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Hi all

Are there any good guides on how to create maps? I was able to find something like "terrain should be 25% of all space". But are there any good guides on how to create maps which are:
- balanced (obvious)
- diverse (not the same layout) but still balanced
- fit better or worse different game modes (just kill each other/ objectives/ etc)
- any design rules? (e.g. since the usual moving distance is 6", you can kinda scale distances to 6 inches etc).

Not that I can think off..

I find what tend to work best, is either have a 3rd party set it up.

Or just generally take turns with your mate to place pieces

That being said the most fun I tend to have is on Themed battlefield (while generally not balanced, helps that narrative)

Pointers:

Set your "city block" grid at an angle if you aren't playing on premolded GW streets. Looks better.

Make different parts of the map different from each other: dedicate an area as Open Space; an area as Built Up, an area as Forest, etc.

Use logical connections between terrain features: Forests grow near rivers, or on one side of a hill. Buildings are there for a reason: road juncture, mine, agricultural operation, landing pad, etc.

Even if you don't have proper models for main features like these, use simple things as though you did: put a large walled yard behind a large building like a factory. Or, use small wall segments to make gardens next to house-sized structures.

Have a few of your difficult terrains close with the edge of the table, but otherwise leave space. Similarly, have a few pieces flush next to each other, but otherwise leave gaps large enough for tanks to move through.

Don't separate deployment zones with a very difficult obstacle (like a river). Don't separate the battlefield into halves with a river: isolate 20-30% only.

Roads might not do anything in the game, but they look great.

Set up battle damage logically: pick out a target for the strike and add craters and rubble accordingly.

Set up trenches in a logical way, to defend something (even if it is implicit, off-board). Remember that lots of trenches are for communication and moving around reinforcements, not just defending the front line. Trenches don't have to defend one player's side: they can be old or abandoned, cutting across the field at an odd angle.

Photograph your tables so you can learn from them. Also, you can do linked games on a larger "map" by shifting your old terrain to one side and arranging new terrain in the new direction.

Some of my past tables that I think worked well:
http://68.media.tumblr.com/8957776a740b83d2933d42282b7b1497/tumblr_nw3yar20vH1rpmlmyo1_1280.jpg

http://68.media.tumblr.com/b8ee7b017dff12f4077565c12fd3ce58/tumblr_o12x62ZkGj1rpmlmyo8_1280.jpg

http://68.media.tumblr.com/e5511aea51335153b6a5c09eaacd4fe4/tumblr_o75i92up0e1rpmlmyo4_1280.jpg

A very simple thing I do, is to set up all the terrain in advance. Then I allow my opponent to choose which side will be his deployment zone.
This is, of course, without any fortifications bought as part of a CAD, and the opponent can arrange one or two previously placed terrain models to accomodate for the fortifications if so desired.
By using this method, I can set up the terrain thematically (either cityfight, or jungle, or rocky desert, etc), and as dense or open as I desire. Usually, one or two items such as hills or (big) buildings per 2×2 feet section of the board, more if we're talking about smaller scatter terrain.

Never had a foul run with this.

Use logical connections between terrain features