all who made the final 8. Some great maps with limited terrain.
I am running a local tournament and this contest has inspired me to have all 8 maps be underdark maps. I will be using at least 3 maps from this contest as well as a number of maps using underdar and 1 or 2 expansions. I figure showcasing underdark will be good since onlookers from the larger gaming community at the convention will be able to see what the Underdark set has to offer and it is still widely available.

Eirikr, I can't wait to hear how your event goes. I'll be using almost exactly the same format for our upcoming NorCal/Bay Area tourney in April: the winners from our contest, plus some other maps each using 1x BftU and a single expansion.

Who knows, maybe Mika Connour and the Drow will finally feature in a tourney-winning army.

[Killometer]

A new map inspired by this contest:

Originally Posted by Killometer

I submitted Subterranean Oasis to Typhon2222's 1x BftU Challenge, a map that I got too fixated on maintaining open traffic lanes instead of making, um, you know, a map that's actually fun and interesting to play on.

I started tweaking it shortly after the contest began, and pretty quickly Subterranean Oasis v1.1 became an entirely new map. The only thing remaining is the central pool of water with the glyph on it (shamelessly stolen from GameBear's Badru Valley).

So I present to you...

The map I wish I had entered: Karst
requires 1 BftU
supports 1 random power glyph

[Eirikr]

Originally Posted by Typhon2222

Eirikr, I can't wait to hear how your event goes. I'll be using almost exactly the same format for our upcoming NorCal/Bay Area tourney in April: the winners from our contest, plus some other maps each using 1x BftU and a single expansion.

Who knows, maybe Mika Connour and the Drow will finally feature in a tourney-winning army.

I am finding it much harder than I origionally anticipated. I am having a hard time finding maps that fit my criteria. In particular I am having a hard time finding suitable maps with 1xBftU + 1xTT and 1xBftU + 1x VW.
Still looking though.

[Typhon2222]

Originally Posted by Eirikr

I am finding it much harder than I origionally anticipated. I am having a hard time finding maps that fit my criteria. In particular I am having a hard time finding suitable maps with 1xBftU + 1xTT and 1xBftU + 1x VW.
Still looking though.

So true. The only map I know of using 1xBftU + 1xTT is Ice Thistle.
And as for 1xBftU + 1xVW.... We've found none.

I may start more map contests....

[Dad_Scaper]

Besides its problem of being a day late, I am a big fan of Subterranean Oasis v1.1. It has interacting zones with good uses of LoS blockers and shadow to keep it (apparently) balanced between melee and range. The single glyph between the ridges should keep things lively.

This is my favorite of all the your side/my side maps I've seen in this thread.

[dok]

I prefer the one lurking in Typhon's signature. Getting the LoS blockers between the best high ground and the glyphs helps a lot.

[GameBear]

Originally Posted by Eirikr

I am having a hard time finding suitable maps with 1xBftU + 1xTT and 1xBftU + 1x VW.

There are very few maps using only those sets. Adding an extra BftU, Marvel, or Castle set increases your options significantly. Here are a few; I am sure there are many more. Maps with an asterisk have been reviewed by the BoV.


1 BftU + 1 TT

Spoiler Alert!

Ice Thistle by Typhon2222


The Dungeon of Mr. Snow Miser by Nero


The Frozen Cavern* by tom

2 BftU + 1 TT

Spoiler Alert!

Thorgrim's Pass by Shedim Kabal


Glacial Overflow* by FishTako

1 BftU + 1 Castle + 1 TT

Spoiler Alert!

Underground Iceways* by 1Mmirg


Jagged Causeway by Dignan


Infiltrator by GameBear

1 BftU + 1 TT + 1 VW

Spoiler Alert!

Fenris by mad_wookiee

2 BftU + 1 VW

Spoiler Alert!

Scaldron by Dignan


Moltenclaw's Gulch* by BiggaBullfrog and UtahScott


Umbra by mad_wookiee


Yea Though I Walk....* by Typhon2222


Stygian Rift* by Typhon2222

1 BftU + 1 Marvel + 1 VW

Spoiler Alert!

Vulcan* by mad_wookiee

1 BftU + 1 Castle + 1 VW

Spoiler Alert!

See: Darkmage7a's Map Building Challenge

[Killometer]

Originally Posted by Dad_Scaper

Besides its problem of being a day late, I am a big fan of Subterranean Oasis v1.1. It has interacting zones with good uses of LoS blockers and shadow to keep it (apparently) balanced between melee and range. The single glyph between the ridges should keep things lively.

This is my favorite of all the your side/my side maps I've seen in this thread.

Thanks D_S. I honestly think that Karst would have had a chance to finish in the top 4 if I had it done 2 weeks ago. Oh well. I think that my inspiration was actually improved by being able to fiddle with it at a little more leisurely pace.

Design notes, for anyone interested:

Spoiler Alert!

Karst



I positioned the Shadow and outcrops to help get units safely out of their start zones, but left the middle of the map largely an open killing zone. The ridges are close enough together that melee units can generally get over to engage ranged units in no more than 2 turns, even if the straight shot is clogged and they have to take a round-about way (and the round-about way is usually safer anyways).

Keeping open traffic lanes was still a foremost goal for me, but this time I only worried about making sure that potential chokepoints were at least 2 hexes wide, instead of just leaving broad open plains. The shadow speed dip bumps the glyph to 7 walking spaces, meaning that rats and knights (even Gilbert-free knights) can both get there in the same amount of time. Each side also has equal rights to each ridge-the seam between the 7-hexers is 7 walking spaces away from both start zones.

There are probably a few tiles under the second level that I could have freed up, but I wanted to block up all gaps between the tiles (a cartographic pet peeve of mine), prevent any sponginess or instability (though there is still a rock 7-hexer with 2 hexes left hanging), and I may have a weee touch of color OCD, and really didn't want to mess up the aesthetic scheme I worked out.