FFG - Can you please provide the Skirmish maps as images?

[Hida77 951]

Hey all,

 

The purpose of this thread is to ask FFG to provide the Skirmish map images so that instead of having to assemble the tiles every time we play a skirmish game, we can simply flip and layout the paper or other flat material to play on.  

 

Requirements:

- The images be the same size and shape as the map if the tiles were used.

- The Consoles/Doors/Deployment Zones would NOT be included - the tokens for these would be used as normal.  The image would simply be the map as if it were fully assembled.

- The images be provided in a format that can easily be used by a printer (such as Kinkos, etc.) 

- The images would be added under the "Support" section of the FFG website so they could easily be located and downloaded.

- All currently available skirmish maps would be provided.  When new maps are released, the new images would be added to the site as well.

 

What we are NOT asking for:

- The rules of the scenarios to be played on the map.  This would only be available to those that actually own the expansions they came from.

- The map provided for setup with the discolored deployment areas/location of objectives, etc.  This would still be provided in the actual expansions as they currently are.

-  FFG to stop making tiles.  We all like the tiles and how detailed they are.  We want them in the future expansions.  However, the assembly of tiles is just not efficient for a competitive game, and this will provide a helpful alternative.

 

I see this as having several major benefits:

1) The most obvious - speed of setup.  Players don't have to fish through tiles to assemble the maps.  Simply print them out on appropriate sized-paper or other material and unroll/unfold them to play.

2) Impossible to lose pieces/forget pieces and not be able to play.

3) Tournament rounds will not need to have time to account for the setup of every map.

4) TOs could provide these so that a standard play area would be available for their tournaments.

 

Please sign below if you agree or let me know of any changes you all want.  I am planning on sending FFG Customer Support the request for this with the link to this topic.  I am hoping that if we are all asking for this, that they will provide the images in the best possible format and quality so that tournaments and playgroups will be able to run more efficiently/smoothly.  Thanks!

[Jonnyb815 131]

Lets just wait and see what Tournament rules are. They have to know this is a huge problem going forward since its just going to get worse as time goes by.

[thereisnotry 923]

Regardless, I'll sign my name to it.  If FFG has other plans that make this request obsolete, then they'll make their decision accordingly.

 

+1 from me for the request.

[Fizz 986]

+1 for printing out skirmish maps on paper to speed up setup.

[kujoe1988 51]

+1, agrred

[brimmstorm 13]

+1

Please, please, please!

[Rich J 17]

Yep - to save me the hassle of getting them scanned etc.

[Phillyraidrer215 0]

+1

[Brence 16]

+1

Although I don't think that specifically will happen as players would just pick up expansions without core, deployment and such are easily guestimated.

What I do see happening are Tournament packs with printed special maps for the tournament seasons misssions. That would allow special missions to be played in tournaments, keep setup easy and give TO's/stores some matts to demo etc on.

So lets hope FFG is way ahead of us!

Edited January 31, 2015 by Brence

[jpthebrit 7]

+1 I'm looking forward to competitive matches but am concerned about the time to set up maps and the wear and tear on my map tiles. I love the map tiles for the campaign, the quality of them really adds to the campaign and in casual skirmish play they are fine, but I do have concerns about the tournament scene.

[thereisnotry 923]

Yesterday I made scans of the skirmish maps and printed them.  I printed each map on 2 pieces of 11x17 paper, and then spliced/taped them together.  600x600 dpi gives a very good image result, though I'm sure that some people with better scanners will get even better results.  

 

The old SWM maps were 22x34 inches, while these ones are in the 16x19 range.  If this becomes legal/official I think I'll take my scanned files to Kinko's for quality printing on single sheets of quality paper.  Then I'd probably store/carry them in one of the big 16x20 toploaders, or maybe the next size up: http://www.amazon.com/Ultra-Pro-Top-Loaders-Pack/dp/B000ETP9U8/ref=sr_1_20?ie=UTF8&qid=1422760137&sr=8-20&keywords=ultra+pro+toploader

[Rogue Dakotan 5,213]

+2

[Leveton 325]

Something definitely will need to be done differently for tournament play. I don't know if it needs to be just printing out the skirmish maps, or having tournament-specific maps, but it setting a map up can take quite a while.

[miridor 102]

+1 

would save so much time to be able to have 2-3 different layouts without having to break down and reassemble.

[The Bishop 36]

+1

[aaronscho 3]

Set up for this game is a nightmare At times

+1 from me

Edited February 9, 2015 by aaronscho

[Jonnyb815 131]

Here is the problem I have and I don't think ffg can win no matter what they do.Ffg has said they want imperial assault games to feel different each time you play. Each map comes with a attack friendly mission and a unbalanced point mission that who ever gets the lead early and gets the extra object with speed , act, a little attacking has a huge advange from what I have seen.

This creates a good balance so no one can plan for a mission or build there mission deck for thoses. Each mission is a little different even though there are two main style of missions right now.

I really think they need to figure out how to speed up playing the game but not take the random mission style away since it's a big part of the balance I see so far.

If you start letting people build for missions I think we will have a unbalance like minis did with maps.

If you do let people print maps or give them away as prizes it hurts your sales since people can now play the game in the long run without the core.

