by CubColtPacer on Sat Jan 05, 2008 1:23 pm
I'll throw my 2 cents in for the ones that are confusing as someone who is an intelligent person who hasn't played most of these maps, but have watched people play most of the maps and have read the rules for each of them. I also tend to not like the maps with a lot of different rules or situations (I like those types of games in live play but for some reason not online).
Alexander's Empire: Simple. The difference between this and CCU is that Alexander's Empire clearly states that the Seas are not worth anything. Really that isn't more confusing then the mountains and seas blocking territories from attacking each other on other boards (which does confuse some people) that have already been labeled simple.
American Civil War: Complex. It's on the lower end of complex, but it has a lot of different types of bonuses (for ships, generals, cities, full union bonus, and capitals). People are used to having different continent bonuses, but that's a lot of different types for them to get their head around on. You throw in the Maryland one way attack at the bottom, and it's definitely one that would have to be played once for many newcomers to get a true grasp of the rules and even very basic strategy.
Bamboo Jack: Extreme. It may not be as hard as it looks by the end of it, but it's a very intimidating looking map. A quick read through of the rules and a quick glance at the board will still leave you confused. This simply doesn't fit with the complex maps as far as somebody willing to try it for the first time.
Benelux: Simple. I don't see very many people not trying this map because of its rules (the cities combined with other strange rules would be a problem, but by itself it's an easy thing to add on). I also think any possible difficulties with what borders a person can cross will be easily resolved with a turn or two of play.
Duck and Cover: Moderate. Sure, newcomers will make mistakes with the bombardments. It's still not a very intimidating map to come in and try, and after a mistake or two on the bombardments I think most people would learn quickly. This map only stays somwhat complicated for a short time for each player, so I don't think it deserves a complex.
Europe: Simple. One of my favorite boards. The one way border would have to be explained once to less than half the people who play if for the first time. Everybody would get it after the very first time though, and it's perfectly normal otherwise. It's definitely a simple board.
Italy: Moderate. It's really a moderate for the same reason Great Lakes is a moderate. It has a legend that makes the board seem slightly intimidating, but in gameplay it is really easy. Should the legend be hard? No, if you really read it it's not hard at all. That doesn't mean that some people wouldn't reject it before even reading it, and that makes it a very low moderate.
King of the Mountains: Moderate. This is probably the hardest one to grade in the whole group. I'm going to put it as a high moderate. It may have a decent amount of rules, but it's so bright and so different that people are drawn to play it anyway. The one way attacks are made easier by the mountains themselves (it's easier for a newcomer to understand they can only attack down the mountain and not up, and also not attack other mountains. Plus attacking the top of the mountains from the helipads is very logical). I do think that some people will make a lot of mistakes on this map, and the variability on understanding is probably more than most maps. However, I think most people would give it a shot and would understand halfway through their first game what to do. I honestly think this could go in moderate or complex.
Mongol Empire: Simple. If they took the words trade route out it would be even easier, but really this isn't a hard map at all. Not very hard to join, and even if many people make one mistake not understanding the dotted line they would quickly learn. I think most people could jump in and play immediately.
Philippines: Moderate. I don't believe it belongs in simple because it looks very confusing to the eye with the colors and all the lines. Add to that the naval bases rule and people might be afraid to try it. Gameplay is very easy though. That makes it a low moderate.
Rail USA: Complex. This is one that a person will very likely not try for the first time, but will more likely try this than Bamboo Jack. It's one of those maps that if somebody gives you a 1 minute explanation of what to do most people would grasp pretty immediately. I don't think it fits in the extreme category.
Siege: Complex. The bonuses are hard to distinguish from each other for a person who has never played it before. Some arrows are very clear, and some are not so clear (especially by the tunnel). It's a map that I think a fair amount of people would try. They probably don't completely get the eccentricities until the 2nd time though, and that's what makes it complex.
USApocalypse: Complex. It's design makes it tricky. I don't think most players reading the rules would still have a clear idea what's going on when they start. It's on the low end of complex, but it's definitely complex.
WWII Iwo Jima: Moderate: It's just really cluttered. The only reason it's a moderate is that people who didn't read the writing on the map would think there's a lot of rules and wouldn't play. I don't see anything that could justify a complex rating.
WWII Western Front: Complex. Bombardments, and the colors of this particular one make it hard to concentrate for the newcomer, and if a newcomer can't concentrate on a map it seems more confusing then it really is. I think a decent amount of people would try it initially, but I see a lot of mistakes being made the first time around.
8 thoughts: Complex. A new player would have to be very brave to play this one for the first time. It's not as hard as it looks, but the rules and atmosphere of the map make it seem very, very intimidating.
