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Map Designer: BPLlama [BPLlama@canada.com]
Reviewed by: Tarrant[9th]
Stuff From the Text File:
"A fast-paced battle over the riches hidden in this delicate formation of asteroids and dust. Concept by Sir Gideon".
Number of Players: 2-6
Starting Units:
Resourcers - 2
Carriers - 1
Ion Frigates - 3
Support Frigates - 2
Light Corvettes - 5
Scouts - 5
What I Thought:
Layout -
I never was much good at Geometry so I'm not even going to try and identify what kind of object Chain of Fate is. Let's just say that it's a multi-sided spheroid (is that even a word?) with the resources outlining and comprising the "chains" connecting the vertices. Whew...not too bad a description I think. Take a look at screenshot 1 and screenshot 2 and see if you can identify it. I'll offer a free cookie and a hearty handshake to whoever can tell me what object it is :). But, that aside, what we should really be interested in here is the kick ass custom background that BPLlama has incorporated into his design. The yellow and purple nebula effect can hypnotize you even when they're thumbnailed on your monitor. I know, I know...some of you will probably be saying "what on earth are those that funky looking colors?" when you first fire up a game. All I can offer is that you *must* play on it before you formulate an opinion. I, too, didn't think I was going to bond with that background but, the longer and more I played, the more it grew on me. By the time I finished my first game I was thinking "now that is a cool background". Anyway, you have to at least give BPLlama some credit as you hardly ever see custom backgrounds in a Homeworld map. Actually, this is the first one I've seen altogether but I know there are a few more out there. Moving right along, this board is of medium size supporting up to 6 players with starting positions located at the vertices of said elusively descriptive object.
Combat -
There are three things that really seem to promote bloodshed here. One, for a 6 player map it's really not all that big. This means that the more players there are, the quicker things are going to start blowing up from gunfire. Two, you have a pretty descent starting fleet especially since the map isn't all that large. And three, remember those irritating auto-guns from the salvage yard mission? Well, you'd better get ready to sound general quarters because you're going to start running into them as soon as your collectors start to venture forth. From what I noticed, there are approximately 4 to 5 guns placed at each vertices of the map. This could be one reason that such a distinguished starting ship line-up was included because the guns have to be taken out before you can harvest in earnest. As far as combat between players, I found most of my engagements taking place on the inner circumference of the resource patch and close to the center. If you have a hard look at the layout, you pretty much have to go thru the middle anyway to get to another player so it only stands to reason that you're going to run into enemy forces when you go hiking in that area.
Resourcing -
The more players you have the quicker things are going to get out of hand, especially with those demonic auto-guns hanging around. Most of my games involved four players and things started to get messy pretty quick. Honestly, all I did was keep pumping collectors out like a man possessed since there is a fairly good sized amount of $$$ for the taking. That way I was bound to bring in some kind of dollars eventually...heh. The map is also small enough to warrant sparing some fighter cover for your collectors and controllers but I found that concentrating most of my firepower on enemy collectors achieved a similar result...they were too busy defending and didn't have time to really press my cash machine. Also, you won't need to max out on controllers since, like I said, the map isn't overtly big. That money is better spent on offensive units.
Overall -
Although I'm not typically interested in the quick shoot 'em up games that most maps like this seem to promote, I have to say that I was very pleased with what Chain of Fate had to offer. The custom background definitely helps since I'm always in the mood for a change from the norm and the auto-guns will have your sensor display lighting up like a christmas tree from the gitgo. With all the red circles marking their firing, you'll have a slightly difficult time figuring out whether it's the guns hounding you or if it's an attack from another player. This forces you to pay a little more attention to the battlefield as a whole and not just concentrate on the one push you're trying make up the middle. So, my rating? Dramatic drumroll please...a two thumbs up! But, like those annoying infomercials say "don't take my word for it..."
Overall Rating: 80
Download "Chain Of Fate"
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