Map: Roughy
Description: 8 x 8 Battle of rough desert terrain
Recommended Players:  1v1, 2v2, 4 player FFA, more at your own risk : )
Tools:  Bryce, Small AI Designer v1.0.3 (v1.1c), Annihilator, Cavedog Map Editor, Paint Shop Pro 7, TA Palette, MS Word, MS Notepad, MS Paintbrush, Terragen style tutorial by C_A_P, encouragement (thank you!)
Files: szRoughy.ufo (Roughy map), szRoughy.jpg (mini-radar map), szRoughy.txt (Readme)

-Summary-
Well, here is an alien desert with rather rough terrain.  It has a standard AI text file "Roughy.txt" in its UFO that assumes that you are using the skirmish upgreade "Siege v2" to support its early resource / defnese needs.  I don't think the AI is a challenge at all for me without "Siege v2" taking care of its defenses and early resource requirements.  Please keep that in mind!

Well, I do hope you enjoy gaming on this map!  Any feedback can be sent to: masterkg@yahoo.com

Thank you!

A slightly more detailed summary of the map is available below:
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- Graphics / Mechanics -
"Roughy" appears to be a semi-tropical, alien desert with varying terrain.  The area is covered in dry sands, and is made up of small mounds and rolling hills that have formed do to natural occurrences.  Only the toughest and most drought resistant trees, shrubs, and foliage prosper in this region.   Metal patches are riddled along the lower terrain and on some hills.  Also, geothermal vents have formed atop some hills and mounds.

Building may prove a bit difficult early on, until you become adjusted to the layout of the area.  Finding the right spot to drop plants quickly and effectively will take practice. Construction of base defense is quite easy on this terrain. Workers seem to take to lower terrain quite well. All metal patches seemed to work fine with level one extractors placed on them.  Moho Extractors will not be accepted as easily do to some of the rough terrain near extraction sites. Look for the flattest land to drop Moho extractors on vacant metal patches.  Geothermal vents are a little tricky do to the formation on the hills; but, workers have no trouble building on them after a few seconds of trial and error in properly placing the Thermal plants.  

- Gameplay - 
The skirmish AI "Roughy.txt" seems to perform fairly well under tests.  Arm and Core versions of the AI build plenty of defense, normally a few plasma battery and many missile towers.  They were also very swift in mounting an early attack force, usually consisting of about five or ten kbots.  They attempt to stall you with their early attack force, until they try to keep up a constant stream of attack to hold you back.  Raids against unguided resources and "easy pickings" are common from the Roughy AI.  If allowed to manifest, the Roughy AI will try to finish a Long Range Plasama Cannon.  This is what to expect when playing with Siege 2 skirmish AI upgrade installed, which makes the AI more of a challenge in preparation for multiplayer combat.

Battling on this map is quite interesting.  I found lasers, usually light, are a most excellent defense structure when placed atop hills. As a matter of fact, all defenses placed atop hills seemed to work best.  Units on the lower terrain have great difficulty returning fire to structures positioned on hills.  Also, units that occupy higher terrain typically live much longer than invaders approaching from lower terrain.  Units claim high terrain with confidence, and stay in position for quite a long time!  I found that trajectory kbots and tanks, as well as defensive structure, are the only things able to help claim strategic positions on hills, especially if the enemy has gotten very comfortable with their hill!  Shelling the enemy with plasma fire is a good way to force their hand--attack, or retreat--and claim a hill for a great defense setup, extra metal patch, or geothermal vent!
Jets, if used properly, can quickly swoop in and out of enemy territory to take out key structures and resources.  It is recommended you use a good mix of units to ensure success, especially for early defense needs!

Remind your enemy "All your map are belong to us!"  Good luck during your campaigns in the "Roughy" sector!  
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Sage_Z, masterkg@yahoo.com