Baltic States [3/10] V33 P34 Beta!!

by **Bruceswar** on Fri Apr 08, 2011 11:12 am

The Long Awaited XML

http://musiciansheadquarters.com/baltic.xml

Version 33 with 888's

Version 31 Large with Neutrals

Version 31 Large with No numbers at all

Color Blind Test 1:

Color Blind Test 2

Version 31 Small No Numbers

Map Facts:

48 Territories (Lativa, Lithuania, Estonia)
Bonuses 12

Older Versions:
Version 32
Version 32 Small
Version 31
Version 31 Small
Version 30
Version 29
Version 28
Version 27
Version 26
Version 25
Version 24
Version 23
Version 22
Version 21
Version 20
Version 19
Version 18
Version 17
Version 16
Version 15
Version 14
Version 13
Version 12
Version 11 C
Version 11 B
Version 11 A
Version 11
Version 10
Version 9
Version 8
Version 7
Version 6
Version 5
Version 4
Version 3
Version 2
Version 1.1
Version 1

by **natty dread** on Fri Apr 08, 2011 12:30 pm

Nice graphics, although the image with the shield looks a bit pixelated.

Looking forward to see where this goes. I have fond memories of Estonia.

by **Bruceswar** on Fri Apr 08, 2011 12:42 pm

natty_dread wrote:Nice graphics, although the image with the shield looks a bit pixelated.

Looking forward to see where this goes. I have fond memories of Estonia.

I need to likely fix the borders there. I am sure that is why it looks pixelated. I will have another update soonish. Glad you like it so far.

by **CJ Lues** on Fri Apr 08, 2011 1:52 pm

Its a Great start!!! =D>

I agree on the image with the shield though... but Great Work so far!

Hope to play it soon!

Regards

by **natty dread** on Fri Apr 08, 2011 2:14 pm

One other graphical suggestion: I think you shouldn't have a bevel for each territory... Rather, just make one bevel for the whole land area, or perhaps one for each bonus area, but having an individual bevel for each territory makes for a kind of blurry look.

by **Victor Sullivan** on Fri Apr 08, 2011 2:24 pm

Cool! Just slap on some impassables and territory names and a legend.

by **Bruceswar** on Fri Apr 08, 2011 3:01 pm

natty_dread wrote:One other graphical suggestion: I think you shouldn't have a bevel for each territory... Rather, just make one bevel for the whole land area, or perhaps one for each bonus area, but having an individual bevel for each territory makes for a kind of blurry look.

Hmm I will toy around with it. I sorta like the bevel as it is slightly different than other maps seen on CC. Once I get more into the graphics bit I will test out things.

by **natty dread** on Fri Apr 08, 2011 3:13 pm

Bruceswar wrote:Hmm I will toy around with it. I sorta like the bevel as it is slightly different than other maps seen on CC. Once I get more into the graphics bit I will test out things.

Ok, well... depends on what you're going after with the bevel. If you're going for a depth effect, then it's not working, because the strong, black border lines sort of disrupt it. If you want to make it look like the map is made of several territory-shaped "pieces", with the borders being like "grooves" or "gaps" between them, then you could try removing the border lines and just having the bevel as borders. Or at least lowering the opacity of the borders a lot, and maybe making them thinner.

by **Bruceswar** on Fri Apr 08, 2011 4:17 pm

Click image to enlarge.

Added territory names so it can stay in the draft section.

by **natty dread** on Fri Apr 08, 2011 4:39 pm

Bruceswar wrote:Added territory names so it can stay in the draft section.

I'm afraid that doesn't quite cut it... In order to be considered a "working draft", a draft needs to have all elements necessary to play a game on it, and it must be self-explanatory, ie. all features and map rules must be explained on the map image. You're still missing bonus areas / bonus values, legend text in general, and sea routes...

by **Commander9** on Fri Apr 08, 2011 4:43 pm

Lithuania!!! I'll be following this.

by **Victor Sullivan** on Fri Apr 08, 2011 4:46 pm

Surely your divisions aren't as arbitrary as you make them out to be with the numbered labels?

by **Bruceswar** on Fri Apr 08, 2011 4:57 pm

natty_dread wrote:
Bruceswar wrote:Added territory names so it can stay in the draft section.

