#Design Discussion
half citrus
frank granite
Historical drawings of Fort Niagara. Also, old drawings showing how close Fort George (Canada today) is across the river from Fort Niagara (USA today).
Fort Niagara Zombie Pathing - by 4tCreek
Primary Pathing and General Notes
The Spear - Moat/Ditch interaction: Zombies move from the roads and frontier down into the dry moat. The fort's ravelin and berms push the zombies back into the dry moat. No primary pathing leaves the dry moat. No primary pathing enters the small rear entrances of the 3 ravelins. "Centre Ravelin" zombies exit into the fort via "Centre Field", rather than climbing up adjacent berms.
Water Territories - Zombies move away from the water in the 4 water territories. In "Basin", they follow the basin's flow 'up-stream' and exit into "Centre Field", the lowest altitude of the yards.
Palisade - Upon entering the "Palisade" inner fort via "Garden", zombies first see and path toward the "Bakehouse" on their left, drawn by the delicious smell of fresh bread. Unsatiated, they move in behind the "Barracks Palisade", then back into the Garden. Only secondary pathing will move zombies into the secure "Great House" or the sparsely populated yet well fortified "Workshop".
Fort North - The blacksmith's hammering draws "Centre Field" zombies to "Smith Shop" for a quick snack. Heartier songs lure them to the "Chapel". They follow the fleeing screams, as the pious panic, pushing out into the "North Yard". Later, cornering their cattle in "Flag Bastion", zombies feast as upon strained necks as the escapees look up for an exit. The last thing they see: their flag was still there. Zombies require secondary pathing to enter the smart, quiet, "Officers' Barracks", or the "Married Barracks", which emits a desperate quiet 'shhhhhhhh'.
frank granite
Some more comments on the map: Its unique shape is visible as a territory in my Niagara Frontier map. I added rocks under water along the shore. The cliffs along the south are the same Niagara Escarpment rock design as in my Niagara Frontier map. Other extra graphics I added: a little flag, fortress walls, wooden palisade walls making an interior fort. Most of the territory names are from various historical fort diagrams and maps.
thick lark
@frank granite I’m moving your additional text and image posts into this thread, so everything in the channel is 1 post per submission:
Map Pack: War of 1812 (4 Maps, 3 entered into the design competition. The 4th is in the 'design-chat' thread if anyone is interested)
Today, it is hard to imagine Canada (then British North America) and America having a war. We share the world's largest undefended border. Today, at the mouth of the Niagara River at Lake Ontario, Fort George (in Canada) and Fort Niagara (in America) remain, comically close, shouting distance apart, cannons pointed at each other, while leisurely Americans and Canadians mingle in boats on the swirling river, indifferent of the international border crossed repeatedly amidst jet-ski donuts.
The War of 1812 was fought between America (allied with France and Aboriginal Peoples) and British North America (allied Canadian militia, Aboriginal Peoples, and the then called "Coloured Corps", which included both free and former slaves). The War was likely a stalemate; however, it was incredibly important to the development of both Canada and America as Countries.
There were battles all over North American, many in Niagara Region. The War inspired the Star-Spangled Banner National Anthem. Americans burned the Canadian capital, York (aka Toronto). British North American (Canada) retaliated, burning Washington (including the White House and Capitol Building). For Canada, it was its 'birth-of-a-nation' moment. It repelled an invasion, secured what are essentially its borders today, and it gaind a sense of national identity that would lead it to becoming an independent country in 1867.
Niagara Region is bordered by Lake Ontario to the north and Lake Erie to the south. While Niagara Falls is a world-famous sight to behold, the lesser-known downstream whirlpool and rapids are perhaps the world's most dangerous, and are equally impassable. Steep cliffs line the lower Niagara River. You may cross upstream of the Falls (island hopping can help) or you may cross downstream, hence the Forts dotting the shores.
The Niagara Escarpment is another strategic consideration. Along the southern shores of Lake Ontario there is a strip of accessible low-lying land, but the Niagara Escarpment's bedrock wall creates a natural barrier to the south. Crossing south, up the Escarpment is nearly impossible unless you know trails or follow a riverbed up the Escarpment cliffs. Forget about dragging artillery up the rise!
Lastly, remember the area was still a wild frontier in 1812, and war was not necessarily the most life-threatening obstacle. Death lurked in swamps, untamed wilderness, starvation, disease, lawlessness, sweltering summer heat, and chest-high freezing snow. However, frozen lakes and rivers do make ice-highways, if you don't fall through the ice! Blizzard settings anyone?
Territory Cards
I wanted to design new Risk cards, but my initial conclusion was that the original Risk cards (Infantry, Calvary, Artillery) were very era appropriate to the War of 1812. Undeterred, I went with a slight change: a weapon specific focus, with the background being Niagara's Horseshoe Falls.
Firstly, the English "Brown Bess Risk Card": the Britain's Brown Bess musket, famed for its inaccuracy, is an appropriate replacement of the lowest Risk card, replacing the musket-carrying Infantry Risk Card.
Card is based upon one of the many close-up images on-line of a Brown Bess flintlock.
Secondly, the "Tomahawk Risk Card" not just any tomahawk, but Shawnee Warrior Chief Tecumseh's Tomahawk, a representation of the Indigenous Warrior. Galloping through forest frontier, up the Niagara Escarpment, across swamps or chest-deep snow? Good luck on your horse and good-bye Calvary Risk Card. Indigenous Warriors outpace infantry and their brilliant unconventional tactics surprise European-trained generals. They know the land, are both silent and deadly. The tomahawk strikes fear into hearts of enemies.
Card is based upon the pipe tomahawk presented to Chief Tecumseh at Fort Malden in 1812 (I found an image on the National Museum of the American Indian's website.)
Thirdly, when is a cannon not a cannon? When it's a field gun (researching the War of 1812 learnt me good). How can an artillery cannon's real name be 'gun'? Do I even know what a cannon is anymore? Field gun, mortar, howitzer, whatever it is, this new Artillery Risk Card still brings the boom! Meet the "Field Gun Risk Card"
Card is based upon a Canadian Gunners' 9 Pounder Smooth Bore Field Gun Cannon, circa 1812.
