Map Size

[fender]

What is the your favorite map size on Transcend Level play?

If Custom, please give some details.

Thanks

[Lord Nword]

I play custom, sortof, but I modified the game so that I don't even have to click custom.

#WORLDSIZE (width, height; game doubles width value...)
8
Tiny planet|(early conflict), 25, 47
Small planet, 35, 67
Standard planet, 45, 82
Large planet, 60, 102
Huge planet, 80, 117
Massive planet, 90, 137
Gigantic planet, 100, 152
Insane planet|(late conflict), 125, 182

Those numbers allow me to perfectly line up bases on the entire map if I so desire....

Edit: On the other hand, what I actually play depends on what I feel like doing... I basically dont' use the bottom 3 listed there at all. My fave is probably the Gigantic *shrug*. I like terraforming.

[Zeiter]

I've found that playing on a standard random map is best for me because all of the factions are on an equal playing field, momentum and builder alike. Plus, I really enjoy trying to manuever through early game conflict. It can really throw some wrenches into your plans, which makes you find better, more creative ways to play.

[Dis]

usually standard now days. In my younger days I used to love huge maps, but now I don't care for them.

[TimeTraveler]

Until this last week, my attempts at playing Transcend have all led to disappointment at the hands of unstoppable Spartan or Believing invasions in 100 turns. In an attempt to making myself too far away for them to easily find by then, let alone conquer, I chose to make there be much larger expanses of land between me and them, on a 128x256 grid.

I chose just that on my latest game, and this time, 159 turns of peace, and I came out on top.

[-SafaN-]

Standard is my normal play: i'm a builder so larger maps are giving me to much time too expand and the game is probably over before I meet someone; Smaller is harder as the morganites

Greetz

[livid imp]

I voted huge because that is what I pick when I want to have one of those 'epic' games, but I have become increasingly fond of tiny maps because I can finish a game quicker. I start all playtesting on tiny maps just for the speedy game.

[Natalinasmpf]

I'd play 256x256 if not for huge tech costs.

[Commy]

Standard, in my opinion, is the easiest to play, because it doesn't take forever but you don't have anyone knocking on your door the first turn either. Also, since I play peacekeepers, standard is more flexible, since they are somewhat hybrid in manner...

[Straybow]

I prefer maps larger than "standard," and like Nword I have modified alpha.txt to include larger sizes: Enormous (80 x 160) and Giant (128 x 256).

Just remember to add "continent size ratios" in the WORLDBUILDER section corresponding to the added world sizes.

[Natalinasmpf]

Anyway to modify tech costs?

The reason why I liked 256x256 was so the new techs would be more interesting, and I liked mass battles in the ocean trenches. Carriers would be more of a necessity, etc.

[Whoha]

The ai can not do well at all on the larger maps, the biggest I will play from here on out is the huge map of planet.

[Lord Nword]

Using Smacksim's world builder modifications, the AI does indeed do very well on the larger worlds in my experience. Perhaps not always, but they have the capacity to do so.

[Dis]

if they can build a lot of bases, they can do well.

though some factions benefit from more bases than others. Like the aliens.

[GeoModder]

Voted Custom. I like size 36x72 OR the small sized map of Chiron (selfmade).

The only problem with small maps is, as mentioned above, that the some AI's don't do so well for lack of bases or lack of conquest urge. I usually end up being the only builder among 2-3 expansionist factions (typically Spartans-Believers).