Hey folks!

As I watched the latest episodes of the Clone Wars cartoon, I was inspired to create a training arena map for Star Wars miniatures play. In the cartoon, clone trainees are tested in a controlled simulation environment with shifting floors and obstacles. This map design is influenced by the arena used in the cartoon, but is made with two "citadel" bases set up on opposite sides, for balanced gameplay. In fact, this map will be completely symmetrical. I also created a building in the center of the map to enclose most of the gambit area, and set up wall structures in key area to provide advancement routes for melee units (without closing off all possible shooting lanes). It occurs to me that this map would be great for a "Capture the Flag" sort of scenario, as well.

This one is intended to be more tournament-friendly than most, so I'm presenting it here "in the rough" in order to get community feedback and troubleshoot the design from the very beginning. If you find anything abusive about this map, please point it out.

The preliminary sketch from my sketchbook:

Larger view available here: http://www.mapsofmastery.com/swmstuff/TrainingArenaSketch.jpg

A rough comp including walls, doors, and highlighting to clarify terrain types:

Larger view available here: http://www.mapsofmastery.com/swmstuff/TrainingArenaRough.jpg

I'm also considering doing something different with Side B of this map. All of the posters I've done so far at http://www.mapsofmastery.com have two different maps on either side. For this one, I'm thinking of putting a sheet of empty floor tiles that match the floor of the arena. (We haven't had an unadorned floor map commercially available for this game since Clone Strike.)

That said, I would take it one step further: I'd make this combo pack that included not just the poster, but a set of cards similar to my "Sci-Fi Cargo Tiles" product, that feature arena obstacles and adjusted floor sections: Raised floors, walls, pits, weapon emplacements, towers, and other structures build out of the shifting arena floor. In this way, you could take the empty arena floor map and build your own training simulations on it using the tiles. I'd try to include enough variety in these pieces that you could custom-build a pretty thorough map of your own for a unique skirmish battle.

So: please let me know if this is a product you would be interested in supporting, and please also critique the map shown above. My goal is to make a balanced tournament-friendly skirmish map.

If this meets with widespread approval, I'll take it to a finished state and do another Kickstarter-based pre-order to fund the print run.

Thanks, folks! I hope you like this.

THats A Great idea. It also leads to other play styles like a capture the flag game . HMMMM the Possibilities

It's funny, I was thinking the same thing while watching that episode - "wouldn't this be a cool minis map?" lol

I really like the idea of the symmetry for balance and reproduces the unnatural, sterile training facility. I'm not sure how much action would ever take place in the four corners though - not sure if you can remove one row on the left and right and add some more open space in the center area. Basically push the citadels out one row. Might not look right and cause more issues though by squeezing down the edge hallway.

I personally have never been a huge fan of enclosed gambit - I've always viewed that mechanic as meant to encourage combat and avoid lockouts. I know others like the hiding place in the middle of the map though. Maybe consider removing the doors so it is still enclosed, but not a lockout option?

There's a lot of slow terrain which can really hurt melee and large characters. It is necessary for the design and look, but maybe any yellow squares you decide you could do without could speed up movement a bit. Overall, I do like the long sight lines with plenty of cover. There are multiple approach routes for combat which I like. Could see Flight characters having a big advantage on this map.

As for a blank map with tiles, I like that idea. It could be fun to create a new map each time with the set tiles that are meant to go together. Although we have tiles and blank maps already, there isn't a full set of tiles dedicated to a fully customized map. I think this element would appeal to the RPGers / casual gamers as well so you can market to different audiences for the different sides. Have you considered placing some terrain (maybe set-up areas or center obstacles) and leave the rest blank? Maybe fill out the edges to align with the other map and the center combat area completely blank for a double-map game? It would still be able to be customized, but have some consistent structure. The idea of purely blank is lost for use as other locations, but the back of Death Star fills that role already. Just throwing it out there. ;)

You can count on my support for a project like this.

Great Idea Mapmaker. I had the same idea. I'm in. You always do such a great job!

Excited to see you are working on another map. I've purchased at least one of everything you've produced so far (and two of some), and will be happy to continue if it isn't cost prohibitive. A few questions and comments...


Would the tiles come with the map, or would they be extra?

Personally, I'd rather have two maps, as the idea of paying $14 for one map doesn't do as much for me as getting the typical two maps for that price.

And, while I can see were folks might think the tiles and blank map are a fun idea, especially for the RPG, this can already be done on a standard Chessix map and/or on the back of the RS or CS starter maps.

At a minimum, I hope you'll not bundle them together and sell them together for a higher price. I'd be less likely to buy one map for $14 unless I knew in advance that it was legal for competitive play (and if I had to pay more than that to get tiles I'd be unlikely to use, I'd be even less likely to buy, or would buy reluctantly).

I am totally for this, and would love to (finally) get a decent blank map. The tiles are a great idea, and buying multiple maps would only enhance the combination! As soon as I catch up on JediCartographer's Map Pack 4 and your most recent map, this would be on the top of my buy list.

I like it alot! I'll def buy one when it's available

I think I'm on board with Squid89, instead of having a completely blank map, have protected 'end caps' or for the start area, and movable terrain to fill in the middle. (They don't all have to be the same size, we know variety is the spice of live...)
Or maybe you can just have a couple of the tiles designed specifically as a protected start area or a capture the flag zone and whatever else.

I also love the wall 'o' guns set up around the flag. And I am dreaming of house rules that allow those guns to participate in defense for capture the flag scenarios.

Rarely watch Clone Wars, but saw an episode with the training gound in it this week. Maybe, for non-DCI, you could number some wall segments and have them "vanish" or "return" on an extra d20 roll before (or after) initiative is rolled.

I was thinking more that the tiles could be placed over the printed map as you have it designed and cover terrain, not blank spaces. If there were enough tiles to cover the whole area in the middle, many combinations could be made. Remove the tiles and you have the full map as you intended for skirmish play. The back can be whatever you want. The tiles could even be an expansion later on and not included with this map.

No tiles would be fine as well, just trying to think of other ways to cater to multiple people.