What's your favorite map and why?

[Starwarrior1128]

Just curious. I like the new maps and the new milestones and awards that goes with them. And if you want to share your favorite milestones and awards too feel free.

[RoyalRook]

I like Tharsis because it's so deep and the MS/Awards are perfect, there are no freebies. I love Elysium bc it rewards patience, I hate Hellas and Vastitas bc there are roo many freebies, arctic algae on Vastitas is just insane, I say Hellas and Vastitas has the lowest skill ceiling.

[FrankJones]

I agree with Rook.

The other maps are fun and interesting, but some of the milestones are just way too easy. Multiple milestones claimed on Gen 1 is a bit silly, in my opinion. Some of the awards a bit wonky also.

I do like the extra-large map with the higher global parameters; and, those milestones are not easy to claim, but, there is the one useless milestone involving delegates.

[mozkiz]

I love Hellas I find the milestones and awards more interesting than the other maps and it really rewards the eco deco viral combo which as you may be able to tell from my username I enjoy.

(I haven't played maps outside of Tharsis/Elysium/Hellas)

[Bogeyun]

Hellas is arguably the best balanced map for 2p if removing prelude corps. Tharsis is mostly solved and a bit stale but still very good, Elysium is an RNG fest map

[jaymc1130]

Hellas is arguably the best balanced map for 2p if removing prelude corps. Tharsis is mostly solved and a bit stale but still very good, Elysium is an RNG fest map

I feel like most of the discord feels this way at this point. I’m still partial to Elysium because it’s the map I find most aesthetically pleasing but from a competitive perspective Hellas feels like the map with the best overall balance.

[charliec247]

Hellas is arguably the best balanced map for 2p if removing prelude corps. Tharsis is mostly solved and a bit stale but still very good, Elysium is an RNG fest map

Can you (or others if they'd like) elaborate more in this, particularly about Hellas and Elysium?

[PleaseAGB1]

I wonder how long it will be until someone (maybe the folks at the T Mars heroku app) have a randomly generated map. I guess milestones and awards could be random too? Then the skill ceiling would be raised?

BGA / Frylexius, give me some commission if you make a ton of money off this idea .

[xspuipuke]

I like Tharsis because it's so deep and the MS/Awards are perfect, there are no freebies. I love Elysium bc it rewards patience, I hate Hellas and Vastitas bc there are roo many freebies, arctic algae on Vastitas is just insane, I say Hellas and Vastitas has the lowest skill ceiling.

I‘m baffled: Elysium has even more freebies than Hellas: Generalist, Specialist and Ecologist can all be claimed gen 1 first action when you get the right preludes. And if you‘re talking about placement bonuses … how about 3 cards?

[Bogeyun]

Hellas is arguably the best balanced map for 2p if removing prelude corps. Tharsis is mostly solved and a bit stale but still very good, Elysium is an RNG fest map

Can you (or others if they'd like) elaborate more in this, particularly about Hellas and Elysium?

hellas - requires sub-optimal plays/development to generally get milestones, which is a good mechanic to have. Being able to develop naturally then pay 8mc for 5pts is too strong, but you have to go out of your way to get 8 tags usually, or going polar means you give up better rebates in the north, etc. Joves get a milestone (yay cause they are weak). The map also nerfs some of the strongest cards (GIA/Deimos and other space events) and the strongest corps (CC/Ecoline) so there's a lot more parity.

tldr: corps are more balanced and milestones are amazing (awards are main weak point having magnate overlap contractor/spacebaron, favoring engine a little too much)

elysium - milestones suck, 3 card spot sucks, all the insane rebates around oceans are absurdly broken. Terraforming+Ground is super busted, too many games are just insta decided by early starts. Map is a lot of fun but by far the most luck dependent

Tharsis - board/milestone/awards are very solid overall, but a couple broken corps, and terraforming is a little too good w/ the Gardener+terraformer+LL trio