I'm afraid that doesn't quite cut it... In order to be considered a "working draft", a draft needs to have all elements necessary to play a game on it, and it must be self-explanatory, ie. all features and map rules must be explained on the map image. You're still missing bonus areas / bonus values, legend text in general, and sea routes...

Yes I am working on getting the rest up as we speak. It should all be there within 24 hours max.

@ Commander9 - I will likely be calling on you to check territory names.

@ Sully - There will be 11 total bonuses. The large areas right now are just to define the countries. No I am not crazy thinking anybody would ever hold one of those.

by **Victor Sullivan** on Fri Apr 08, 2011 8:41 pm

Bruceswar wrote:@ Sully - There will be 11 total bonuses. The large areas right now are just to define the countries. No I am not crazy thinking anybody would ever hold one of those.

Haha, good to know, but what I meant to ask was, are you going to have actual territory names instead of letter-number labels?

by **Bruceswar** on Fri Apr 08, 2011 9:05 pm

Victor Sullivan wrote:
Bruceswar wrote:@ Sully - There will be 11 total bonuses. The large areas right now are just to define the countries. No I am not crazy thinking anybody would ever hold one of those.

Haha, good to know, but what I meant to ask was, are you going to have actual territory names instead of letter-number labels?

Oh yes, but I am going to confirm first with native people so I can be sure to have the correct names in.

by **Bruceswar** on Sat Apr 09, 2011 9:29 am

Version 2:Better working draft

Click image to enlarge.

by **Victor Sullivan** on Sat Apr 09, 2011 9:59 am

Your bonus values could use some tweaking, but it's hard to say without the impassables drawn in. My next question is similar to my original: what reasoning do you have behind the bonus area divisions? I don't know about you, but I hate bonus areas named after cardinal directions. I must say, I like how this map has a bunch of attainable small bonus areas, I think that will set it apart from other classic-style maps in that regard, aside from the new geography. I'm a big fan of the Baltics, particularly Estonia; I'm stoked to see your taking up this project!

by **Bruceswar** on Sat Apr 09, 2011 12:26 pm

The bonus area names can change. Impassables will be coming soon so should help out more with things and see how this will shape up.

by **Bruceswar** on Sun Apr 10, 2011 2:12 am

Version 3:

Playing with some parchment...

Click image to enlarge.

Still deciding on the bonus names, territory names, and impassables. I am working on the impassables now. This style I posted may not be what I ended up with. Fire away at me!

by **natty dread** on Sun Apr 10, 2011 2:36 am

Like the texture. Did you make it yourself?

by **Bruceswar** on Sun Apr 10, 2011 2:49 am

natty_dread wrote:Like the texture. Did you make it yourself?

No I cannot take credit for it, but rather about 5 layers all into one.

by **CJ Lues** on Sun Apr 10, 2011 6:38 am

I like the folds!

btw. i think you can change (or take out) the white box around the bonuses...

I can see this map becoming a CC favorite...!

by **Victor Sullivan** on Sun Apr 10, 2011 10:37 pm

The parchment effect is neat, but the image on the parchment looks awfully computerized for such a primitive media, if that makes sense. In addition, if these are modern boundaries, why are ou making it look "old school"?

Anyway, not that these graphical concerns have to be addressed with right away, but I thought I'd share my thoughts on the issue now since you posted it. Keep up the good work, Bruce!

by **Industrial Helix** on Mon Apr 11, 2011 8:34 am

Nice work so far... though the black area should be replaced with wood or something. Like a desk. That way its not a map of the baltics floating out space. You could also brown the edges of the map as well to make it look more like a three dimensional map.

The only thing I'd like to see, and I believe its been mentione dbut I'd like to add my support, are actual territory names and bonus names.

by **Bruceswar** on Mon Apr 11, 2011 3:43 pm

I will be working on those today. Territory names are easy.. Bonus names could be tricky... I am likely going to ditch the parched look in the final version... stay tuned!