CrazyG's Big World War One

[CrazyG]

@Schulz
The French train is purple instead of blue
The Russian train is white instead of yellow

However, the current images are good enough to play the game, I think.

[Schulz]

I really liked new improvements such as railways, russian national objective new units though lack of Balkan countries and convoy zones has gived me a bit sadness.

Great job. Thank you for sharing.

[Cernel]

@CrazyG Because it is much better to settle such thing before starting playtesting, and since it is also critical for naming, here are my ownership changes suggestions:

Channel islands: France->UnitedKingdom
Because they were part of Great Britain (as far as I know, but don't know much about those, so maybe check it).

Belgium01: UnitedKingdom->France
It overboards a little to the east, but that is certainly Calais, part of France.

Belgium02: UnitedKingdom->France
In the moment Belgium01 is France, Belgium02 has to be France too, for having a sensible border.

France19: France->Germany
This is controversial, but I feel that territory is representing the Moselle and Meurthe that were annexed to Germany after the Franco-Prussian war of 1870.
Visually, I thend to think that France19 and France20 are those territories that Germany would lose to France after WW1:
https://etc.usf.edu/maps/pages/3600/3696/3696.htm

Poland15, Poland21: Russia->Germany
The Silesia area appears much too flimsy to me, with respect to historical borders, thus this redistribution would put it closer to the actual dimensions; then moving the factory from Poland22 to Poland14, if that would be, then, Breslau.

Ukraine02, Ukraine04: Russia->Austria-Hungary
If you compare it with the map dimensions of Moldavia, Austria-Hungary should have some more territory to the north-west of it (Galicia); so I think this redistribution would put it closer to the actual dimensions.

Serbia06: Austria-Hungary->Russia
Not clear cut, but seems the north-western part of Serbia, in the moment Croatia01 and Serbia01 are Montenegro (on the other hand, if that is Austria-Hungary, then I would say Serbia07 should be Austria-Hungary too).

Bulgaria11: Russia->NeutralNations
That looks more like a piece of Bulgaria.

Italy05: Austria-Hungary->NeutralNations (Italy)
That would be certainly part of Italy, if you look at Italy after WW1 (as you would certainly add Italy04, Italy05 and Trieste). If you look at what Italy annexed after WW1, that is not as clear, but most likely still part of Italy. Moreover, Italy05 would (be needed to) represent the piece of Italy that Austria (or rather Germany) conquered in the course of WW1, assuming Italy06 is mainly Venice.
Visually:
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/50/Dissolution_of_Austria-Hungary.png

Tunisia08: France->NeutralNations (Italy)
Maybe debatable, but this looks much more Libya than Tunisia.
Visually:
https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Campagna_di_Libia_(1913-1921)#/media/File:Tripolitania.jpg

Sinai01, Sinai02, Sinai03: OttomanEmpire->UnitedKingdom
Didn't the British control Sinai before the Ottomans joined the war?

The above is limited to the starting ownerships only, and doesn't take into consideration what is triggered to change in the course of the game (maybe I'll do a follow up about that, if this proved useful).

Also, about Otto, the war started in July 1914, while the Ottomans joined in November 1914, but I see that Italy joins on round 2, so your assumed timeline is 24 times faster than what I would (as I would say 1 round is half a month here). So, just saying.
Also, about Italy (and similar occurrences), when that happens there is a terrible cacophony of conquering territories sounds. That can be quite unpleasant, if you have the sounds volume at some level. Something needs to be done about it, or the conquering territory sound is better to be set to NONE (but this would be generally bad).

Here it is your map with my suggested changes overshadoved as contested:

[CrazyG]

@Schulz
Read the notes and play the game!

The Balkan nations of Bulgaria, Greece, and Romania will join the war!

@Cernel
I'm pretty Belgium has a coast, right? That one definitely stays Belgian. I like that the Ottomans attack the Suez canal on turn 1.

The other decisions I can look over. I'm going to decide for gameplay, so for example I would extend Germany if I feel that Germany needs to begin closer to the Warsaw factory (after one game, I'm already feeling this way) . I cannot draw borders exactly to 1914 though.

I play with sounds off, and I have no experience editing them, but I will be happy to accommodate if you point me the right direction.

[Cernel]

@CrazyG Sadly, that problem with sounds cannot be solved. Either you set it to NONE, and miss the conquered sound completely, or you can try to switch sounds on, turn on your volume, and skip until Italy, you'll see what I mean.
Here it is needed a developer to fix this problem. I guess I should open an issue in GitHub.

Well, finding WW1 maps is quite easy. For example:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Atlas_of_World_War_I#/media/File:Race_to_the_Sea_1914.png
(not only Calais, Dunkerque too)
I didn't say so, as I felt it was superfluous, but I actually feel like that is better for Belgium too, as currently 6 territories for Belgium make it seriously too fat, also in the moment you compare it with the Netherlands. I don't care about the coastline, but, yes, Belgium would lose most of its coastline, but Belgium actually gains a bunch of coastline. Tho really, this is like 80% France, and I cannot imagine not giving Calais to France. There are many other actually questionable territories I didn't raise, since they can go both ways; for example, Denmark05 would be like 50% Danish and 50% German, or where Edirne is.

[Schulz]

Ottoman Sinai makes sense for me Cernel since in the war the Ottomans had took Sinai and kept for a long time when they joined the war.

Also when balance and playability is priority there is nothing wrong in starting round of Italy. If did you notice, Greece joins the war before Romania. Italy have Albania.

