Hi Everyone

I'm near completion of the UK power Grid map, but I'd like it to be glanced over by better gamers than myself.

I've posted a rough version on the Geek images page for Power Grid, but I've tinkered since that one was posted.

I'd like to post the full board (same dimensions as the USA and Germany maps) but I'm asking for comments and advice.

Would people be willing to look at the rough map posted and comment here. If you want the latest low rez map-version them drop me a GeekMail.

CHRIS

With luck I should be able to post high res versions of the new board in 4 sections - each the same dimensions as the standard board.

The connexion costs feel arbitrary. Why would Norwich connect at 3, 5, 7, and 15? There are many more examples... I may be wrong, but most of the time, Friese's maps feel right, with connexion costs following terrain and distance. You might want to work on this.

keep it coming

You should have a look at the France map. London being only a single connection point doesn't feel quite right - regarding the size of the city compared to the others.

Agreed with this.
Compliments for the graphics, it's looking great!
Have you actually playtested the map?
What's making France and Italy so interesting compared to the original maps is that the character of play really changes, it's not just a diffent map, it's demanding a different strategy.

Good luck with this one!

First strike against it: no Sheffield!

If these numbers playtested well, I suppose I could live with that, but some of them look questionable in terms of geographic accuracy. For example:

Connections to Stornoway look too cheap.
Why is Liverpool-Chester 0, but Chester-Manchester is 16?

Good luck with the board.

Good work.

The only thing of note to me is why no direct connection between Liverpool and Manchester? Although it has nothing to do with power lines, there are lots of people that commute between the two cities on a daily basis so I kind of expected a direct link.

Also, maybe lower connection costs in the North of England. The cost of living is higher in the south (east) maybe this could be reflected.

James

Ilfracombe to Pembroke is a longer distance over water than to Swansea
but costs less?

The different sizes of cost circles look a bit odd to me

As a Scot it pains me to suggest it, but maybe a different projection
which makes the large and mostly empty Scotland a little smaller so
the larger population centres can be a little more spread out?

How about including Ireland so there are more connections to Scotland and Wales via it?

Are you thinking of any special UK rules like those for the other expansion maps?

One thing you want to try to maintain is the 'Triangle Inequality'. In other words, the cost of any single link between two cities should always be less than the cost of connecting the same two cities via an intermediary.

Simple example: Cambridge-to-Ipswitch costs 13, but Cambridge-to-Norwich (5) and Norwich-to-Ipswitch (7) costs only 12.

I see a few other examples of this, including the very top of the map.

Also, it seems that the average link cost is somewhat higher in this map than, say, Italy or the US. (This is just a note, though; it may just play harder.)

Finally, I am curious if you added any rules changes. France has cheaper nukes, and Italy has cheaper garbage (and more expensive coal and oil). Do you have any such plans.

Great start, though!

The use of 'yellow' connections, usually used to signify sections of expensive connections, seems to be inconsistent.

To expand on my quandry, I've designed it (pinched a bit of the Modulus bits for the side panels - why reinvent the wheel) but I'm now struggling with game balance.

I love Power Grid but have not played a million games like everyone else here (don't try and deny it!). I am therefore only on the edge of 'getting it' in terms of tactics and the finer art of board balance.

And yes I'm sorry there's no Sheffield..I was even forced to use ILFRACOMBE for gods sake!!!!! can you beleive it...so yes, no support for the home town as that area was getting very busy.....slap me later!

Connection to Chester from liverpool was made free as all boards have about three such and I needed the space but it needs to be balanced in that area..the UK is crap for packing connections in - too long and thin - how the hell did they do Italy!

Cost of living in areas of the UK - like it, there are some gaps that I left for thoughts on game play and having to 'work around' areas, but I may look at that again as the costs/logic are not passing the critique, so I may just connect everything (I agree it makes sense to connect liverpool to Manchester rather than Chester - I'll fix that). I have tinkered since the post which is why I want feedback to get it right before I finally release the monster.

I don't have a copy of the france/Italy map, anyone get me a crude scan or a low rez version to study, so I can read the connection costs off. Not bothered about quality, I just want to read the connnections.

Not thought about doing Ireland (though it is part of the UK) but it would be better as an easily connectable zone, but space on the map is already tight. I can't shrink it down any further without the pieces not fitting on the cities. The small cost circles were the only way to get it to fit, and they do look better in higher res.

I love scotland (I run the study trip on Arran for my sixth form Biology students) but I couldn't really justify shrinking it, I think it would alter the overall UK look when there are solutions elsewhere...just have to enjoy the space and the silence!

As for special rules, I like the sound, but I need to get the board right first. Any suggestions?

Due to alot of link changes to get it to fit I think I lost the cost balance. My homework is to study the distribution on Germany/USA (hopefully France/Italy if someone can help!) and get a better idea. the triangle inequality is important so as to remove sneaky cheap rat runs. There are ALOT of yellow links and I need to rethink (help help) ALOT!!

This is a lot to ask, but would people suggest/argue connection costs on a zone by zone rota (and you'll be first to get a full high res copy of the map and credits), as you're all proving I may be able to do the graphics (thanks for all kind comments) but I'm clueless at balance so far.

You're all a gift, so far this is perfect...MORE MORE MORE

CHRIS

As for the links, I remember hearing in an interview with the designer that he basically just used a grid and counted the squares between cities. Of course, if that link goes through rivers, mountains, etc. the costs of those links need to be higher.

So, there may be cheaper links to some araes in the map, but that's just how it is set up. All of the information is open to the players, and given at the start of the game, so if there are cheaper links, then you must find a way to exploit those before other players are.

For additional rules, I think that you should research the real-life energy production issues of the UK and try and mimic them in the map as best as you can.

It looks good so far.