Just making this thread since Lolowut challenged the strategic community to come up with a better 3v3 template than one using the Europe map. So far, my two favorites are Sanctuary (Clan Challenge League settings) and Great Lakes Basin (map recommended settings) but I'm not very well-versed in 3v3 templates.

What are the best 3v3 templates you've ever played on, other than Europe ones?

Edited 6/7/2015 08:44:49

Europe 3v3 (unquestionable)

Whoops. Forgot to exclude Europe in the question, since that answer is just a bit too easy.

From 'British Isles'(103 territories) till 'The Big World Map'(783 territories), almost all maps with a 3.5+ rating from 100~800 territories can be used to make great 3vs3 template from.

Does anyone have a good (thoroughly tested) template on the Ares map by Orange? I've been looking for a field-tested 3v3 template on that map for quite a while.

The challenge was comparable. You don't have to beat Europe 3v3 but we have to look at it and say: Yes, this provides a strategic experience on par with Europe 3v3.

Europe 3v3 leaves little room for strategic experience, both teams try to get the obvious good +3/4, +2/3, and sometime +4/5 bonuses and hoping your team get most of the good picks.
Even before they see the warlords, both teams know where the good bonuses are and probably will pick.

All maps with a 3.5+ rating from 200~800 territories can be used to make a better 3v3 Strategic template then Europe 3v3.

Example?

@Wohoo:

Your comment seems to be from someone who hasn't really played it all that much. The picks are far more difficult than "just cover the obvious areas". Just like in most strategic games, the order in your coverage of these areas is very important. There is no 'hope your team gets the most good picks.' If you truly understand how the picking works, then you understand that you can figure out what your team could possibly get in most obvious scenarios. Also it's important that one person doesn't end up with all 4 of the picks in the same area. If your coverage of the map does not allow all 3 of your team to pressure the main points of interest, then you will lose to a team that does. This is why double picking portugal/bulgaria are risky strategies. If you get the double pick, it is pretty damn likely you cannot cover the 3 major zones on the map with your remaining 2 picks.

Another thing with Europe that sets it apart from other maps is the lack of macrobonuses. So for example, Ukraine is a 7 bonus, in most large maps it would be a 4+3 with a 1-2 macrobonus for controlling both. Then with most large maps that don't have macrobonuses, they usually don't contain bonuses bigger than 5.

Europe having these bonuses and having so many picks that you have to pick some of these large bonuses is a big part of what makes it such a great template. You're supposed to be using these bonuses in creative ways, and they're so big that if you have to move from one major zone to the next, you have to cross through a bonus you probably will never take.

So while I think Great Lakes is a map that hosts pretty decent 3v3s, there are no bonuses on that map that are 6+ and the major zones to contest are all fairly close to each other with smaller bonuses that can be taken on the way. This makes the map less strategic, therefore not comparable to Europe.

In short, I disagree almost completely with you and think you are ignorant as to how the template is played at a competitive level.

Lolowut I think you will enjoy this template. I think Sze made it a while back...

East China 3v3
https://www.warlight.net/MultiPlayer?TemplateID=294846

Picking is huge on europe. That is why the top clans usually win on it. The moves are important but i bet most good players make the same moves. But good europe players outpick other europe players.

Yeah i agree unbalanced bonuses makes picking more interresting.
If you want maps where you have to fight for the better parts/picking is most important in:
Europe AD 1600
Medium East Asia
British Isles
Drakemor's World

@ChrisCMU:
I think "top clans usually win" counts for every template, expect lotto games.

^Well, I think it is evident in europe 3s because there is no ladder and clans have a lot more experience on it in general.

I think what Chris is trying to say is that a clan like Illuminati has a better chance at upsetting a clan like Apex in 1v1 than they do in 3v3 Europe. The difference here is the volume of games played. An average Apex player has played 100s of Europe games, an average Illuminati player hasn't played many yet.

@Chris: On the contrary, I feel a lot of Europe games that Apex wins in clan league are more about moves than picks. Against other top clans we typically have an equal footing at picking stage, and then outplay our opponents.

@Wohoo: Provide some game links please?

I think you are missing my 2nd point lolo. Good europe players will outpick non good europe players and will have probably already won on picks. That is what I am saying with why the top clans win. It could be apex, WG, GG, WM...but I never see one of the other clans win that tourney (granted Lynx has not had the chance yet in A) because they will usually get out picked.

If you have good europe players vs good europe players (HTH with those clans I listed), then the game will be won on turns.

Edited 6/8/2015 17:38:49

The new Ares map could potentially make for a really good 3v3 game.

@Lolowut

Illuminati would fuck Apex in 3v3 EU.

Dead Piggy + Ilikeorangejuice(Latnox) + Life (Anonymous for your interests) could crush Anything Apex has for EU. Probably Timi + You + Noobschool?

But thats beside the point.... the point is an elite/old clan like Apex would crush newer and less experienced clans or most non clan players.... I agree. Just Illuminti wasnt the best example.

@Turtle: Illuminati won't be using alts for clan league, and even if they were I'm pretty sure it'd be an even battle given that piggy and I play a lot. ;p

Plus they wouldn't face apex for 3 more seasons anyway. By then Piggy will get bored and retire.

To set the record straight: we don't care for bragging. Please do not use our name to go off on rants about who/what could win against Apex. Thanks.