Boston Massacre v5 [02-09-2012]

[jscutler]

Map Name: BOSTON MASSACRE - UPDATED 2/8/12
Mapmaker(s): Jscutler
Number of Territories: 34
Special Features:
Beacon Hill territory offers bombardment bonus. Duck Boat is +1 bonus.
What Makes This Map Worthy of Being Made:
A modern day Boston Massacre, this map offers players a chance to reprise the historic British attack amongst Boston's current neighborhoods, from the urban neighborhoods of Southie and Dorchester to the People's Republic of Cambridge.

This map offers a fun, compact design with a focus on gameplay rather than intricate rules. With a relatively lower number of territories it may not be well suited for doubles or triples game, but it would be a great map for assassin or terminator games and offers lots of different strategy options for standard games.

I designed this map based on other maps I enjoy playing frequently –– Charlestown, Luxembourg, Vancouver, British Isles etc.

There are 9 continents, 34 territories plus, of course the Duck Boat! The territory names are actual Boston neighborhoods and suburbs. In a nod to actual Boston Massacre in 1770, the Beacon Hill territory offers a bombardment bonus.

To the best of my knowledge there are no similar maps or themes available.

Thank you for your time reviewing my map.

Map Image:
[bigimg]http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd424/joshscutler/BostonMassacre24.jpg[/bigimg]

[DiM]

welcome to the foundry.

put just bigimg tags around your image link, no url tags and the map will show up nicely.

[jscutler]

thanks

[ender516]

What precisely do you mean by a bombardment bonus?

[jscutler]

Just that you can bombard from that territory. There's no added bonus beyond that. I may not have phrased that correctly. Because the Boston Massacre occurred by the Old State House I wanted to have an extra wrinkle there.

[Industrial Helix]

Ok, wait, lemme get this right: So this is a map of modern day Boston but with a historical twist, the Beacon Hill territory bombards certain territories (which you need to specify which ones on the map).

If that's the case, this really isn't the Boston Massacre, this is a Boston map. I think you should change the title to simply Boston. And then you might want to find a few more historical sites to give an auto-deploy or collection bonus or something.

[jscutler]

Yes, you are correct. It's not intended to be a replay of the actual Boston Massacre. It's more just a play on words, but I can easily change the name to just Boston as you suggest.

[Peter Gibbons]

Happy that Boston is being tackled, but a few quick mistakes I notice right off the bat.

The map shows East Boston is an island; it's not, as it's physically connected to Winthrop. I think that region/area needs to be redrafted.

Charlestown seems to be a neighborhood that A) should be included & B) easily could be included.

Somerville is spelled incorrectly.

It's a good start, and I hope you stick with it. Good luck developing a theme and fine-tuning the gameplay.

[Flapcake]

Hi jscutler
basically you have something worth working with, and believe me if you have the courage / patience to go all the way there are a lot of fine tuning yet to come, but you got a good start to an exciting map.

I have a comment or rather a question, what does Beacon Hill Bombardment bonus do ? which way is the Bombardment ? from whom or where to ? You must be very precise in your legend, you almost have to cut it out of cardboard or bend it in neon so there is no doubt about the legend instructions.
but good start, I look forward to your next draft.

[Industrial Helix]

Also, your bonus regions are going to need some names.

[jscutler]

[bigimg]http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd424/joshscutler/BostonMassacre15.jpg[/bigimg]

Many thanks for the feedback so far. I've updated my map based on your suggestions. Here's a quick rundown on the changes:

1) Fixed spelling of "Somerville"
2) Created Charlestown territory, modified Cambridge
3) Connected East Boston to North Shore
4) Added "continent" names
5) Change Beacon Hill bonus to be auto -1 per turn (those taxes you know!)
6) Tweaked Map Name to emphasize Boston, Mass. so as not to mislead players from thinking this is historical replay map

[Flapcake]

[bigimg]http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd424/joshscutler/BostonMassacre15.jpg[/bigimg]

Many thanks for the feedback so far. I've updated my map based on your suggestions. Here's a quick rundown on the changes:

1) Fixed spelling of "Somerville"
2) Created Charlestown territory, modified Cambridge
3) Connected East Boston to North Shore
4) Added "continent" names
5) Change Beacon Hill bonus to be auto -1 per turn (those taxes you know!)
6) Tweaked Map Name to emphasize Boston, Mass. so as not to mislead players from thinking this is historical replay map

I dont realy dont get the -1, its the same as giving only 4 instead of 5, it makes no sence.
My suggestion is that you make some more landmarks and then do a bonus for holding some and /or all of them.
It would make more sence if it was the water bus that gave -1, becourse you have to force it to get to the territoys at the ohter side

[Peter Gibbons]

Thanks for making the adjustments I pointed out.

My personal suggestion--since you say you like gameplay such as Charleston, Vancouver, Luxembourg, etc.--is to make the gameplay straightforward and not incorporate anything "cartoonish" in the actual gameplay. Meaning, no Duck Boat as a territory and no weird -1 bonus or bombard for Beacon Hill.

Instead, I'd incorporate landmarks and other "Bostonish" material into the background and the color scheme. You might want to take a look at another small city map in development, London, to get some ideas. If a territory in the Harbor is need, maybe just "Harbor" as a water territory (like Sea of Japan on the Japan map). You might still use the Duck as an icon, but I'd tone down the cartoon nature of it. On the other hand, you could use the USS Constitution as the water-based icon as it does sail from port once a year.

I think, with some blended in icons like a silhouette of Paul Revere, an oldish American flag, the Old North Church or other similar items you could couple them together with an aged red/white/blue & brownish/sepia theme and have something really awesome here. Basically a present-day geography Boston map, but with a nod to its 1775 era.

All of those are just suggestions, though... you could take this in a number of different directions and you might want something more like Portland, where icons and landmarks are part of the gameplay. That just happens to not be my cup of tea, no pun intended.

[The Bison King]

Not a bad start for a Boston map. As far as the gameplay goes I think that this has a solid lay out, though may play a bit similar to Charelston or Puget Sound.

I'm not someone who usually get's hung up on theme. I typically view that as the icing on the cake but here I find it a bit distracting. I like the title but if you want to keep it I feel like you need to commit to it. I'm not saying rearrange the gameplay to re-intact a mob being shot up by soldiers, but cater to Boston's historical side. More landmarks, and historical sites.

Also I'd say lose the damn Duck Boat. Would you really want the Duck Boat to represent your city?

Also, I think that that +1 bonus should be at least 2 territories

[jscutler]

More good suggestions. Here is updated map:

1) Toned down the color scheme. Stuck with mostly green/blue tints
2) Remove the duck boat and replaced with Old Ironsides
3) Reduced size of bridges and arrows to make them look less cartoony
4) Added a Paul Revere, flag and Old North Church images.

[Flapcake]

Hi jscustler

what does Paul Revere, flag and Old North Church do ? some bonus or ? and where is the u.s.s. contitution ?

any way I suggest that you make the ship -1 or resets to 3 neutral after end turn, then it will have an gameplay wise funktion.

[The Bison King]

Love the new update, all good changes.

[jscutler]

Ok, just a couple minor changes here:

1) Added label to U.S.S. Constitution
2) Changed Constitution bonus from +1 to -1 for gameplay reasons
3) Added 25 pixel circle for army on Constitution territory.
4) Moved flag to Quincy to reduce clutter.

[natty dread]

You've got some 4-way borders, need to get rid of those.

[jscutler]

Thanks for further suggestions. I think it's getting close.

1) Made the territory names just a bit smaller so as not to look so crowded
2) Added new South End territory and connected Downtown with Allston-Brighton to make a bit more geographically accurate.
3) Reduced the number of 4-way contiguous territories.
4) Made North End a +1.
5) Added small icons to bottom line bonus schedule

[jscutler]

Made a few more tweaks.

1) Changed name of Allston-Brighton territory.
2) Added a faint outline glow to territory borders.
3) Made the continent names slightly smaller

How do I go about getting to next step?

Thanks for consideration!

[Flapcake]

You need to explain what the flag and the guy on horse do, ohterwise they are just confusing theme stuff.

I do have and suggestion for those icons: for gameplay, Hold all city icons for 1 round to win (bring 1 more in and include the ship. so you have 5 winning icons.)
With this type of game play you force playes to figth for the win and not just goin to sit on bonuses 4ever

I hope i made my self clear. take a pic on my maps, Denmark and copenhagen, they have a game play some where like that (advertising for my maps sorry )

Flap

[jscutler]

I like that idea Flap. Would still have the ship be -1 or would you dump that part?

[jscutler]

Took suggestion and added an additional landmark and then made victory condition holding all five landmarks for one turn. That adds an extra gameplay wrinkle.

[Flapcake]

I like that idea Flap. Would still have the ship be -1 or would you dump that part?

No that would not be dump at all, it will make it even more interesting and harder

the ship works as an barrier when it have -1, its an easy way from south shore to north shore and to prevent the "easy" part, it will work with -1 or even -2 hehe

anohter suggestion: you could make the bottom legen line double high, (steal some of south shore) then you have plenty of room for explanin whats goin on at your nice map

p.s. I realy like the style in your legend.