We're going to try to improve the templates used on the Multi Day Ladder(MDL). I've decided to approach this in three phases:

• Phase 1 - Remove templates from the ladder
  
  I'll collect feedback from the community using this poll (open until the end of the month) - https://goo.gl/OoZ2Rh
  Some templates are considered too unique or mainstream and will not be considered for this poll. The mainstream templates are necessary to attract new players. The unique templates add a novelty factor.
  
  These responses will be evaluated by a template panel. They will vote on the templates to be removed. Please provide reasonable explanations on why you think a specific template is not worthy. We're looking to get rid of templates which satisfy any of these criteria:
  
  • Have broken/confusing connections
    
  • Poor map visibility
    
  • Every game plays out the same way.
    
  • Same forced picks on every board.
    
  • Unbalanced or heavily luck based
  
  

  Unique Templates : MA Battle Islands V, Georgia Army Cap,  Greece LD, Macedonia no split
                     Snowy Mountains MA, Elitist Africa, Randomized Strat ME
  
  Mainstream Templates : Battle Islands V, China, Guiroma, Strat ME, French Brawl 
                         Strat MME, Strat Greece, Treasure map

  
  
• Phase 2 - Make changes to existing templates if they can be improved.
  As we're going through phase 1, you can also suggest tweaks to the existing templates(including unique and mainstream templates) on this thread. The template panel will evaluate these changes and vote on them as well. If possible, submit an example game with your proposed changes, so we can see how it plays out.
  
  
• Phase 3 - Add new templates to the ladder
  You can also submit new templates for MDL on this thread(with an example game)

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• In the interest of transparency, I wont be on this template panel.
  
• If you believe you are experienced on MDL and want to be a part of the template panel, reach out to me. You must have access to Skype as that is where these discussions will take place.
  
• I'll try to keep this panel down to 10 members at a maximum.
  
• Thanks to Beren for making the poll.
  
• I've done this on a separate forum thread as there were complaints that the last poll was not very visible. Please up-vote this thread so it is noticed by those who would like to participate in this exercise.

Thanks for participating on MDL!

Edited 5/18/2017 03:09:37

If you think I've missed any template in the unique or mainstream category, please point that out as soon as possible.

I'm surprised Season XV isn't in the ladder yet.

Example game: https://www.warlight.net/MultiPlayer?GameID=6611471

Since it is not clear in the OP post. Will the results of the poll be public? (So that if a template is being suggested for removal, others can give input/defend it? Before the panel makes the ultimate decision ofc.)

Since it is not clear in the OP post. Will the results of the poll be public? (So that if a template is being suggested for removal, others can give input/defend it? Before the panel makes the ultimate decision ofc.)

The comments will be shared with the template panel and their decision will be public. People are free to make their recommendations on this thread as well to start a discussion and convince others.

Suggestions for unique Templates:

Modify one of the MA Templates to neutrals greater than one and include warlords because it promotes calculating/predicting the size of a moving stack after a few moves and leads to greater variety in the search for the most effective moving paths.

Include a LD Autodistribution Template on an more open map than Greece e.g. British Raj or Belarus which includes a not to infrequent Airlift Card because its madness and madness is fun.

I like timon's suggestion of adding Poland. I think that's a template that could fit quite good into the MDL, since it's a template that u need to play differently as others as well.

@aoc, Neutrals of 1 are the prime number for MA. Any higher and you have to start bumping up income (both neutrals kill 2 armies, but neutrals of 2 require an extra army to take), and increasing income becomes problematic since it becomes easier to attack the entire map in one turn. Neutrals of 2 are definitely viable settings, but both templates (Snowy Mountains especially) are tailored towards neutrals of 1. The templates cannot be modified to include neutrals of 2 without overhauling the entire template.

On the subject of warlords, BIV already has in-dist neutrals set to 4. I agree that bumping in-dist neutrals in Snowy Mountains might be a good modification in order to limit expansion further.

Only 6 responses so far. This is your chance to bring about change on MDL. Use it!

I hope that you don't kick Cat Fight. I know it's disliked by some, but it's the first WR template that I like. WR seems very well suited to it.

All MME-style templates must be purged!

Do we have any template with Limited Full Distribution? I can't discern.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think:

Discovery - http://md-ladder.cloudapp.net/template?templateId=940664

Earthsea - http://md-ladder.cloudapp.net/template?templateId=940662

Elitist Africa - http://md-ladder.cloudapp.net/template?templateId=944620

Georgia Army Cap - http://md-ladder.cloudapp.net/template?templateId=945791

Maybe it's my fault, but by "Limited Full Distribution" I meant the distribution option where the total number of territories available to pick equals 2 times the initial number of territories each player receives.

Yeah it's probably my fault.

So none of the templates you mention exemplifies the distribution option I have in mind.

But this one (Great Lakes) does: https://www.warlight.net/MultiPlayer?GameID=9132887

There are 16 territories. Each player receives 8. This allows you to know the starting territories of your enemy.

So, do we have any such template on the MDL? If not, I'd suggest to include one. Great Lakes might be a good option, for instance.

there are none lfd temps on the mdl your right

Confused FLD, thought it was more broadly defined than just 2x the number of picks.

Edited 5/24/2017 16:07:23

I would doubt in Land of Aus (Australia). It has very unbalanced bonuses, which are not separated by different colors. Superbonus system is just to be ignored, as it is hard to see and hardly possible to get.

Only 10 responses so far(AG, THE AWESOME OTTERYCAT, Muli, MotD, Edge, krunx, LeQuébécois_Benoit, Njord, Wakanarai, MoD) which is quite disappointing :|

I'll close the poll in 48 hours.

Edited 5/30/2017 07:15:26

Sorry about my submission :P

I didn't read your explanation carefully enough! lol

Did mine not go through? I definitely submitted one!