Doesn't matter to me. I suppose a setup from the comic book has the advantage that we can easily refer to it when doing our setup.
It makes sense for everyone to use the same map each time, but I thought it would be neat to have it as part of the drafting process. Before bans and drafts, players could take turns setting hexes into a predefined map shape.
But going with "everyone plays the same map," maybe players could each submit a map design, then have the group choose one randomly each session.
Or have everyone involved in building one map, then replicate it for all matches? (I'm not going to be there - just throwing out thoughts for consideration, so feel free to ignore. 
)
Given that the official tournaments are leaning towards less cover, if we use a comic book map, I would suggest that we us a map with minimal cover.
I don't think we can count on what we've seen in previous tournaments necessarilly being what we see in future tournaments.
This sounds fun. Perhaps each team places a tile until one person chooses not to place a tile, then the other team can either place one more tile or stop. We'd have to figure out how to determine who places first and who chooses which tile to start on in what order.
Another idea: We take turns designing a map for the day. Keep a record of who has designed maps most often. Whoever's done it the least gets to design today's map. For ties, roll dice!
I'd like to devise a text-based way to record what map we're using. How about:
* All tiles are oriented so there is a flat edge facing north.
* The tiles will be described in a series of rows. Each tile will have a position (1, 2, 3, etc representing the order, left to right, in the row), an identifier (ME3, IP6, etc. where ME is Megalopolis, IP is Insula Primalis, and the number identifies which tile of that set is being used), and an orientation (A-F, where A means the arrow for the tile is pointing north, B means north east, C means south east, D means south, E means south west, and F means north west).
* Position 1 of the second row of tiles will be the tile that is between positions 1 and 2 of the first row of tiles. Position 1 of the third row of tiles will be due south of position 1 of the first row of tiles.
* If there is no tile in a position, use NONE
For example, an all insula primalis board arranged as seven tiles forming a circle might be:
Row1: 1NONE, 2IP7A, 3IP4C; Row2: 1IP3F,2IP5A,3IP2D; Row3: 1NONE, 1IP8E, 2IP1B
(NOTE: I don't have the actual tiles in front of me, so don't know what this map would actually look like)
Not entirely sure how useful this would be. I was thinking it would be interesting for stats purposes to see what kinds of results we get on different maps, but given the difficulty in envisioning what these maps look like, I'm not sure how useful it would actually be.
I like this idea, but I feel like there should be a minimum map size. The alternative would be a possibility that a map could end up being 1 or two tiles. I don't think it is necessary for maps to be huge, but I think at least a 4 tile minimum.
I like the idea of a text-based map notation, but I'd write it a little differently. I like "Pr" for Insula Primalis and "Me" for Megalopolis, and a two letter abbreviation for the facing. So your theoretical map would look like this:
Row1: - - Pr7No Pr4Se
Row2: Pr3Nw Pr5No Pr2So
Row3: - - Pr8Sw Pr1Ne
Also, while a one-tile map would be an interesting strategic conundrum, I agree with Bharryn that a minimum map size is a good idea.
New notation: Like
Minimum map: Not sure .... I mean, have you tried playing on a one tile map? Maybe it's boring, but ... maybe it's interesting? It will certainly inform which characters are chosen. Imagine getting out Champion bot on a one tile map. Imagine if that tile is the volcano and you have Absolute Zero's ability to ignore hazard spaces.
As for how to determine starting tiles, current tournament rules are 1st ban & choose starting locations <OR> 1st draft & 1st move. I think we should expand/alter the definition of 'choose starting location' to mean that you get to chose _BOTH_ of the tiles that the teams start on, as well as placing the first tile.
Not sure these are better, but I was wondering if there were ASCII characters we could use for the six facings that LOOK like those six facings. Here's the best I came up with. If you can't tell which is which, they fail:
/\
\/
\.
/^
./
^\
Row1: - - Pr7/\ Pr4\.
Row2: Pr3^\ Pr5/\ Pr2\/
Row3: - - Pr8./ Pr1/^
Nah. Don't think I like those better
I know it is a lot of numbers, but we could aslso use notation by the number pad.
789
456
123
so it woud look like:
1. Me1-1 2. Ip3-7 3. Ip7-9
4. none 5. Me5-2 6. Ip6-3
etc...
Please let me know if you'd prefer to play at Lockerbie Pub, as we've currently planned, or in the Factulty/Staff lounge of my building (Informatics/IT - ICTC) on the IUPUI campus (SW corner of West & Michigan St.).
Advantages of Lockerbie: Free parking. You can buy food and drink. You all can be there and play whether I'm there or not. I don't have to reserve the space.
Advantages of of the Faculty/Staff loung of my building at IUPUI: Good lighting. Quiet. Good tables and chairs. Won't be sharing the space with anyone. You won't be _expected_ to buy any food/drink.
Parking on the IUPUI campus costs money and may be a bit of a hike. I actually don't know much about where you can park w/out a permit. Looking at http://www.parking.iupui.edu/Visitors/VisitorHome.aspx, it looks like there are no meters anywhere near the IT, which is unfortunate as the meter rate is $0.75/hour, while the garages are $4 for the first hour. Visitors can apparently park in the garage on the north side of Michigan St. closest to the IT/ICTC building. I think you might also be able to find some free street parking along Indiana Ave.
EDIT: There is a special rate of $6 listed for the Law School, which has parking in an underground garage and is located due south of the IT/ICTC building. Not sure if that is per hour or per day or what.
I'm fine with either location. Unless they removed them since I graduated, there are metered spaces in front of the Law School.
Indeed. Just checked. Four metered spaces next to ICTC. Six spaces next to the Law school. Eleven more spaces on the far side of the lot next to ICTC. Hopefully there won't be many other people using them on a Saturday. People would have to deal with bringing a bunch of change and worrying about feeding the meter.
The same is probably true of Lockerbie. The meters are not free on Saturdays anymore.
Are you saying you think it costs money to park at Lockerbie Pub? It does not. They have a modest-sized parking lot. Just in case, please note that I'm talking about the pub at the corner of College and Michigan, not the apartments near the IUPUI campus.
I''d cast my vote for the pub, though I'd be fine with either location. Just as long as you think the noise level and table space wouldn't keep us from playing.
I may come as well. Either place is fine for me, I also have a parking pass for IUPUI since my brother is a student there.
I did not know that. I learned something today 