Samurai Warlords beta 8

[Noir]

The map, (as its easy to confirm by inspection) has most internal provinces (border all around) at Northern Japan (east end as we see it).

These are: Shinano,Hida,Kozuke,Shimotsuke,Kai.

The other two Mino and Omi, are closer to kinki (central Japan area).

By inspection (and bitter STW experience), Hida is awfully underpowered compared to Dewa and Mutsu for example.

There are three very strong "edges" that give cookie cutter strategies:

1.The Musashi/Shimosa(/Hitachi) combo
2.The Dewa/Mutsu/Echigo combo
3.The Hizen,Chikugo,Chikuzen combo

By combos it is meant that they all act as a large "blob", that is very defensible as the total number of bordering provinces and directions of rival expansion is very restricted due to Japan being a squashed ellipsoid. All three combos are at or very close to the very ends of the ellipsoidal map.

All three of them are strengthened with the presence of a river (in case of 1. passes from two provinces). In addition the combos 1. & 2. are very close geographically. So, its easy for one that dominates in one to get the other quickly too.

The rest of the map and incomes' distribution is fine, i would say.

I would redistribute wealth from some of the combo provinces to internal/stagnating provinces (like Osumi/Hida/Etchizen) and also take out the river battle from certain invading directions at least. River provinces that also have considerable wealth,like Musashi, Echigo and Chikuzen are way to easy "safe-standard" points of expansion all the more as they have other rich lands around them.

Rivers may be present as a decor in battles or even partly or with crossing points (if feasible/possible).Another way would be to add a river map in between other non-river maps in the library for that province and so get a river battle randmly once in a while.

Many thanks

Noir