Map

Starting Positions

from Elemental Forums

Hey I haven't seen this suggestion on here anywhere, and I did just type it in the Dev journal but it should be here.  No matter if the map is small or large, factions start the same distance away from my start area.  The larger the map the further factions should be spread out imo.  I like large maps due to this, but with large maps with the same distance starting positions, there are 4 or so factions in about a 10th area of the map.  Right now playing larger maps just make late game worse and longer but boring.  For those of us who play large maps in order to build up a bit before facing other factions would be an improvement imo.

I do not want to sound like compalining, just my 2 cents, which everyone has ... or 10 cents or 20 ;) 

You guys have done a great job imo trying to get this fixed, but also polished so it is good for the player/consumer.  Kudos to you guys for not giving up, for communicating (which includes responses and constant updates unlike other companies), and wanting to have a finished, fun, complete, polished product.  Personally I can't wait to see 1.1, but don't rush, I'm like everyone else who wishes it could be done now, or yesterday, but the main thing is to have a good working update.

Anyways, am I the only one who sees this with faction starting position spacing?  Opinions, thoughts?

6,113 views 5 replies
Reply #1 from Elemental Forums Top

I did notice I tend to start awful close to opponents on large maps and was wondering why.  Makes sense that maybe the distance to play is a fixed value instead of a different value based on the map size.

Reply #2 from Elemental Forums Top

I may be clustering players to the nearest start positions, but the minimum is determined by the map being used.

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Reply #3 from Elemental Forums Top

I read a post about the custom map maker that says the game uses "fixed" start points on the map templates. The poster noted the flaw with that being when the average person would make a map, they would naturally find the first start point and radiate out from there. So playing five factions on a large map with 10 or more start points ends up with half the map crowded and the other half devoid of life because the 5 starting points furthest from position 1 (yours) are not being used... Hope I'm making sense...

Reply #4 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Gwenio1, reply 2
I may be clustering players to the nearest start positions, but the minimum is determined by the map being used.
End of Gwenio1's quote

Maybe fixed points shouldn't be it, but something like map area/# of factions = distance between each faction?  I just started another large map today with the new 1.09 and it happened again, 4 other factions plus me all within a 6th or 8th of the map.  I had 8 total factions, no minors, and including me, 2 main ones not selected for this game.

Reply #5 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting dabrownsrphat, reply 4

Maybe fixed points shouldn't be it, but something like map area/# of factions = distance between each faction?  I just started another large map today with the new 1.09 and it happened again, 4 other factions plus me all within a 6th or 8th of the map.  I had 8 total factions, no minors, and including me, 2 main ones not selected for this game.
End of dabrownsrphat's quote

That would be good for random maps, however they currently are using pre-built maps with a fixed number of starting possitions.