Max Shared Terrain Kit (MSTK)

[Sheep]

Many don't know, but alongside Rise of the Valkyrie (RotV), Age of Annihilation (AoA), and Lands of Valhalla (LoV), Renegade is selling a Tournament Organizer Terrain Kit (TOTK). This would not be an issue if it was 4x AoA sets, but it is not. It is its own thing with a similar but different configuration of tiles.

As many of us know, building and sharing maps is dependent on being able to share what it takes to build it (i.e. 1x AoA, 1x Jungle). So because each the four aforementioned sets are all different, none of them build the same map 1:1. For this reason, I (alongside @caps) have come up with the Max Shared Terrain Kit (MSTK). This kit takes the maximum amount of shared terrain from each set and creates its own terrain set. This allows anyone with access to any of the four sets to build a map using the MSTK.

Before I share the components of the MSTK, let me explain a few things:

1. The Lands of Valhalla set is assumed to also have a Waters of Valhalla set with it. This was to allow at least some water to be used across the maps.
2. While I did sort the sets by the maximum shared terrain of the same size AND type, if you sort just by size, you get a small adjustment of plus 1 24-hex. This comes from LoV being the limiting factor of Grass 24s (2) while being the only set that has Sand 24s (2). But because the TOTK is the next limiting factor for Grass 24s at 3, only one of the Sand 24s from LoV can be added to the MSTK.
3. There are no Line of Sight (LoS) Blockers in the MSTK. This is because none of the 4 sets share the same LoS Blockers. With that said, the MSTK will require adding a Jungle set (or Walls pack later on). It is not recommended to add a Classic terrain expansion as that will limit the number of new players that can build the map.

With that said, here are the terrain components of the MSTK:

Grass 24s (3, or 2 when using LoV)
Grass 7s (4)
Grass 3s (2)
Grass 2s (5)
Grass 1s (10)
Rock 24s (2)
Rock 7s (2)
Rock 3s (1)
Rock 2s (3)
Rock 1s (4)
Sand 24s (0, or 1 when using LoV)
Sand 7s (2)
Sand 3s (1)
Sand 2s (2)
Sand 1s (4)
Water (12)

And to make things easier for our great cartographers and VirtualScape, here is the VirtualScape Collection (.vsc). Just download the Max Shared Terrain Kit (MSTK).vsc, open VirtulScape > Configuration > Available Material > Load a collection. The .vsc does assume you are using RotV, AoA, or TOTK since VirtualScape does not have Sand 24s.

Hopefully everyone finds this useful! I believe there is tremendous value in being able to tell anyone with access to any of those 4 terrain sets that they can build a certain map, so I'm super excited to jump into VS and start building, and I hope you all are too! Happy 'Scaping, everyone!

 

[caps]

I'm really excited about this. I want to make it clear that Sheep did all the legwork to figure out the actual numbers and put together the .vsc file, etc. I mostly just asked him a bunch of questions.

I'm looking forward to seeing what people come up with, and to trying it myself.

--

We're also discussing experimenting with building maps from the "leftovers" of the above sets (probably combined with another set, like the Battle for the Wellspring), since the leftovers include quite a few LoS blockers and a decent amount of 24-hexers and random other tiles.

Ideally, a store organizer could use one TOTK set, 4 jungles, and possibly 2 other sets, and get 6 maps (TOTK advertises being enough for only 4).

Or a new player with AoA + Jungle + BftW would be able to provide 2 maps. Etc.

Coming up with a naming convention for these is a little tricky. We've settled on MSTK for this one (though you could also say AoA/RotV/LoV if you're feeling verbose and inclusive) but the "leftovers" ones are a little trickier.

 

[Sheep]

Sharing the link to my spreadsheet. I'll likely do .vscs for the leftovers later on, as I think they also have value, even if not as much as the MSTK.

 

[UtahScott]

Includes instructions for creating a variety of maps using the contents.

How many pre-built map layouts come with this kit, I wonder... Does any 'Scaper know if their FLGS has actually ordered this kit to check?
5 24-hexes is an odd number to start with (pun semi-intended)...That's no comment on the MSTK, that's the TOTK split into fourths.

(One-Fourth) Tournament Organizer Terrain Kit
3 24-hex grass
2 24-hex rock

7 7-hex grass
5 7-hex rock
5 7-hex sand

6 3-hex grass
3 3-hex rock
3 3-hex sand

6 2-hex grass
3 2-hex rock
3 2-hex sand

16 1-hex grass
05 1-hex rock
05 1-hex sand

12 1-hex water

3 Laur bushes
1 short wall w/ 2 pillars (occupies 2 adjacent hexes)

P.S. What 'Scape figures have silhouettes similar to Crow and Tom Servo?

