coming soon : another chicken map...

[KaiserJ]

i need some input as to how to make a new chicken map.

tentatively...

-balanced for 5-6 players (other ones, like roast, were balanced for 3)
-16x6 or 16x8
-"left vs right" in the way of my other chicken maps
-"simple" chickenfield, with decreasing LOS blockage as the chickens approach the players (similar to nuggets)

and some suggestions from others that i -may- go with if people think they are good...
-small number of mexes outside of the porc zone to reward a push
-reclaimable features around the map, again to reward a push or early reclaim (im thinking 3000 spread across the map)
-a "panic zone"; raised platform at the rear of the spawn that players can trans to if the main base is overrun, giving them a chance to rebuild somewhat (idk about this one)
-"supply crates" next to each player spawn to provide a small metal boost at the start (somewhere between 250 - 500 m)

one other idea i had was to provide a spawn at either end of the map, to make it more versatile... maybe one spawn with 6 starts, the "easy" end, and one spawn with 4 starts, the "hard" end... then i could connect the two down the middle with a road, and have more mexes along the road... sort of a 2 for 1 deal... good idea? bad idea?

i'd like to get as much community input as possible; i rarely play chickens anymore but i've seen a lot of people playing my chicken maps and i'd like to provide another infusion of chicken specific material. im guilty of not playing enough CA chickens, and im not sure 100% on how my old chicken maps play with this game mode.

[Jazcash]

Is it possible to make dynamic maps yet? I saw KP did some stuff with it but I've never actually seen the map in action so I'm not sure. If so, you could try out some funky stuff with it.

You could make gates or such which slide open at certain intervals to allow the chickens through. It's easier to defend against chickens coming through one entrance and then when new gates start opening up as the game goes on there are more ways for the chickens to attack.

You could make the players spawn in the centre of the map which is all artificial like, then make a big area around it where the chickens spawn. Then open different parts of the centre base every 5-10 minutes or whatever.

There's many more creative things you could do using dynamic/active maps but I'm not sure if it's possible to make them yet.

[zwzsg]

I've never actually seen the map in action so I'm not sure.

There's many more creative things you could do using dynamic/active maps but I'm not sure if it's possible to make them yet.

http://springrts.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=18400

The map weights 180 KB which is about 250 times smaller than your average Spring Map.

It should work with any mod that doesn't have a too exotic gadget handler.

Why do you refuse to try it?

[knorke]

what i do not like about the other chicken maps and many spring maps in general, is how the map edge is so dominat.
energy buildings etc are placed in lines along the mapedges which is a little dull.
so something like the middle ring of eye of horus would be cool.

-reclaimable features around the map, again to reward a push or early reclaim (im thinking 3000 spread across the map)

sounds good, but if you do this do not place reclaim stuff at the startpos as well. would weaken the effect i think.

[Jazcash]

Why do you refuse to try it?

1: I never got round to it.
2: It's a KP map.
3: I'll try it out now.

[zwzsg]

It works with BA too. Just build windmills over the cross tops.

[Umrug]

- Please please please make more chicken maps. Hooray! I seriously wonder why you stopped making maps after your first couple of maps became so popular so fast.
- I was a fan of chickens, but I switched to Spacebugs (NOTA) as its a bit more fun imo. What does it mean in terms of maps? Need bigger maps - 20x20 and more will be fine. Also, start mexes have to be sparse and not in tight groups of 3 BA-style.
- We need more lava maps. Chickens running at you on the hot rocks steaming with lava - how cool is that? But map should not be overly dark because that way it doesn't become popular. Also, need to see that lava doesn't become chicken mass murderer...
- No reclaimables at base, but some reclaimables around the map, to make it interesting to go for them... max 2-3k in total
- Some interesting realistic terrain solution - e.g. defending the edge of a crater or several craters, or some dry river of complex shape (not just perpendicular to the map edge!), or some ancient pyramids facing the desert, or some seismic activity region... Imo no point in making another rectangular map where the def line placing decision is obvious.
- No typemaps. Plox!
- Definitely one of the approaches can be covered from radar (a trench?) and long-range fire - lets make it a bit more interesting :)

- Wohooo!

[knorke]

Some interesting realistic terrain solution - e.g. defending the edge of a crater or several craters, or some dry river of complex shape (not just perpendicular to the map edge!), or some ancient pyramids facing the desert, or some seismic activity region... Imo no point in making another rectangular map where the def line placing decision is obvious.

[KaiserJ]

thanks umrug you've given me much to consider.

before i make a spacebugs map i'll have to give the gamemode a try on one of my old maps and see what it's like... ive only ever played spacebugs on "conventional" maps, but after reflection i can see how they are too small; the start tower range must cover the whole spawn!

is it possible that a chicken map could also be a spacebug map, but for fewer people? this will require some experimentation.

hmmm... 20x20. i wonder if i have enough RAM to properly handle editing the look of a map that size; im guessing no, but i have some new software that i think might be able to help me as im not going to make the map with the same procedures i've used for my other ones... so we'll see.

i've had requests for a "fixed" chicken square also; maybe that could fill the 20x20 spot... maybe i will up my proposed new map to a size of 20x8 or something like that, and have one end balance for 2 or 3 nota players, and the other end balanced for 5 or 6 BA/CA chicken players...

i like all of those ideas as far as setting goes; perhaps i will just incorporate them all no sense in _not_ using a good idea! trenches, lava, pyramids, riverbed... all cool ideas... hehe it'll be a challenge but a fun one.

and no, i dont mind typemaps, but they really arent my style so don't worry about that.

with roast, theres a defenite "defensive line" there, you can only really effectively defend from one point... but with nuggets, there are two spots i would imagine that people would be tempted to porc... at the geo platforms and on the small squares in front... maybe if i do a left->right design, i will make more possible defensive lines, each with their own strengths and weaknesses.

anyways thanks, lots of good ideas to work with here.

btw how many metal spots does a NOTA player need to be effective? im not very experienced with it

[Umrug]

I would not go for integrating many gimmicks into single map - why do such thing? One definite choice of terrain type (moon/desert/forest/lava/...), one proper idea, just make it good. Will also make it easier to give map a name :)

- From my experience, you need about +18 m from mexes for one nota player to succeed in spacebugs. So, about +12-+22 are reasonable values per player. Some mexes at def line area are also good idea, they make you think and do tradeoffs.

- I love the idea with two defendable sides! They should also be non-equal, lets say one with more porcy terrain but really low m (1/3 of the one on the other side). Wowowo IMO that will give it a new dimension of fun! Also, consider making defendable corners on square map... zomg so many possibilities...

- *sits and waits for new map*