Sandsea Mesa Redux
Out in the desert, just off the old highways they say exists ruins of days past. Old industry, and relics of a more barbaric age. Will you use the existing infrastructure to create an industrial powerhouse, or start anew with clean and simple living. Perhaps you wish to found a center of modern technology? The choice is yours. Perhaps you might come across some areas of interest as you grow.
Before I begin, big thanks to BonBonB for a great map review. Does great and honest map reviews. Check out his channel and huge thanks for reviewing my map!
Revision note: Water source for starting square has been moved to recreate a more believeable location. As such, there is slight variation for that from the screenshots. Water source is now further up the canyon.
Desert Oasis theme, or similar desert theme. It still looks decent in default terrain, so feel free to experiment if you wish.
I call it Redux because it is my second concept for this map theme of dry river canyons. The first is still up in workshop and called, “Sandsea Mesa”. After checking out other maps via recommendations from youtube, I took elements I like and combined it to my style of play.
This is a no mods, or assets aside from a custom theme build. No mods are required to enjoy it and it was play tested with a vanilla play. Below I will sort for different common mod playstyles to detail how they will play more.
“NO RADIOACTIVE DESERT” Mod NOT RECOMMENDED
The color theme and map areas are designed to make use of the water shores and coloration changes to trees and the land. So if you have this mod, try it with this option off. It will not prevent playing however, so give it a try and decide for yourself.
The start is a bit more challenging than a traditional map. This is due to the stepped start square and no hardset intersections to start building from. The layout is meant to feel like existing infrastructure that you develop around, not having a special area of land just waiting for the city.
Terraforming might be needed depending on how you play. It is not needed for build areas, but instead can be used to make better looking accesses, and for issues such as water control. But it is to be a tool for if you want to use. In my play testing none was required to make a nice city.
This is focused on a challenge style play and build. While not difficult, it does require clever thought. Terrain layouts in certain areas means you need to plan your city around the terrain instead of a preplanned, or multiuse traffic and roads layout.
For most vanilla players, you will have a very traditional play. Start in center with up to nine tiles of area for expansion. The different directions of expansion each offer different potentials for what will shape your city and how you might lay it out. Plan accordingly. Start area contains enough easily accessible flat land to get a good start before needing to expand. The town shown in the pictures is an example of a start square only development.
Not all areas will have access to the same resources or accessibility so keep in mind.
This gives opportunity to a more diverse play. Access to most resources and areas so will suit well to a player who likes diversity vs just pure size in their cities.
Those who wish for 81 tile play will not be left out. Resource layouts and terrain is made smooth and continuous past the 25 tile borders. There might even be some additional details to enjoy beyond the 25 tiles.
I am somebody who enjoys pushing game mechanics and playing with and around limiting factors in a mostly vanilla configuration. New and engaging experiences are attractive to me more than a min/max or heavy additional resource style play which is why I tried keeping this map from being overly complex and also made it supportive for the vanilla players. That said, there should be plenty enough for those that make use of many assets as well.
I hope all those of you who try this find it a very enjoyable build. I made this map to help create the game experience I was looking for, and I hope it helps others as well by offering a unique visual and play experience without requiring heavy modifications.
For those of you with Mass Transit, the road layout was planned with this in mind, so it shouldn’t be difficult to upgrade the main desert single lanes to mass transit roads in the map editor if you wish.
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