What's Everyone's Thoughts on Metal Quantities?

I think its to early for Uber to define a stable build by adjusting the map characteristics to find it. Even though random in itself doesn't help when making timings.

Compared to SC2 and SC /FA, each with a structured map layout.. SC2 always has 1 ramp into the base, 1 expo that is close by and a third that is hard to achieve. SC always has the 4 extractors at the start and a hydrogen power plant near by. The problem with this is now its a standard and one type of build is usually emphasized for maximum affect and map creators always have to tailor their maps to these standards...

The problem now with SC2 is that maps are formulaic and it is hard to make a unique map due to their strict standards. 1 ramp, anti blocking supply depo measure, 1 expo close, can't make the area to large or else the zerg is at an advantage can't make to many chokes or the protoss is at an advantage, all of these have to be taken into account or else the map is imbalanced and unplayable.

If mass has to be evenly distributed across a world for it to be a fair game. then all the maps will look the same or mirrored to be fair. not saying it will get as Extreme as SC2 but I don't want this to spiral out of control.

To revert back to the subject....

I think this is a good idea. but as long as there are stray Mass extractors as well as clumps.

Please allow me to be a little blunt and say that most people in this thread are arguing how to make PA into their favorite game. Do you enjoy short intense games? Then you'd want less resources so there's more fighting over the few that are there. If you like long, huge games with metric fucktons of everything that goes boom you'd want massive resources so everyone can build everything they want.

What needs to be done, and as far as i can tell from the high standard of the game so far, is being done, is to allow for all variants, versions and preferences. Want a 20 min 1v1 quickie? Pick a small planet with little metal. Want an allnigher ending in 5 planets being launched into each other at once? Pick the biggest system with the most resources. However, as we are still in beta, not everything is implemented yet and we get to play with what they throw at us. My guess is at first they put a lot of resources in just to make sure people could build and play and now they are trying out how it feels with less.

With all that said. I think the game plays a lot better at the moment that it did in alpha when it comes to the quantity of mass. Metal not grouped up but scattered about also benefits an aggressive playstyle as opposed to turtling. Early harassment can change the game. Plenty of metal clumped together makes it easier to defend and promotes turtling. I enjoy games where if i get to orbital i had to fight for it and earn it.

Then again, that's personal preference. As far as i can tell Uber are doing their best to cater to all our wishes so i have no doubt all of us will be able to play the kind of PA we prefer once the game is done.

To anyone at uber reading this, thanks for a job well done!