 

[Sheep]

Includes instructions for creating a variety of maps using the contents.

How many pre-built map layouts come with this kit, I wonder... Does any 'Scaper know if their FLGS has actually ordered this kit to check?

No idea how many pre-built maps come with the kit. We’re assuming they won’t be useful for tournaments anyways.

I know my store plans to order 2. He’s also all in as one of the 500 launch stores.

5 24-hexes is an odd number to start with (pun semi-intended)...That's no comment on the MSTK, that's the TOTK split into fourths.

One-Fourth Tournament Organizer Terrain Kit

3 24-hex grass

2 24-hex rock

7 7-hex grass

5 7-hex rock

5 7-hex sand

6 3-hex grass

3 3-hex rock

3 3-hex sand

6 2-hex grass

3 2-hex rock

3 2-hex sand

16 1-hex grass

05 1-hex rock

05 1-hex sand

12 1-hex water

3 Laur bushes

1 short wall w/ 2 pillars (occupies 2 adjacent hexes)

P.S. What 'Scape figures have silhouettes similar to Crow and Tom Servo?

Yes, I should have mentioned that these are the numbers I used for MSTK, given that the TOTK is advertised as being able to build 4x tournament maps.

 

[Anonymous]

Is the Tournament Organizer Terrain Kit something that is purchasable by the general public? Or do you have to be a registered FLGS?

 

[Myriadite]

I am at least able to add it to my cart and proceed to the checkout, although I haven't gone all the way. Curiously enough, I am also able to add the Launch Tournament OP Kit which includes 9x promo Shiori miniatures (and is limited to 10 kits per store). Surely there is some limitation in place.

 

[Anonymous]

Just curious as to the availability. Looks like you get more terrain from just a standard unpainted AoA, which you can find more cheaply on the Internet then the 100 they're asking for here.

 

[Sheep]

Is the Tournament Organizer Terrain Kit something that is purchasable by the general public? Or do you have to be a registered FLGS?

I am at least able to add it to my cart and proceed to the checkout, although I haven't gone all the way. Curiously enough, I am also able to add the Launch Tournament OP Kit which includes 9x promo Shiori miniatures (and is limited to 10 kits per store). Surely there is some limitation in place.

Yeah we’re not entirely sure. I think you have to be registered as an event host to post events to battle network so I’m guessing there are similar requirements to this.

Just curious as to the availability. Looks like you get more terrain from just a standard unpainted AoA, which you can find more cheaply on the Internet then the 100 they're asking for here.

You definitely do not get less than AoA. The list UtahScott shared is 1/4th of the full list (that’s the list I used for the MSTK since the kit says you can build 4 tournament maps). The full list is in the link provided in the OP.

 

[Anonymous]

Is the Tournament Organizer Terrain Kit something that is purchasable by the general public? Or do you have to be a registered FLGS?

I am at least able to add it to my cart and proceed to the checkout, although I haven't gone all the way. Curiously enough, I am also able to add the Launch Tournament OP Kit which includes 9x promo Shiori miniatures (and is limited to 10 kits per store). Surely there is some limitation in place.

Yeah we’re not entirely sure. I think you have to be registered as an event host to post events to battle network so I’m guessing there are similar requirements to this.

Just curious as to the availability. Looks like you get more terrain from just a standard unpainted AoA, which you can find more cheaply on the Internet then the 100 they're asking for here.

You definitely do not get less than AoA. The list UtahScott shared is 1/4th of the full list (that’s the list I used for the MSTK since the kit says you can build 4 tournament maps). The full list is in the link provided in the OP.

Oh, I see. That was a fourth of the total. Bad reading comprehension on my part.

 

[UtahScott]

Looking at this a bit further. Over the four terrain sets (RotV, AoA, LoV and 1/4TOTK), AoA is the Limiting Factor in 7-hex, 3-hex and 1-hex counts, so we can consider that our control group, especially since it's the newest and most easily available (well, after the second printing). RotV is the LF for 2-hex tiles at 10.

