[Freeciv-Dev] map contribution question

[Horn Gábor <Horn.Gabor@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi!

I'd like to ask if it's possible somehow to contribute maps for public
usage on the pubserver? I've made a duel map w/ civworld, and would like
to see it in 'real' action, if there's somebody who wanna plays on it :)
If there should be a convienent and reliable mechanism for it, maybe we
could paly more games on human made maps (whick could be good imho, both
because of community and gameplay reasons...eg the quake community
benefited a lot when some dudes started to create maps to play on.. and
it would be much exciting to play on maps that are carefully designed,
than the random, usually unbalanced ones the server now genrates).

As i see to keep it fair, we'd need some rules. They would work well
only after a working client authorization, w/o that we have to assume
fair play. If there's no such mechanism atm, i'd suggest something like
this:

1, maps should be send to pubserver admin(s) as savegames, w/o any
nations, units or cities, but with (optionally) predefined starting
points. Also the options should attach to it so players can see if that
is a duel or team (or whatever else) type of map. 

2, the pubserver would run the user contributed maps in a cycle on a
specified ports, just like the normal ones. (The best would be if the
players should start a map on their demand, but i think it needs
modification to the codguys &e). 

3, It would be public who played or watched a game on a premade map.
Obviously it's not fair if sy who has seen/played the map plays w/
somebody who hasn't.

4,to give feedback, it would be nice if the players could somehow rate
the maps. This would help the creator to improve or make never versions
from the map too. We all know it's pretty hard even to recognise if a
map is fair or not, so create it isn't easy too :) But after some
matches 1-2 smaller modification in a generally good map can make that
really fun i think.

What do u think ladies & gentlemen? 

bye, hirisov

ps.: one techinqual qestion :) i made a map w/ civworld. it's for duel,
50x50, aifill 4, spec 320, preset startiong positions. I balanced the 2
player island, but not all the 4. That would be very hard i think. I
mean to provide equal circumstances in every combination the 2 player
can get one of the 4 islands. Is it possible to define which 2 would be
the 'player' islands? Or just w/ restarts?