[Abandoned] - Iron Curtain

[RjBeals]

I sort of liked the star portals. but we'll get more feedback on them.
I will try and work on the scroll. I sort of feel the same as you.
The minimap background is already so dark, that i didn't see the big deal in giving it a solid color. But, I can try - as you've brought it up several times now. Thanks for the feedback zeak.

(edit) to bring image to this page.

Click image to enlarge.

[ZeakCytho]

The minimap background is already so dark, that i didn't see the big deal in giving it a solid color. But, I can try - as you've brought it up several times now. Thanks for the feedback zeak.

It's not so much about giving it a solid color, but rather, making it geographically correct - putting in water and non-playable land in instead of having it floating.

But as I said, I could just be a nut. If no one else cares about the minimap, leave it as is. It's a really minor thing.

I just can't wait to play on this

[Qwert]

Well you know me im little crazy with history,and i look your map very carefuly, and i notice that you use mix of Country,city regions names. When i create Eastern Front i also use mix of ukrainian russian english tranlation names,and people dont like that, Well people have right, Soviet union have all power in these country so i use only russian tranlation for names.
Lvov is Russian transation, and you put LVIV(when you look Kharkov who is also Ukrainian Kharkiv)
YOu also can put capital city names for baltic countries(Tallin,Vilnius,Riga)
Homyel is Gomel
Hmm maybe i dont see good,but you have two Oryol.
IS Pskov maybe Polots?
Cherkassy not Cherkasy
Well you can check Eastern Front,where you can find proper names for some your provinces.
Big mistake is Bessarabia(you write wrong) these whas in IMperial russia,and in SSSR whas Moldova,but you can put capital city name Kishinev.
After all these is historical map,and you must be correct with names.

I think that you need to all territory transform to capital city names for these provinces and that all be russian translation to english.

If these not a constructive feedback,then i realy dont know how to help.

[RjBeals]

I think that you need to all territory transform to capital city names for these provinces and that all be russian translation to english.

Originally, Ruben told me he would be the brains behind the map, and I would be the graphics. But Ruben has taken an extended break and left me to map out an area I know nothing about. I zoomed in with goolgle earth to get names, and also used some reference maps. I'm sure it's a mix of russian, english, capitals, and regions. So... Qwert you are correct. As much as the names don't matter to me, it is a historical map, and they should be consistent.

I'm going to need some help. I can use what you posted above - but if you have a reference map for me to follow, could you link to it?

Thanks..

Second - I was trying to create an iron plaque for the paragraph to fall on. I don't like it. but though i would share:

[ZeakCytho]

I like the iron plaque better than the scroll, but it still doesn't feel right. Definitely moving in the right direction, though!

[Qwert]

Everything what you need you can find in Wikipedia. Some names you can take from Mine Eastern Front.
When you all find and implement i will check again,ok.

[Qwert]

here one example-Warsaw is english translation,and yours is Warszawa (Danish,polish ,Swedish)

[RjBeals]

Hi RJ. Just had a quick look and will comment more on this one when I have more time. But for now I wanted to point this out.

Would you consider using the native language for the capitals as well? If yes:

Moscow - Moskva
Prague - Praha
Bucharest - Bucuresti
Warsaw - Warszawa

Qwert - this is where that came from. I PM'ed ruben so I hope he'll show in the thread soon.

[foregone]

This map is still one of the most visually appealing in my books. It is absolutely beautiful. I do prefer the plaque over the scroll though, feels more in-keeping with the theme.

[MrBenn]

I'm not too good with big maps, so have tried to stay away from gameplay discussion here, but I'm not sold by the star-portal attack routes... I preferred the map with totally standard gameplay

I agree that the plaque is a step in the right direction; although should the text be engraved??

You could stray away from the Iron theme for that, and use some kind of Russian monument:


Or you could emblazon the text onto a flag:


Or go for a propaganda feel:

[Qwert]

Well,i think that english translation is importan on these map,like in all other maps,because you have soviet union where is russian language in officialy language,only you need to translate to english.
other state like Poland,Bulgaria,romania,cssr,you also can use english tranlstion

Moscow -
Prague -
Bucharest -
Warsaw -
is correct

[Qwert]

pod znamenem lenina
pod voditelstvom stalina
vpered kpobede
komunizma

these will sound something like
with knowlege of lenina
with leadership stalina
forward to victory of comunism

well its been so long,and i maybe forget a little of russian.

