Board Game Arena

GTSchemer wrote: ↑13 August 2025, 02:16

LincolnHawk wrote: ↑13 August 2025, 01:56 How does "Table Host Custom Setup" exactly work for map and faction set-up? Don't want to start a game and then be completely lost with us newbs lol

Thanks!

The host can either pick one of the premade maps, or import a map string from generator websites such as https://keeganw.github.io/ti4/?settings ... 0414051112

With 3-5 players, some people might also do a Milty draft: https://milty.shenanigans.be/

If you use a site like those to generate a map, you will need to turn off all Prophecy of Kings expansion content. Also, you must only use factions that are currently supported on BGA. In short, it's for advanced players who want to carefully customize the map they play.

Do you think this information should be added to: https://en.doc.boardgamearena.com/Gameh ... htimperium

Perhaps in some "Custom Options" explanation section.

Update: This suggestion was implemented here: https://en.doc.boardgamearena.com/Gameh ... stom_Setup

GTSchemer wrote: ↑13 August 2025, 02:16

LincolnHawk wrote: ↑13 August 2025, 01:56 How does "Table Host Custom Setup" exactly work for map and faction set-up? Don't want to start a game and then be completely lost with us newbs lol

Thanks!

The host can either pick one of the premade maps, or import a map string from generator websites such as https://keeganw.github.io/ti4/?settings ... 0414051112

With 3-5 players, some people might also do a Milty draft: https://milty.shenanigans.be/

If you use a site like those to generate a map, you will need to turn off all Prophecy of Kings expansion content. Also, you must only use factions that are currently supported on BGA. In short, it's for advanced players who want to carefully customize the map they play.

Just curious why Milty Draft precludes using Pok?
(not complaining - this is all amazing work - thank you. You're doing the Lord's work

nathankcamp wrote: ↑14 August 2025, 01:44 Just curious why Milty Draft precludes using Pok?
(not complaining - this is all amazing work - thank you. You're doing the Lord's work

BGA only has the base game, so only base game map strings will work.

In other words you can do Milty Draft with up to 5 players, but there aren't enough base game tiles for it to properly generate 6 slices using whatever balancing algorithm it uses.

FYI, for those trying to do a Milty Draft currently, these are the 11 presently implemented factions:

• The Xxcha Kingdom
• The Federation of Sol
• The Emirates of Hacan
• The Barony of Letnev
• Sardakk N'orr
• The Universities of Jol-nar
• The Embers of Muaat (see: https://boardgamearena.com/forum/viewto ... 00#p219900)
• The Winnu (see: https://boardgamearena.com/forum/viewto ... 74#p220474)
• The Arborec (see: https://boardgamearena.com/forum/viewto ... 80#p221980)
• The Yssaril Tribes (see: https://boardgamearena.com/forum/viewto ... 67#p222267)
• The L1Z1X Mindnet (see: https://boardgamearena.com/forum/viewto ... 29#p222829)

Which means you need to exclude these 6 factions:

• The Clan of Saar
• The Ghosts of Creuss
• The Mentak Coalition
• The Naalu Collective
• The Nekro Virus
• The Yin Brotherhood

On that topic if you are feeling REALLY daring, you can do a Milty draft with 3 players and use the 3 hyperlane loop map layout. That specific layout should correctly import to BGA, but many objectives may be difficult or impossible on such a small map.


New build:
* Added "Pause After Game Over" setup option. By default, the game will pause when it ends so players can review the state.
* Once all players click Finish Game, the table will close.
* This lets player easily review how the game ended, even if the "See final game situation" BGA button is missing on the postgame page.
* This applies to all existing tables, but any newly created tables can turn the option off (e.g. for tournaments).

Is there a way to see all the pre-made maps for different player counts? I am wondering if any might be slightly unbalanced.

I was playing on pre-made map C and felt that having two 3-resource planets two hexes away from my home system might be slightly advantageous.

Table link: https://boardgamearena.com/2/twilightim ... =713981261

Could you add me to alpha testers or some kind of wait list to join alpha. Would be glad to help.

MegaZurg wrote: ↑16 August 2025, 12:31 Could you add me to alpha testers or some kind of wait list to join alpha. Would be glad to help.

I can still add testers, but they would need to find the phrase I mentioned in a post on page 40 and PM it to me.

SilentNSly wrote: ↑16 August 2025, 07:45 Is there a way to see all the pre-made maps for different player counts? I am wondering if any might be slightly unbalanced.

I was playing on pre-made map C and felt that having two 3-resource planets two hexes away from my home system might be slightly advantageous.

You may want to create a suggestion about this in the bug report system so players can discuss and vote on it. Just be sure to mention the player count in the suggestion title, because "map C" is different for 3 players compared to 4 players etc. A/B/C is just used for convenience to separate the 3 premade maps for every player count and combination. The hyperlane 4-player maps are also likely different from the non-hyperlane 4-player maps.

In case you do create a suggestion, I wanted to give some general context for anyone who is interested. Map balancing is a bit complex.

• I have made a few change(s) to premade maps for (hopefully) better balance, but there are so many factors, it may be impossible to fully make something fair.

• Even if a map were "perfectly" balanced, one risk is that it could grow boring over time. Map building and map import are supported to hopefully help with this.

• In your example, 3-resource planets help all factions, but there may be more factors depending on the situation. Just as examples, Mentak or L1z1x might LOVE a yellow tech planet in their slice, even more than high resources. Other factions might not care. Muaat might be very interested in a supernova near their home, while other factions might view that as a negative. A faction might start with a 5/0 home planet, but no influence, so they want influence to help get command tokens.

• In general, the premade maps on BGA were examples in the rules, and/or inspired by generated slices or maps. However, this approach for map building may not always produce completely balanced slices for everyone, see above. Of course, this is also why some people like Milty draft because they can draft a slice...etc. etc.

• TI4 is a game where balance is ultimately enforced by players. In a 3-player map someone might manage a 1v2 with an especially good starting setup, but with more players, it can be VERY hard to win if other players identify you as a threat too early. So, map unbalance may even be a normal part of the game. "I had bad luck with my starting slice, can you cut me some slack while I catch up?" "Hacan has a really good starting slice. We need to keep them in check early or they will run away with the game." etc.

IN CONCLUSION: There are so many factors, so many personalities, and so many preferences on how to play, that there will probably never be a perfect map layout. If something is especially good or bad it can be considered for an adjustment, though, and that is where creating a suggestion is a good idea.

GTSchemer wrote: ↑16 August 2025, 14:42 There are so many factors, so many personalities, and so many preferences on how to play, that there will probably never be a perfect map layout. If something is especially good or bad it can be considered for an adjustment, though, and that is where creating a suggestion is a good idea.

I created a suggestion for it.

My main concern was to be able to view all the different pre-made maps.

With that knowledge, you can let players decide for themselves if they want to avoid certain pre-made maps (instead of trying to "fix" them), as each individual has different views on what is unbalanced.

Wow! Really hyped to play TI4 on BGA even if it is just base game. Pass and play will make games so much more doable with having young kids.

I sent the PM but not sure if I qualify to playtest. Otherwise, I will look forward to the public alpha