Report, edit, etc...Posted by -The-2nd- on 2005-05-26 at 01:54:13
So I'm working on a map based loosely on the Magic: The Gathering world, and I've come upon a fundamental dilemma. Previous MTG maps are usually short-to-mid duration games without probably the lowest level of complexity possible. Each player is 1 of the 5 colors based on his starting position, and that's it. Spellcasting was simply beacons in the players' base that they walked on.
In my map, I gave each player the ability to choose his own color... so, potentially, you could be playing against any combination of opponent colors. This involved a single choice at the beginning of the game which left you with a 'menu' out of the playing field in which players would shoot buildings in their little menu to cast a spell. There was also an out-of-field area where a Civ could walk onto one of several beacons to summon creatures. I consider this medium complexity level, as it changes up strategies a bit but still leaves menus simple enough that anyone can learn them quickly.
Unfortunately, I've figured out a new menu system which would allow an added level of complexity; one in which players can cast any spell of any color as long as they have the required types of mana. For instance, if two players have done equally well, one might have 4 white mana gems, thus being able to cast the strongest white spells, and the other might have 2 white and 2 red mana gems, thus being able to cast both white and red spells, but only the weaker ones. Since there are 5 colors, each with 5 spells and various creatures, the strategic combinations become endless. This is all well and good, except I fear my map may have reached the point where the common bnetter won't bother even trying to learn it.
What do you guys think? Is there such a thing as too complex? Should I go ahead and make the map as full of possibilities as I can, knowing I made a good map even if it's not popular?
(Final note: the relative time of the game remains the same throughout all three levels of complexity; a short to mid duration)
In my map, I gave each player the ability to choose his own color... so, potentially, you could be playing against any combination of opponent colors. This involved a single choice at the beginning of the game which left you with a 'menu' out of the playing field in which players would shoot buildings in their little menu to cast a spell. There was also an out-of-field area where a Civ could walk onto one of several beacons to summon creatures. I consider this medium complexity level, as it changes up strategies a bit but still leaves menus simple enough that anyone can learn them quickly.
Unfortunately, I've figured out a new menu system which would allow an added level of complexity; one in which players can cast any spell of any color as long as they have the required types of mana. For instance, if two players have done equally well, one might have 4 white mana gems, thus being able to cast the strongest white spells, and the other might have 2 white and 2 red mana gems, thus being able to cast both white and red spells, but only the weaker ones. Since there are 5 colors, each with 5 spells and various creatures, the strategic combinations become endless. This is all well and good, except I fear my map may have reached the point where the common bnetter won't bother even trying to learn it.
What do you guys think? Is there such a thing as too complex? Should I go ahead and make the map as full of possibilities as I can, knowing I made a good map even if it's not popular?
(Final note: the relative time of the game remains the same throughout all three levels of complexity; a short to mid duration)
Report, edit, etc...Posted by Screwed on 2005-05-26 at 02:53:37
I'll keep this short, go ahead and enslave this map! =)
Put the fullest potential to your map
A lot of maps on SEN don't get hosted on b.net often, but they have excellent gameplay and overpowering quality. There's no such thing as a being real complex, and definitely not to the player, the player is only involved in what happens in the game itself.
Put the fullest potential to your map
A lot of maps on SEN don't get hosted on b.net often, but they have excellent gameplay and overpowering quality. There's no such thing as a being real complex, and definitely not to the player, the player is only involved in what happens in the game itself.