[Incandenza]

I like benn's idea of using monuments or propaganda concepts for the text. Soviet propaganda posters are some of the finest graphic design work pretty much ever IMHO, so it could work if it could be integrated into the style of the map. As far as the text itself... could be punchier. If I have a chance this evening I'll work out a couple of concept for general perusal.

As far as terit names, I'm willing to defer to guys like qwert who have more knowledge of the area and are willing to do the research.

One thing I'm a bit concerned about are the number of dead ends. There's remarkably few for a map of this size, but I've never been a fan of multi-terit dead ends (i.e. severodvinsk and nenetsia), plus the baltics have three dead-end terits (which seems high). If nothing else, the addition of the islands seems gratuitous.

[ZeakCytho]

One thing I'm a bit concerned about are the number of dead ends. There's remarkably few for a map of this size, but I've never been a fan of multi-terit dead ends (i.e. severodvinsk and nenetsia), plus the baltics have three dead-end terits (which seems high). If nothing else, the addition of the islands seems gratuitous.

If you connect the islands to Estonia, you solve that problem. You can still hold the territories by holding Latvia, but that doesn't get you a continent bonus, and one bottleneck isn't as bad as two dead ends.

Soviet propaganda poster-stuff sounds like a nice alternative, though I think an iron slab could work as well - just not the current one.

[Incandenza]

One thing I'm a bit concerned about are the number of dead ends. There's remarkably few for a map of this size, but I've never been a fan of multi-terit dead ends (i.e. severodvinsk and nenetsia), plus the baltics have three dead-end terits (which seems high). If nothing else, the addition of the islands seems gratuitous.

If you connect the islands to Estonia, you solve that problem. You can still hold the territories by holding Latvia, but that doesn't get you a continent bonus, and one bottleneck isn't as bad as two dead ends.

This idea, I likes it.

As far as the iron slab.... I dunno. The Iron Curtain was more of a nice catchphrase. I still like the idea of doing the title Berlin Wall style, perhaps the text could be integrated into that whole concept somehow.

[DiM]

first of all sorry but i haven't read the thread so if it's been discussed ignore my post.

on to business.

i really like the graphic style of the map but i feel that there are several elements that kinda make me feel like it's not what it should be.
i think the most important aspect is the general whiteness of the map. it's too bright for me and somehow i don't think bright could be used to describe what this map should make you feel.
perhaps try to reduce the luminosity and see how it looks.

one other concern i have is the text for the terit names. it seems too slim too tiny, and i have trouble seeing some names. for example Sofia seems like Sopia and Iasi seems like Lasi. and this is on the large map. i hate to think how it will look on the small.

the parchment in the top left is totally out of place. primarily because it's 2D while the title of the map and the hammer+scythe are 3D but also because it doesn't fit the theme. icandenza said something about manifesto posters. that's an excellent idea and you could use one instead of the parchment.

the stars on the terits aren't as visible as i'd like them to be. perhaps it's the fact that it's 3am and i'm tired or perhaps they really are hard to see but point is i actually spent like 30 seconds looking for them. normally i'd like them to pop up and be visible at a glance.

one other small issue is that you have 2 terits named Oryol.

[RjBeals]

Click image to enlarge.

I preferred the map with totally standard gameplay

Well isn't a water route the same as a portal? maybe instead of portal, we can call it underground tunnel? Just a way of wrapping the board around. But it certainly doesn't have to be there.

And I love the images you posted Benn. That banner and tassel is great. I'll probably head in that direction.

I'll also connect the islands to Estonia. That will wrap that around and solve the dead end there.

i think the most important aspect is the general whiteness of the map. it's too bright for me

I know what you mean. Russia should be deep bold colors at least. But I went for this lighter look on purpose. I prefer the lighter colors on maps, and I don't want army circles at all - so I'd prefer to keep it these tones. I can work on the "white" areas though - give a little color to them maybe.

one other concern i have is the text for the terit names.

