Some of the maps we've seen (ok one) could be restructured for that...

And they could always make more awesome looking maps...

Well the maps are only set up for team 1 vs team 2.. it'd require brand new maps, or at least modified versions of existing maps, for a gametype that few people would play.. And it's time taken away from making more team1 vs. team2 mapps.

It'd be really nice if you could make your own maps though, then something like this should be pretty simple to mod.
And of course, be able to upload the mod/map to someone directly when they join your game rather them having to download and install it BEFORE joining your game.

I don't think making other versions of the maps would be that hard, they already got the terrain design and so on, it's not like they would have to design the maps from scratch.

I don't think it would be that great though, maybe like a fun mode to play once in a while.

Actually it should be easy to implement.

But making the maps would be time consuming for something i'd bet few people should play.

But i very much hope that it could be easily modded in and maps made.

The biggest issue with this design is simply, how d you balance a 4-way map?

Let's throw out map design for now, since if they had this mode, it's obvious that map design won't be the premiere issue with it.

First and foremost, the only way you could set up a map balanced like this is to have a dual-axis symmetrical map. This means, squares and circles. Right off the bat, you're limiting map design. Three way would require circles and triangles, 2 way squares circles curved lines etc.

Now, you could do a four way "spiral" type map or "tentacle" style, whereby you can have a central meeting ground and all the arms where the bases are are sorta artistically positioned, but here's the problem. You have one army going to the center, that then has to split three ways.

So, first, you have a massive deadlock in the center, but then once you push through, you have severely reduced forces trying to assault up one arm of the map with a now-limited army trying to push against an army designed for 3 teams.

Okay, that idea won't work. So now you'd do a more scattered one army per base split with 3 paths. Now you have 4 teams in, let's say a square. Now you have 3 paths valid for each army to assault from, but only 1 path for each army to be assaulted from by any individual army (barring any previous armies being destroyed). So, now, you have one to your two corners on the right and left, and then one path heading towards the opposite corner.

Here you run into another issue. You have the opposing corners trying to fight each other. What will inevitably happen is these 2 opposing forces will now clash in an eternal deadlock, limiting exactly who you can hit to just your two sides.

This issue can be solved by an overpass/tunnel system, but I don't even think the supreme commander engine is capable of doing this (though the architecture leads me to believe it may be possible, we don't honestly know at this time)

When you introduce more armies, you have to redesign the maps completely around that particular lineup. You can't just convert a pre-existing map to more armies expecting it to be balanced because these types of maps also have moving armies in them attacking a specific goal.

I honestly don't think it's possible, if only because it severely limits map options. And, the more teams you add, the more likely you are to run into issues with balancing them against each other, pathing their armies from one to another, etc.


However, for all I know, none of these will be an issue and I'm just doom and glooming for no reason. It'd be fun to see team games with 3 or 4 teams, or even a FFA style game (though that'd be a nightmare to set up beyond 1v1) but, it is beta for a reason, no reason to not suggest something like this, I s'pose.

Actually reading your post hit me with an Idea OnyxBMW. Lets use your spiral/tentacle one, as that was the idea that came to my mind earlier.


You have a central combat area in the middle, And you have 3/4/ Extended arms around the outside 1 for each base. The Spawning NPC's for each team/base will always run towards the middle. In the very middle of the map is a control point/tower/whatever, Once your team takes control of that point they can then change it's facing, now your NPC units leave your base and run to the base the Central point/Tower is pointing towards.

It solves the issue of where do your NPC's go, and it gives opposing teams a chance to try and retake it, as your NPC support is off charging something else. It also gives you something of value to fight over. The only thing that came to my mind was that if you didn;t assign a direction and left your NPC's stocking piling in the middle for a massive rush, but maybe this could be avoided by it auto picking a direction for you and then you reallocating it?