But every set has enough leftovers to slightly increase builds. AoA has six extra 2-hex tiles (12 hexes), 1/4 TOTK also has exactly 12 hexes worth of combined spare 1- and 2-hex tiles. LoV has 18 spare 2-hex tiles, +2 1-hex tiles, and RotV has 8 spare single hexes. All have up to 4 2-hex tiles' worth of "generic" pieces to add. These could be represented in the build instructions by using asphalt, concrete or dungeon hexes (would be nice to have "asterisk" tiles in VirtualScape to denote "generic" pieces...).

Or, for 3-hexes, LoV has 7 (average) but AoA has only 4. AoA could use 3 spare 2-hexes (& double-stacked water?) to add 3 "generic" 3-hexes on covered levels, again totaling 7. If available, RotV and 1/4 TOTK each have enough to give 3 3-hexes to an AoA set (totaling 7) and still be at 7 3-hexes themselves.

 

[UtahScott]

Edit: An MSTK is now much larger than SotM. (see Sheep's post below)
MSTK: 258 hexes + 12 water =270 hexes (new totals)
SotM: 195 hexes +42 water =237 hexes (minus the Hive)

the others:
RotV: 338 hexes +21 water = 359 hexes
1/4 TOTK: 325 hex +12 water = 337 hexes
AoA: 310 hexes +20 water = 330 hexes
LoV: 300 hexes +24 water
(& Waters o'V) +15 3-hex water
+6 wellspring water = 345 hexes

 

[Sheep]

Looking at this a bit further. Over the four terrain sets (RotV, AoA, LoV and 1/4TOTK), AoA is the Limiting Factor in 7-hex, 3-hex and 1-hex counts, so we can consider that our control group, especially since it's the newest and most easily available (well, after the second printing). RotV is the LF for 2-hex tiles at 10.

But every set has enough leftovers to slightly increase builds. AoA has six extra 2-hex tiles (12 hexes), 1/4 TOTK also has exactly 12 hexes worth of combined spare 1- and 2-hex tiles. LoV has 18 spare 2-hex tiles, +2 1-hex tiles, and RotV has 8 spare single hexes. All have up to 4 2-hex tiles' worth of "generic" pieces to add. These could be represented in the build instructions by using asphalt, concrete or dungeon hexes (would be nice to have "asterisk" tiles in VirtualScape to denote "generic" pieces...).

Or, for 3-hexes, LoV has 7 (average) but AoA has only 4. AoA could use 3 spare 2-hexes (& double-stacked water?) to add 3 "generic" 3-hexes on covered levels, again totaling 7. If available, RotV and 1/4 TOTK each have enough to give 3 3-hexes to an AoA set (totaling 7) and still be at 7 3-hexes themselves.

With this in mind, I’m adding 8 hexes to the MSTK along with a 24-hex.

Final numbers will be:

Grass 24s (2)
Grass 7s (4)
Grass 3s (2)
Grass 2s (5)
Grass 1s (10)
Rock 24s (2)
Rock 7s (2)
Rock 3s (1)
Rock 2s (3)
Rock 1s (4)
Sand 24s (0)
Sand 7s (2)
Sand 3s (1)
Sand 2s (2)
Sand 1s (4)
Water (12)

Plus the following:
If AoA:
- Add 2 Grass 24s
- Add 1 Grass 2
- Add 2 Rock 2s
- Add 1 Sand 2

If RotV:
- Add 2 Grass 24s
- Add 6 Grass 1s
- Add 2 Rock 1s

If TOTK:
- Add 1 Grass 24
- Add 2 Grass 7s
- Add 2 Grass 3s
- Add 1 Grass 2
- Add 6 Grass 1s
- Add 1 Rock 1
- Add 1 Sand 2
- Add 1 Sand 1

If LoV:
- Add 2 Sand 24s
- Add 1 Grass 2
- Add 2 Rock 2s
- Add 1 Sand 2

The 8 additional hexes will be tied to 4 2-hexes since that is the way in which AoA can add those hexes. This is also the most “work” for organizers using the TOTK, which is mostly fine.

 

[UtahScott]

With this in mind, I’m adding 8 hexes to the MSTK along with a 24-hex.

Final numbers will be:
....

The 8 additional hexes will be tied to 4 2-hexes since that is the way in which AoA can add those hexes. This is also the most “work” for organizers using the TOTK, which is mostly fine.

The TOTK has enough smaller tiles to combine for an additonal 24-hex? Took me a minute...
6 24s + 8? That's a big jump for maps. Very nice. Good job, @Sheep!

New total:
MSTK: 258 hexes + 12 water =270 hexes

 

[UtahScott]

TOTK's piecemeal 24-hex looks like this: