Sometimes when you want to balance a map for a turn-based strategy game, there’s no better solution than a little symmetry. Perfectly symmetrical maps (or “mirror maps”) ensure that all players have equal access to resources, building sites, and travel paths, while still allowing for a wide variety of actual gameplay as individual players make their own choices regarding unit construction and which direction they choose to expand towards. (Did you know that there’s a “mirror” tag in Athena Crisis allowing you to easily find all official and community maps that feature symmetry?)
This week’s Community Map of the Week is Ocean Liner by Large Nuggets. “Liner”…get it? You’re not going to build any cruise ships on this map, but both players will be encouraged to charge down the “transoceanic rail line” to get to the central island here, as it features both Factories and Oil Rigs. However, you shouldn’t neglect to build up around your starting point, as there are Barracks, Shipyards, and building sites ready for the taking.
(As another fun fact, most PVP maps are built to take into account what’s referred to as “first turn advantage” or FTA, which indicates that it’s generally best to be the first person to take a turn as you can start your exploration or economy more quickly than other players. Generally this is balanced by ensuring that the starting player has a unit that’s *just* outside the movement range of a building that can be captured, while the other players can begin capturing a building immediately on their first turn, but there are other strategies to account for FTA as well.)
Obviously the central island is key here, and the fact that the paths leading to it are rail tiles will come into play: most infantry units, including Pioneers, will have their movement speed greatly reduced on rails, meaning they’ll need a Jeep or other transport to move quickly along them. The player who winds up controlling the central island will also have the ability to create powerful rail-only units, like the Supply Train, Transport Train, and the mighty Mammoth rail gun.
Of course, any combat on the rail line will necessarily be somewhat constrained since you won’t be able to maneuver your units around the line, but smart players will also build a naval strategy to account for this, using Battleships and other units to bombard the land units as they come to and fro. If a player recognizes that they’re behind in the battle for the central island, all hope isn’t lost: Tugs can help build a second outpost in the corners of the map, and you can build another Shipyard near your base to strengthen your naval forces, but you’ll be on the back foot economically, so act fast.