Large Middle Earth - strategies

mattbarnes

@hepps you can see the Objectives in the right hand window if you select the relevant tab

Hepps

@mattbarnes Yes I see it now thanks.

There are quite a few of them. Not to mention from what I can tell is one-off's and multiples.

Might be worth putting some visual que's on the the map. Perhaps simple icons in the territories where these are present.

Maybe something like a coloured circle for Regional objectives.

Coloured square for one-off's.

Coloured triangle for multiples.

Was taking a look and did a little sketching... as an example.

0_1515257208634_Longleaf dreams.png

justbleh

I love this map and have won on both sides and FFA as almost all of the factions at one at a time. Adding visual que's for the objectives would have helped the first time I played. The notes and objective tabs are essential to look at the first few times playing.

General_Zod

@hepps Beautification has begun.

alkexr

@hepps What program have you used to create this? Can you describe how you draw such things?

@justbleh Won FFA with almost all factions? Can you send save games? I'm really interested in it. It would help with balance.

Hepps

@alkexr Sure as soon as I have some time I'll prep a step by step guide.

Hepps

@general_zod Easy there Zod.... Wasn't signing on to do this map. I was just farting around with some stuff when I looked at this map.

Feels like this map still needs some love and attention in regards to its play-ability and design before it would even warrant being considered for a visual up-grade.
And given its size... I am not about to invest several hundred hours in working on a 12 player FFA that would NEVER see the light of day. People can't get 4 person FFA going.... 12 is an utter nightmare.

General_Zod

@hepps
I hear ya on the time required. But you have planted the seed with @alkexr , as to potential and he may begin beautifications as he learns the techniques.

Btw, @alkexr 2 nice free graphic software links below.

https://www.getpaint.net/download.html
https://www.gimp.org/downloads/

alkexr

@hepps said in Large Middle Earth - strategies:

People can't get 4 person FFA going.... 12 is an utter nightmare.

If it was only 12. Fortunately this one is not FFA (primarily).

Cernel

@alkexr Yah. As being "Middle Earth", this is a polarised 1v1 conflict. Myself, I'm not a fan of having a FFA option when it doesn't make any sense with the lore of the scenario, but it can't hurt.

mattbarnes

Has anyone played this P v P? I'm in the midst of my first. Interested to know whether others have Angmar play aggressive or defensive, who takes Tharbad, can Dale/Dwarves hold or not, etc.

mattbarnes

For the avoidance of doubt, I mean human v human, similar skill levels.

alkexr

@mattbarnes I have never played vs similar skill human, but I would really be surprised if Angmar was on the offense, or Freefolk took Tharbad, or Dwarves couldn't hold. Why, is Rhun going to siege down the cave settlement with 5 fortifications?

But send me your savegames! Everyone! All of them! If I am to bring balance to this world, I have to get a general idea about the way actual thinking human beings play the map!

Cernel

@mattbarnes I've seen a few PvP games in lobby, with this map. Myself, I considered having a go several times, but never managed climbing over the territory effect learning curve (I don't want to start a game without knowing what I'm doing).

mattbarnes

@alkexr I'm not surprised by your Angmar response as they're pretty surrounded, but you can also see why a new player will be tempted to charge down at Amon Sul with the dragon, trolls, etc, before the weight of enemies reminds him to watch himself.
Tharbad isn't so obvious to me: the Freefolk can deploy a lot of units against it especially if they build rangers. In contrast, Saruman and the Orcs may be distracted by Rohan and Lorien. Isn't it difficult for Saruman to dedicate sufficient units West?
I haven't thought much about Rhun and Dwarves yet but generally LotR is East vs West and Rhun can rampage. I'm sure the Dwarves can hold their capital but won't their territory get overrun?

mattbarnes

Another strategy question: is it effective for Gondor to go heavy into rangers? This seems to have 2 benefits. Firstly they are mountainwalkers, effective at hurting Saruman (other units can't easily get to him). Secondly the anti-air effect is pretty good at limiting the power of the Mordor Nazgul.

Hepps

@alkexr Was watching some people on the lobby play this... noticed a pretty significant issue in terms of playability. Since there a zero flags for any nations... it makes it kinda difficult to try to figure out who is playing what. Might want to put adding flags (at the very least small) on the list of things to do.