Finding the right text took a long time. I tested tons of fonts, at tons of different settings. I settled for the current style. It was the most legible at that tiny size. The only other option is for a pixel font. I could look for some if they make them that small.

the stars on the terits aren't as visible as i'd like them to be.

I can try to make them pop a little more. I don't want to draw attention to them though. Or to interfere with the map. I want them to be noticed so they are not overlooked, but also feel like they are part of the landscape.

Thanks DiM (and all for the comments). Qwert - I'm going to fix those names. And I don't know how the hell I missed 2 Oryols ?!?!

[Incandenza]

I think the stars are a good idea... it promotes more open gameplay if nothing else. Imagine how much more constricted classic would be without alaska-kamchatka (a point you make, RJ, and a good one).

A bit more on the text at the top... this would probably be a bit long, but it could be substantially trimmed. Just throwing this out there:

From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic an "iron curtain" has descended across the Continent. Behind that line lie all the capitals of the ancient states of Central and Eastern Europe. Warsaw, Berlin, Prague, Vienna, Budapest, Belgrade, Bucharest and Sofia; all these famous cities and the populations around them lie in what I must call the Soviet sphere, and all are subject, in one form or another, not only to Soviet influence but to a very high and in some cases increasing measure of control from Moscow.

[The Neon Peon]

I see no point to the tunnel. It adds an extra element that is not needed. There is no easy way to get a blockade going already on an area of the map, you do not have to make it harder.

[MrBenn]

I preferred the map with totally standard gameplay

Well isn't a water route the same as a portal? maybe instead of portal, we can call it underground tunnel? Just a way of wrapping the board around. But it certainly doesn't have to be there.

the stars on the terits aren't as visible as i'd like them to be.

I can try to make them pop a little more. I don't want to draw attention to them though. Or to interfere with the map. I want them to be noticed so they are not overlooked, but also feel like they are part of the landscape.

When I commented on the stars and the non-standard gameplay, I hadn't realised there were only three stars, and that they helped open up gameplay (it was just past midnight)

Having thought about it a bit more, I can see the usefulness of them , but agree with DiM that they need to stand out a bit more so you can see where you need to defend yourself from...

[The Neon Peon]

I vote to get rid of the stars. Put up a poll please.

[DiM]

keep the stars

[Optimus Prime]

I haven't commented in a little while on this map, so I figure I can add some thoughts.

As far as the stars are concerned, I'm sitting on the fence at 50-50 for now. The idea is sound, in that it gives a little more to the map as far as gameplay is concerned, and does open things up a little bit, but I am also with Neon Peon and the idea that there isn't really a good place to build a blockade anyways, so extra ways to get behind enemy lines are particularly needed.

However, with all of that, keeping them isn't something I would be opposed to, as long as you don't go over the 3 you already have. Perhaps consider moving the star currently in KHANTIA-MANSIA and moving it up to YAMALIA, and then making that continent worth a +2 instead of a +1 since it would have three borders at that point, but... who knows, it works where it is right now as well. Just thinking out loud.

In regards to the comments that the colors need to be brightened, I disagree completely. First, because I think brighter colors will make the font much more difficult to read, and where it is right now works very well. Second, this is the large map, right? If so, brightening the colors and dealing with the text will be a bigger problem. However, this may be the small map and I'm not paying close enough attention.

Finally, subdued colors and color schemes are what set RjBeals apart from the other mapmakers, and I personally like to see his style continue so that his maps are easily distinguishable from the others. (Personal preference to be sure).

[Qwert]

Whait a moment,where is Hell STALINGRAD?

[RjBeals]

Incandenza - The Chruchill speech is great, but there's not a chance of fitting in the map.

If the stars stay, I'll make them a little more prominent.

OP - colors will most likely stay as is. I may work on the lighter greysish white areas.

And Qwert - you tell me - where the hell is Stalingrad? Should I change one of the Oryol's to Stalingrad?