Beta maps

[gavin_sidhu]

I think there should be a section of CC for testing map concepts.

One of the maps in the map foundry had a ten country continent with one border which andy suggested have more borders be added, which the illustrator quickly complied. Andy took the right action because a map with that type of continent has a large chance of failing and once a map is live on CC it cannot (i dont think) be taken down.

If there beta maps were allowed to be created, map concepts like this could be tested to see whether they work.

I know you could just print it out and play the map but i dont have many friends and when i find some to play with we can never have a serious game (we end up fortifying all our men to one country and having a massive war).

This could be taken further if the admins feel like it and all maps quenched would have to spend a certain amount of time there to test there playability.

Priority: Whenever. (i guess thats a 3)

p.s. plz andy dont say this has already been suggested, i looked in the sticky b4 posting.

[AndyDufresne]

You are right about one thing, this isn't on the list, but has been discussed before in the Foundry. Lack isn't too keen on making maps playable for 'beta' testing (or a sandbox mode). It requires more legwork for him. Long ago many people suggested a team of people that would test maps, but again the more legwork for lack comes into play.

As for once maps make it live, they can be taken down, if just cause is found for that action, and enough people are behind it. Lack and the community created the job, Foundry Foreman. The whole idea behind the job is to make sure that once maps make it live, they are essentially the best they can be in many aspects (balance, creativity, visual appeal, etc). If the Foundry and I can keep up our work, there shouldn't be a need for taking down unbalanced, etc, maps that make it up for live play. In theory, they shouldn't even make it that far.

And keep in mind that once a map is up for live play, revisions can still be done. If enough people are behind a certain idea, or if I see something that is extremely hazardous to gameplay, the map can be flagged and the cartographer can be contacted to continue work on whatever the trouble area is. And if revisions are asked for, and they do not come, I and the community, with lack's approval, can take down a map that is not suitable for play or look for ways improve it.

In the Foundry lately, we are seeing some very unique maps. Lack and I still believe the simplest and easiest way to test maps is the old fashioned way, rather than reworking the whole site.

Really it all comes down to one thing. As long as the Foundry and I continue our work to make each map the best it can be, we shouldn't have any problems with unsuitable maps.


--Andy

[Tr0y]

I wouldn't mind setting up a sandbox server ... but yea... I doubt that would happen.

[gavin_sidhu]

Yay. i suggested something that hasnt been suggested before.

Ive thought of a way to test maps playability, just submit the working copies to landgrab. They will take any map no matter how much a sore to the eye it is. I really want to see how a 10 country 1 border continent will work.

[desau13]

I don't mind if you post your maps on LandGrab to test playablity, just remember two things:

1) Newly-posted maps get a map rating of 0/10, which means that, by default, it's not visible in the map picker when creating new games. You have to uncheck the "Filter maps with rating below 5" checkbox.

2) I am not going to remove your maps from LandGrab once you have perfected them to be ready for play on CC. I didn't create LandGrab to be your beta testing grounds.

[AndyDufresne]

I wouldn't use landgrab as a beta testing area. There are better areas to do such things.


--Andy