Probably not what you want to hear but have you ever thought of changing the colors? They just clash and it kind of gets me everytime I look at this map. Maybe there ought to be a progression of warm colors on one side and cool colors on the other with neutral colors in the middle... cause as it stand now its more like all different colors are strewn all over the place without regard for pattern. It's like the map lacks cohesion in terms of color.
For example look at the civil war map below. Notice how the north is cool color or green uniting it with the slave owning union states, showing the difference between the two maps and giving them some cohesion through color. The first to secede states are bright yellow, hot, reflecting their inflammatory actions, and the second wave of seceding states are warm red. South Carolina, the first to secede, is pink... still a warm color and fitting in with the southern color scheme of warm colors.
If we swapped the colors around so that south carolina was teal, 1st wave was red and second wave black, slave-union states yellow and north blue then it'd be a jumbled mess and the poster website that I stole the image from wouldn't be selling the map.
- Click image to enlarge.
What you do have going on is that the map i similar in terms of its saturation. Which is good, I think. But the varying tones make it look splotchy and rough on the eyes. Take a look at the map in black and white and see what I mean.
- Click image to enlarge.
Compare it with the aesthetically pleasing civil war map:
- Click image to enlarge.
The civil war map has variances in tone, but it forms a general shape and pattern and the jump isn't too great. Whereas the Outfit sits like a black hole on the map and clashes severally with Pennsylvania. Deseret is very dark and if lighted it would fit in transition with Ecovania much better. However, the south america states are two bright in contrast with Ecovania and Deseret. You could try to tweak these tones, but I think with the color problems, it might just be best to keep this in mind when addressing the whole.
I understand you went for colors that reflect the states but I think with the number of states involved, I think it might have been a bad decision. I really wish I would have said something a while ago, but to be honest, this map really didn't interest me a whole lot until recently. Plus, I'm kind of hesitant to suggest major changes as I know how much work has already been put in. But RedBaron took it like a man and his map changed for the better. I'm trying to figure out why none of us are getting graphics stamps and long hard looks at the current main foundry selection might be a way to get things moving. Anyway, I have one major crit left, plus a few minor ones.
And another possibility that might spice up this map to get it the stamp would be a font change. a) never use arial, its the most boring font ever. b) try all caps, nothing says war like all caps, see below, and all the publishers and graphics designers know this. Personally, the font used in "The War on Democracy" looks perfect for this map, though the rest of that composition is downright terrible (never use more than two fonts if you can help it).
- Click image to enlarge.
Give it a shot, it might get you that graphics stamp.
And your arrows seem to think, especially on the small map. Long Island in particular. You ever think of using a dotted line instead of those bulky arrows? The large map isn't too bad, but the small map seems pretty crowded and altering the arrows might make it graphically pleasing.
The Baja peninsula is too hard to read, especially with the j on lines. Play with the font there. Same with Sinaloa.
Anyway, I think you've got a good concept that has grown on me since it entered the foundry. With some graphics changes I suggested, I think you could get the stamp and get this thing quenched.
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