[redrum]

@CrazyG I just downloaded it and poked around a bit. Seems like a great start! Here are some initial thoughts:

• Great variety of abilities across the units. Most of the units feel really unique and seem to have a purpose not just 1 more attack or 1 more defense like many other maps.
• Unit images and the map are really nice. Things that could be improved though are better territory names (not just numbered by region), show names on the map, and better PU map symbol as the black numbers are pretty rough.
• PU placement seems too uniform. Tons of 1s and 2s. Would probably play better to have more variation so it feels like I'm not just conquering another 1 PU territory.
• Lots of errors in the notes vs what is actually implemented such as the unit stats/abilities.
• I think naval units need some work/balancing. Cruisers are useless as much better to build subs or battlecruisers.
• Triggering nations to join certain turns is cool and adding tanks turn 5 is neat.
• You have some unowned territories in Morocco and Syria. Not sure if that is intentional.
• Most of North Africa besides Egypt is pretty much worthless and really feels like it shouldn't even be included.
• Trains and railroads will be awesome on a map this size.
• Need to better identify canals on the map.
• Might want to make the neutral color a bit lighter or more beige so it contrasts more with Germany. Or make Germany a bit darker.

[Hepps]

I don't like it at all. It's horrible!

[redrum]

@Hepps Don't be jealous that he finished his WW1 map before you!

[CrazyG]

@redrum said in CrazyG's Big World War One:

@CrazyG I just downloaded it and poked around a bit. Seems like a great start! Here are some initial thoughts:

• Great variety of abilities across the units. Most of the units feel really unique and seem to have a purpose not just 1 more attack or 1 more defense like many other maps.

Thanks!

• Unit images and the map are really nice. Things that could be improved though are better territory names (not just numbered by region), show names on the map, and better PU map symbol as the black numbers are pretty rough.

Renaming territories is on a long to change list.

• PU placement seems too uniform. Tons of 1s and 2s. Would probably play better to have more variation so it feels like I'm not just conquering another 1 PU territory.

This issue comes down to the sheer number of territories on the map. Initially I wanted all territories to be worth at least one PU, but Russia and the Ottomans end up with way too much income. Even after changing a ton of land to be worth 0, they still have so much that I really couldn't go and make parts of Russia worht 2 or 3. Maybe I could rescale the unit pricing?

• Lots of errors in the notes vs what is actually implemented such as the unit stats/abilities.
• I think naval units need some work/balancing. Cruisers are useless as much better to build subs or battlecruisers.

I'm looking at this now.

• Triggering nations to join certain turns is cool and adding tanks turn 5 is neat.
• You have some unowned territories in Morocco and Syria. Not sure if that is intentional.
• Most of North Africa besides Egypt is pretty much worthless and really feels like it shouldn't even be included.

Would you make them neutral? I can't just not include them on the map if I want Egypt (and I do want Egypt).

• Need to better identify canals on the map.

I agree, but I really don't have the tools to do much with unit images.

• Might want to make the neutral color a bit lighter or more beige so it contrasts more with Germany. Or make Germany a bit darker.

[CrazyG]

@Cernel said in CrazyG's Big World War One:

@CrazyG Sadly, that problem with sounds cannot be solved. Either you set it to NONE, and miss the conquered sound completely, or you can try to switch sounds on, turn on your volume, and skip until Italy, you'll see what I mean.
Here it is needed a developer to fix this problem. I guess I should open an issue in GitHub.

Can't you customize the sounds for your own map?
I could just replace the territory conquest sound with a blank sound file.

[redrum]

@CrazyG I would consider doubling unit costs across the board so you can double territory production which should give you a lot more flexibility while having most/all territories worth at least 1. I'm generally a fan of figuring out the map production to be interesting then using that to drive the cost of units. The other reason this is important is right now there is very few decent places to build factories as so many territories are worth 1.

North Africa (besides Egypt) is tough. I think you go 1 of 2 directions. Either add more production/units to make it a somewhat legitimate theater or consider making them neutral/impassible. Right now its kind of just a distraction and doesn't really add any fun/depth to the map.

[Hepps]

@CrazyG Another way to have some variety is to spread out some of the worthless territories and then create "Regional Zones" that give a PU bonus once all the territories are captured.

The nice thing about this is you can manage the overall PU distribution better and there don't become hugely potent individual territories. So while a nation may get a PU boost... no one territory becomes overly valuable.

The other nice thing is this will give individually worthless territories a strategic value. You may even find players fighting doggedly for worthless territories because of what they represent to the greater war effort.

[redrum]

@Hepps Yeah, I like the region concept as well. Though either way I still think you need to raise the overall amount of production on the map some. But that would allow having more 0 PU territories sprinkled across it since you'd still want to control the entire region for the bonus.

[Cernel]

@CrazyG An alternative solution to that (not talking about gameplay at all, as I've not played it yet) is to make Belgium French. Belgium is culturally and linguistically very close to France.

[CrazyG]

@Hepps
I actually have a rough draft of regional divisions for the map already made. I was thinking if I rename territories, I could include the region they are a part of as well. So a new territory name would be something like

Brussels (Belgium)
Warsaw (Northern Poland)

However, I think to make the region system easy to play with, I would need some help from an artist.

[redrum]

@CrazyG Yeah, that naming would make sense. Agree with needing some artist help on visually showing region boundaries on the map to make it easier on the players.

[CrazyG]

BTW, this map is intentionally designed to have a Play be Email/Forum friendly turn order. Anyone interested in trying one?

I want to hear thoughts on the single round of combat system.

[redrum]

@CrazyG I'm down for a game. Feel free to pick whatever settings you'd like and start it up

[Hepps]

@CrazyG I would be willing to assist with whatever graphical tasks need completing. I helped with HOH on a mere whisper of a promise that this might lead to a well thought out WWI game. I am not about to jump ship now that the dream of a sensible WWI game is coming to fruition.

You just let me know what you need and I will use whatever free time I have over the holidays to make the dreams come alive.

What is it the English say? In for a penny... in for a pound.