Map size and Number of Rivals for GOTMs in 2003

[cracker]

Please read this post and think about your answer carefully before responding in the poll.

Civ3Edit includes specific settings that limit the number of Rivals you can play against on various "out of the box" map sizes. In the past GOTMs have only been played on the "out of the box" maps sizes and this has basically limited the choices to one of three settings (small:3200, standard:5000, large:8450).

For technical reasons related to the volume of participants, the out of the box "Huge" map sizes are not reasonable for GOTM style play so we should not discuss those issues here.

The typical number of opponents or "Rivals" in each game is also set in the "out of the box" game to be small:6, standard:8, large:12.

The map size, water % ratio, and number of rivals combine to effect how each individual game event is played. Games with more rivals and more land area per rival tend to have different technology and development paces than smaller maps with fewer rivals.

The basic thrust of this poll and the discussion that will follow is:

"Would you like to see expanded game play options in the GOTM games that may include more different map sizes in the range of 3000 to 9000 tiles of total world size as well as different numbers of rivals ?

Implementing any changes in these areas would require players to pay closer attention the "problem statement" elements in the GOTM announcements and to form a better understanding of how key aspects of the "map" will effect how the game should be played.

 

[Skyfish]

Yes. Please provide more choices and more details on how this effects play.

 

[hotrod0823]

@Skyfish: Take a look at the Mao QSC - SG game (created by cracker), found in the SG forum. It is very interesting game in deed and recommend any one read the first few post from cracker on the "custom" map and number of rivals. It made for a very enjoyable and opened the door to new possiblities effecting trading, war and exploration.

Hotrod

 

[cracker]

One thing to note about that QSC-c1 map for the Mao game was that the tech research rate was deliberately manipulated to be almost twice as fast as the normal pace just to provide exagerated trading and research choices in a short period of time.

We are not proposing to investigate the options to do any non-standard manipulation of the tech research rates in GOTM games, at least not for the foreseeable future.

Tech research rates can be effected by the number of civs in the game and the number of non-ocean terrain tiles. The nature of the rivals in the game and the prevalence of rivers in the civilization start positions can also heavily impact tech progression.

 

[Kemal]

As I already stated in the water-percentage setting poll, I feel that changing map features to settings that the game has not been programmed for should not be applied in the GotM competition untill:
a) extensive testing has been done on the effects it has on AI play,
and
b) players have the ability to practise on these settings themselves.

However, since changing the size of the map would not change the actual landscape of the map itself, the AI should be able to handle it pretty well. But, for example, a question that comes to mind is how the optimal number of cities is affected on these custom made map sizes? And will the AI be able to deal with this?

Also, please no maps smaller than "small" setting, that way the game is over way too fast!

As far as the number of AI rivals is concerned, I'm indifferent about this. Never had any complaints about it so far, so I would say keep up the good work! As long as we don't get extreme situations such as 32 rivals on a tiny map it's fine with me.

I'm not voting yet since my choice depends on how the game reacts on these changes. If the AI can handle it, a custom map size is ok for me.

 

[Gen. Maximus]

Just no map larger than 'large' please, it places strain our on PCs! Other than that, surprise us but not too the point of ridicule.

 

[Melinder]

Even 'large' gives my poor machine trouble. I can only play when it's up to standard size.

 

[Karasu]

I am definitely for variety and new challenges, and I think that injecting some modifications into the standard game structure can improve the GOTM experience for us (when we have time to play, that is...).

Being not an expert of the game mechanics, I think however that I can rely on the mods' knowlegde and judgement to avoid too extreme or unplayable games.
The same holds for the other poll, clearly.

Of course, some forewarning of non-standard game features would be welcome...