About
Commentary and processes of J C Lawrence:
systems architect,
contrarian,
theorist,
sailor,
hacker,
virtual world designer,
linux-user,
aquarist,
disquisitor,
cat breeder,
raconteur,
game designer,
ludophile,
bibliophile,
numismatist,
speculator and
theologiser
License
Vanity Exposed
Motions are still (slowly) under way toward releasing/publishing my older Age of Steam maps. A skilled artist is working on rendering the maps in far slicker form than my Inkscape scribbles. We’ve also started toward determining the supply chain etc.
There are five maps in the pipeline, the first three of which are Wales, South-East Australia and Denmark. None of this so far should be huge news…except that I’m now also releasing the full text of the rules for each design.
Age of Steam: Wales
Age of Steam: Wales is geared for 3 or 4 players and introduces track gauges to Age of Steam. Players select either narrow or standard gauge track when building track and must also manage their Links between narrow and standard gauge for deliveries.
Age of Steam: South-East Australia
Age of Steam: South-East Australia was designed for 4 or 5 players and is the first map of a series which introduces a significantly new economic system to Age of Steam that makes for a simpler and yet deeper, nastier and more dramatic game pattern.
Age of Steam: Denmark
Age of Steam: Denmark was targeted for 3 or 4 players and is the next step with that new economic system and adds the notion of limited train availability (borrowed from the 18xx). Age of Steam: Denmark may also be the first Age of Steam map which actively encourages highly dramatic hail mary victories. Leaping come-from-behind victories in Age of Steam: Denmark are quite possible if well planned.
Comments
I assume the posted maps are your “inkscape scribbles”. Actually, they are very close to my personal ideal for game maps: clear information design. Perhaps some historical or geographical detail would improve them.. perhaps not. I would happily play them as is.
I do not like added decorative textures on hex-style maps much. For me, Queen’s very pretty Chicago Express board is not an easy to play design.
Yes, those are my Inkscape scribbles. Thanks. It has always been a core goal to make the maps as visually obvious as possible. Moving from the line art (spirals and stars) to simple colour fills for terrain was a big step forward there (and a lot easier to maintain and edit). As regards historical and thematic details, I’ve asked the artist that is working on the maps to look at making the city art for each city unique and thematically tied to that Real World location. We’ll see what he comes up with. Age of Steam: Wales also uses the welsh names for all the Welsh locations and the English names for the English locations (there’s a pronunciation guide in the rules).
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