If you keep as it is games are going to take for ever setup wise.

I think at nationals, worlds each table lane needs a different pre set map and randomly pick what mission you play. Not sure what needs to be done for regionals and local play.

I don't think giving away PDF of the maps for print is a good fix hurts there sales and not a ffg way of doing things. If they sold them then I could see the best answer since then they are making money and fixing the setup problem but keeping the balance in check or gave away 3-4 in league kits so TO can set up random maps.

I guess there are answers to the problem just with ever answer feels like it bring up a new problem.

Edited February 9, 2015 by Jonnyb815

[Hida77 951]

[snip..]

 

I don't think giving away PDF of the maps for print is a good fix hurts there sales and not a ffg way of doing things. If they sold them then I could see the best answer since then they are making money and fixing the setup problem but keeping the balance in check or gave away 3-4 in league kits so TO can set up random maps.

I disagree.  I don't see how providing the map without the rules/tokens/models for them hurts their sales at all.  It is not as if you can play the game without those things.  I guess you could say that people could play at home with people who DO have the models in friendly games, but if you wanted to play in a tournament for skirmish (which imo is the point) then you still have to buy in, regardless of whether they provide the maps or not. Also, at least one person would have bought the core and I can say from experience that you can play skirmish with 2 people/1 core already if both people pick a faction and stick with it, since I do it regularly to demo the game to prospective new players.

 

Also, every expansion comes with a new map layout and new missions. Again, the layout itself is such a small part of what is needed to play, so it does not get you out of needing the cards/models/etc. for competitive environments.

 

How does this hurt their sales more than say, the Vassal mod? Short answer: it doesn't.  If anything it promotes the game, since you have people playing it already and if they want to play in any competitive mode they have to buy in regardless of whether or not the maps (sans rules/tokens for them) are provided freely.

 

I honestly see providing the map images as the most simple and elegant solution.  You give people, particularly TOs, a way to reduce the time required to play so venues can accommodate more players/rounds and players don't have to constantly deal with one of the more obnoxious parts of playing back-to-back skirmish games without damaging the need for the FFG product. Any other solution, particularly "do nothing", hurts the viability of this as a competitive game in some way.

 

I am NOT in favor of them selling the maps separately.  People already balk at the Core set price.  If I have to then say "oh, by the way, if you want to play skirmish competitively, you need this $20+ map pack too" it will turn off a lot of people.  It would feel like a money grab, since you are making people re-buy something they already sort of have.

 

The point of this thread is not to discuss the balance of the missions, so I won't go there.  I personally think they are fine and the more variety the better.

[Jonnyb815 131]

If I am going to play a tournament I want to know nothing was changed and the look of the product is the same game to game. Top level printing is hard to come by and the product just won't look the same at a local print shop like kinos, I think FFG will see it that way too even if they gave use the scans it's against copyright for use to really print them unless they got the ok.There is a whole copyright mess they will get into by giving use the PDF. They have no control over what people do with them.

If FFG does give the ok I am on board with them giving away PDF. I just don't think it will happen and don't think people should get their hopes up. I am on board with the idea but don't think it will happen and just tried to,give a few ideas I thought could happen. I think it's a great idea since it will speed up the game and access will be great and it gets more players involved.

They print all there stuff in house for stuff like this and need to hire more works if they did something like this in house and resold them. Not sure they will do league kit maps unless other games are on board so I think this idea is out too unless they are making money on a large scale.

As far as local play

Right now you can scan your own maps at the local library most of the bigger towns have large scans and then print off two 11 by 17. Not sure why you need FFG.

[Kyla 1,411]

+1 from me.  In regards to the Campaign, having the map is 100% useless without the rules and images of the completed map with deployment setup, crate/console/door locations, etc. that comes in the campaign book.  In regards to the skirmish, it is also pointless for the same loss of objective locations and overall scenario details.  The threat posed from downloadable maps is very minor.

[thereisnotry 923]

I played an IA skirmish this weekend on one of the maps that I had printed out.  It looked plenty good, and didn't lessen the play experience at all.  Everyone to whom I showed my printouts said that printed skirmish maps are the way to go.  Even if they don't become the official option from FFG, I think it's clear that printed skirmish maps are what players are going to be using in the future.

 

Oh, and I also took down Vader in that skirmish.  And the rest of Vader's squad...after only losing 2 figs of my own.  Just sayin....

[Crabbok 9,869]

I woudl love this.   Or at least if FFG released a neoprene mat, similar to their X-Wing starfield and Death Star matts...  that would also be acceptable.

[derroehre 370]

+1. a lot of time saved in the competitve enviroment and no sales lost imo.

[The Gas 183]

I woudl love this.   Or at least if FFG released a neoprene mat, similar to their X-Wing starfield and Death Star matts...  that would also be acceptable.

That sounds like a good idea, except from a price standpoint.  There are already three different skirmish maps in the box, and another seven coming with wave 1 of the ally/villain packs. That's $400 worth of mats, assuming they'd be the same price as the X-Wing mats.

[ThatJakeGuy 982]

+1 (billion)

 

IA tourneys of any size over about 16 will be impossible without a way to speed up the setup, and printed maps are the simplest, most elegant solutions.