Quad Cities Map [Quenched]

[ironsij0287]

Huge thanks to thenobodies80 for the awesome reworking of this map (v7).
XML done by MrBenn.

Latest Version of the map as of 9/19/11
Quad Cities v7.03.3

Click image to enlarge.

Click image to enlarge.

Version 7.03.1 (8/25/11)
Version 7.02 (8/16/11)
Version 7 (7/6/11)
Version 5 (5/19/11)
Previous Version 4/1/11
Previous Version 3/8/11
Previous Version 2/7/11
Previous Version 2/1/11
Previous Version 1/26/11
Previous Version 1/18/11
Previous Version

Arsenal Island will always start as a Neutral 3 and be an Auto +1 bonus once held.

quadcities.xml

(28.69 KiB) Downloaded 1909 times

(9/19/11)

[Industrial Helix]

I love the gameplay of this already... are you planning on a standard gameplay map? The big thing that needs to be resolved is the bonus system, if there is one to be had.

[TaCktiX]

Gameplay-wise it looks similar to Vancouver, just bigger. A few considerations:
- With the mostly large areas, getting the blue area will be overly competed for. Perhaps split another area like the bottom left tan or the bottom right yellow to make the "small bonus" more spread across the map for those No Spoils games.
- A lot of the regions are really small and you'll have difficulty sticking in both a name and the army numbers. The middle peninsula is the biggest offender, but you've got a lot of cramp.
- Use the Vancouver similarity to your advantage. Look at some of the issues the map ran into (thread here) and pre-empt them.

As for using ArcGIS, you are a very brave, brave soul. I find Photoshop MUCH easier to use, but work mandates that what we use there.

[ironsij0287]

Thanks for the suggestions. The crampness in the center has been a concern of mine as well. Adding a small bonus region in the SW corner wouldn't be too hard to do. I can give that a shot.

Perhaps I should give the names for these regions on the map so it's easier to explain certain areas better.

As far as ArcGIS, I've used that software for almost a decade now as my profession has been as a GIS/Mapping Specialist. Photoshop is the one I fumble with as I have less experience there.

[Arama86n]

Welcome to CC and good luck with the map We can always use another map-maker!

[ironsij0287]

OK I added a new small bonus region in the SW corner as well as consolidated a few of the smaller subregions to make things less cramped. I try to post the new draft on here late tonight.

[ironsij0287]

OK here's the latest draft.

[Industrial Helix]

Firstly, what you need are bonus values.

Secondly, the map is quite plain and we'll need to get an idea of what you want the final product to look like when you're done with photoshop and whatnot.

What I'd like to see, though its not holding you back, would be some greater divisions indicating the four cities. Some sort of map of the Mississippi with a square indicating where this map is would also be good.

[ironsij0287]

Firstly, what you need are bonus values.

Secondly, the map is quite plain and we'll need to get an idea of what you want the final product to look like when you're done with photoshop and whatnot.

What I'd like to see, though its not holding you back, would be some greater divisions indicating the four cities. Some sort of map of the Mississippi with a square indicating where this map is would also be good.

Yeah, bonus values are the next step. Plainness so far is due to just working on the layout of the countries. Once I had that pretty well established I was going to work on gussying it up.

A little inset map showing it's location on the Mississippi would be no problem at all.

[pamoa]

go to this forumand use one of the spreadsheets available
it will calculate you a first bonus repartition
personally I prefer the Oaktown's one

[ironsij0287]

go to this forumand use one of the spreadsheets available
it will calculate you a first bonus repartition
personally I prefer the Oaktown's one

Thanks. Oaktown's I couldn't access so I used a different one.

[pamoa]

a second point you should check now
is the size feasibility

on the small version of the map ( 630 width x 600 height )
put the armies symbols you can find here
and check if you can do it on every territory

[ironsij0287]

a second point you should check now
is the size feasibility

on the small version of the map ( 630 width x 600 height )
put the armies symbols you can find here
and check if you can do it on every territory

YIKES! I went through and tried placing the 888 symbols on the map. Needless to say it was pretty disastrous. I've got to go back and rework some of the boundaries, probably consolidate some of the regions a bit.

But hey, it's a learning experience. Certainly not discouraged yet.

[pamoa]

yeah text and armies positioning can be painful
together with full legend placement

but its worth the effort
you have then a solid base for discussion
and you are sure your map is feasible

enjoy some graphic torture
keep the spirit of your map
but don't hesitate to move the boundaries

and for the inset
maybe give you a bit more space than going full height
so you will find some place left or right

[ironsij0287]

Yeah I made my map dimensions square so I now have some more white space to work with for the inset and legend.

Going back to the drawing board I came up with a color scheme I like even better now.

[ironsij0287]

Here's where I'm at now. I've listed the troop bonuses.

[Industrial Helix]

Maybe bust light green down to 1.

Add some labels and name the regions as well.

[ironsij0287]

Maybe bust light green down to 1.

Add some labels and name the regions as well.

Bumping down to 1, no problem. Adding some labels and army graphics is the next step.

[pamoa]

your map can be 30 pixel wider
maybe you can use this space
you also have to choose
between a list of regions name with bonus
or a minimap with bonus and name on the main map

[ironsij0287]

How'd you spend Thanksgiving?

"Oh you know, stuffing my gaping maw with turkey and side dishes until my stomach couldn't take any more. Oh and I made some serious headway in my QCUSA map for Conquer Club."

I'm pretty amp'd with how this came out thus far.

[phantomzero]

Glad to see a new mapmaker on here. Keep up the good work. You've got a good start.

[Industrial Helix]

Graphics are a bit weak but I think its a fair start.

The map can only be 630 high and 600 wide. Your map is 630x630, so adjust that as well.

In the meantime we'll sticky this and see what comes.

[ironsij0287]

Graphics are a bit weak but I think its a fair start.

The map can only be 630 high and 600 wide. Your map is 630x630, so adjust that as well.

In the meantime we'll sticky this and see what comes.

I'm not sure how exactly the graphics are weak. I wanted to keep things rather simple. I'll crop to comply with size constraints though.

[pamoa]

The map can only be 630 high and 600 wide. Your map is 630x630, so adjust that as well.

sorry to remember you about this helix but

1.SMALL MAP: WIDTH up to 630 px; HEIGHT 600 px

[TaCktiX]

I would say that considering the program you're using, that's just eye popping, and light-years beyond your first draft. If you keep on working like this we'll have to upgrade CC to display maps in stereoscopic 3D just so your map has the full experience. [/hyperbole]

In any case, very good job taking our criticism and improving the entire map. Not all mapmakers are as receptive, sadly.