Posts from Hey, roads, dust, and fog.

I'm tired of the endless arguments and negativity, so I propose we discuss some long-overdue changes to the game:
Part 1: Roads
Often, you don't know which roads to use on which map, and it's good if you get a reasonable opponent, but what if someone is overly principled?! Then you have to play Jebus on medium roads or XL on fast roads. I suggest that everyone who is interested express their opinion; I'll ask for a poll to be added in about two weeks.
Since I started, I'll be the first to speak up. All of this is just my opinion, of course!!
M200 should be played on slow roads so that the game doesn't end too quickly: either in the first week or on day 121. Ideally, the game should last 123-133 days.
CM: all roads are acceptable, but I'm still in favor of medium roads.
L-maps, including mirror maps, should be played on medium roads so that there aren't too many fast encounters in the first week. The exception is something like Mininoastalgia, because a fast encounter in the first week is almost impossible there, but I would still leave medium roads as the default; fast roads speed up the game too much and introduce a certain imbalance into the gameplay.
XL Jebus: the point of playing Jebus is to build an army in the first week, and then go out and fight at the beginning of the second week, so fast roads are ideal!
XL+U: MM6A, HM12A, 6LM10A, Spider - with fast roads, the starting distribution, logistics, and stables start to play a big role, and a fast encounter in the first week becomes almost inevitable, so I am DEFINITELY in favor of medium roads as the default!!!
8HM8A: I don't have enough experience with this map to judge the roads, so I'll ask the experts to speak up!
BigNostalgia: the same as above.

I go with medium+fast on XL+U (but what about rush tactics, gentlemen?), and sometimes the roads give such a twist that you can get a decent burn from mediums
I've never played Jebus Cross with mediums, but I suspect it's garbage, so only fast
m200 — only slow

On fast maps, a convenient road junction plays an even bigger role, as well as the number of objects scattered along the roads. It also becomes much harder to play if you get stuck on a one-way road, as while you're wasting time going around on the off-road, your opponent can comfortably spread out and take over everything on the fast roads. And redesigning one-way roads isn't a plus on all map templates, and not all players support it, and according to the rules, standard one-way roads are still the default.
Another significant drawback of fast maps is that if someone gains control earlier, they can easily take over all the other castles in the same turn just with ranged units – this isn't right.

On fast maps, a convenient road network and the number of objects placed along the roads become even more important. It also becomes much harder to play if you get stuck on a one-way road, as while you're wasting time going around on the off-road, your opponent can comfortably spread out and take over everything on the fast roads. And modifying one-way roads isn't a plus for all map layouts, and not all players support it; according to the rules, standard one-way roads are still the default.
Another significant drawback of fast maps is that if someone gains control earlier, they can easily take over all the other Castles in the same turn by simply using low-tier units – this isn't right.

For me, even medium roads sometimes feel monotonous, almost as slow as slow roads, especially on HL and mirror maps. I'm in favor of completely removing slow roads, even on m200. Medium roads should be left for m200 and diamond templates because the small distance between cities can be an issue. Everything else should be on fast roads.
Tempo is everything :cool: