Cairns Coral Coast [Quenched] - Loaded!

by **cairnswk** on Fri Apr 06, 2007 10:10 pm

Teya wrote:yep, I like the double better.
The single line down the map looked very unnatural. It probably doesnt need to be double all the way, just mix it up a bit to try and help it look more natural.

Will do. thanks!

by **cairnswk** on Fri Apr 06, 2007 10:58 pm

Well folks, here are the changes requested:

* Teya - improvement to the Agate hills mountains
* Samus - improved mountain passes with contouring and virtual elevation (oh I love it when I get to use big phraseology)

Any comments appreciated....!!!

by **DiM** on Sat Apr 07, 2007 5:10 am

i love the new passes.

just 3 more things.
1. in the passable legend make the passes one colour like on the map
2. in the passable legend make the bridges with gradient fill like on the map
3. i've said this before (but i don't remember if you said anything). i'm not a big fan of the picture in the title. if you use photoshop try applying one of these effects to the island: dry brush, paint daubs, smudge stick. it will make the image feel like it's hand drawn. toy around with diferent characteristics of each effect until you get something nice.

by **cairnswk** on Sat Apr 07, 2007 6:34 am

DiM wrote:i love the new passes.

just 3 more things.
1. in the passable legend make the passes one colour like on the map
2. in the passable legend make the bridges with gradient fill like on the map
3. i've said this before (but i don't remember if you said anything). i'm not a big fan of the picture in the title. if you use photoshop try applying one of these effects to the island: dry brush, paint daubs, smudge stick. it will make the image feel like it's hand drawn. toy around with diferent characteristics of each effect until you get something nice.

DiM, in the map above....thanks for your suggestion about the title image. I had forgotten about all those image tricks available in Photoshop, even though I use Fireworks predominantly.

The image I have inserted is one of my own therefore there is no copyright issues, it is of Port Douglas' 4 mile beach looking south, taken through the palms, and I have applied cutout to it.

Other things in legend have been changed.

Hope this appeals now.

by **DiM** on Sat Apr 07, 2007 7:02 am

cairnswk wrote:
DiM wrote:i love the new passes.

just 3 more things.
1. in the passable legend make the passes one colour like on the map
2. in the passable legend make the bridges with gradient fill like on the map
3. i've said this before (but i don't remember if you said anything). i'm not a big fan of the picture in the title. if you use photoshop try applying one of these effects to the island: dry brush, paint daubs, smudge stick. it will make the image feel like it's hand drawn. toy around with diferent characteristics of each effect until you get something nice.

DiM, in the map above....thanks for your suggestion about the title image. I had forgotten about all those image tricks available in Photoshop, even though I use Fireworks predominantly.

The image I have inserted is one of my own therefore there is no copyright issues, it is of Port Douglas' 4 mile beach looking south, taken through the palms, and I have applied cutout to it.

Other things in legend have been changed.

Hope this appeals now.

i don't see any changes in the map above :shock:

by **cairnswk** on Sat Apr 07, 2007 7:25 am

DiM wrote:i don't see any changes in the map above

DiM...watch you looking at, you can't see the new image in the map above???

Try this one below...

by **DiM** on Sat Apr 07, 2007 7:27 am

cairnswk wrote:Well folks, here are the changes requested:

* Teya - improvement to the Agate hills mountains
* Samus - improved mountain passes with contouring and virtual elevation (oh I love it when I get to use big phraseology)

Any comments appreciated....!!!

this is what i see. and the 3 issues i posted are still not solved.

1. in the passable legend make the passes one colour like on the map
2. in the passable legend make the bridges with gradient fill like on the map
3. i've said this before (but i don't remember if you said anything). i'm not a big fan of the picture in the title. if you use photoshop try applying one of these effects to the island: dry brush, paint daubs, smudge stick. it will make the image feel like it's hand drawn. toy around with diferent characteristics of each effect until you get something nice.

by **DiM** on Sat Apr 07, 2007 7:29 am

cairnswk wrote:
DiM wrote:i don't see any changes in the map above

DiM...watch you looking at, you can't see the new image in the map above??? Try this one below...

exactly. the passable legend issue with the gradients and stuff is still not solved. and the photo in the title still loks like a photo instead of a drawing.

by **cairnswk** on Sat Apr 07, 2007 7:32 am

DiM wrote:this is what i see. and the 3 issues i posted are still not solved.

DiM...I think you need to hold down your Shift Key and hit the refresh button, coz there is a new image in the screen and those issues have been attended to.

by **DiM** on Sat Apr 07, 2007 7:47 am

cairnswk wrote:
DiM wrote:this is what i see. and the 3 issues i posted are still not solved.

DiM...I think you need to hold down your Shift Key and hit the refresh button, coz there is a new image in the screen and those issues have been attended to.

sorry. yup it's better now.

by **Enigma** on Sat Apr 07, 2007 11:20 am

ooooo i love the new passes. way to go cairnswk

continuing with DIMs train of thought- try making the mountian pass icon in the legend more smooth, the edges are really pixelly. maybe also make the size closer to that of those on the map.

the mountain graphics are much better and thank you for going back to the previous layout- the new one you reworked just didnt make sense. this is going to be a great map for gameplay, almost like a larger version of middle earth.

perhaps make the river icons in the legend more like the rivers on the map.

i dont know if this has been addressed before but i dont like how none of the islands from different continents connect to each other.
Samus- youre great at the gameplay side- does this bother you? especially those islands in the beaches. there are 3 islands which can only be approached one way. seems to make them rather pointless.

by **cairnswk** on Sat Apr 07, 2007 1:31 pm

Enigma wrote:ooooo i love the new passes. way to go cairnswk

continuing with DIMs train of thought- try making the mountian pass icon in the legend more smooth, the edges are really pixelly. maybe also make the size closer to that of those on the map.

Done, Topaz - Bartle Frere pass copied into the legend.

the mountain graphics are much better and thank you for going back to the previous layout- the new one you reworked just didnt make sense. this is going to be a great map for gameplay, almost like a larger version of middle earth.

I hope so.

perhaps make the river icons in the legend more like the rivers on the map.

Done.

know if this has been addressed before but i dont like how none of the islands from different continents connect to each other.
Samus- youre great at the gameplay side- does this bother you? especially those islands in the beaches. there are 3 islands which can only be approached one way. seems to make them rather pointless.

Enigma...I'm happy to connect those islands to each other...but I'll leave that decision to Samus for comment as he has suggested the bonuses for this gameplay.

Watch this space. Thanks for your thoughts

by **Samus** on Sat Apr 07, 2007 3:16 pm

Enigma wrote:i dont know if this has been addressed before but i dont like how none of the islands from different continents connect to each other.
Samus- youre great at the gameplay side- does this bother you? especially those islands in the beaches. there are 3 islands which can only be approached one way. seems to make them rather pointless.

Yeah, I see it too. Before, this was sort of a balancing feature because Beaches has 7 territories, which is sort of a lot for a +3 bonus. Now that it has been opened up, it has 3 borders, which I think it makes it worth +4. So if the bonus is raised, that feature is no longer a warranted convenience for the player going for The Beaches, so if you connect Low Is. and Double Is., that would leave only 1 territory, Snapper Is., that's sort of "off by itself."

Also, Agate Hills should be +3 now that it has 3 borders.

As far as connecting the Islands between regions, that would require changing the bonuses. While that's not automatically bad, the bonus distribution we now have (after increasing Agate Hills and The Beaches) is a good one:

two +2s
two +3s
two +4s
two +5s
one +6
one +7

by **Enigma** on Sat Apr 07, 2007 9:17 pm

"mission bch" should prob be "mission beach"- ellis beach isnt abbriviated.

by **cairnswk** on Sat Apr 07, 2007 9:23 pm

Samus wrote:Yeah, I see it too. Before, this was sort of a balancing feature because Beaches has 7 territories, which is sort of a lot for a +3 bonus. Now that it has been opened up, it has 3 borders, which I think it makes it worth +4. So if the bonus is raised, that feature is no longer a warranted convenience for the player going for The Beaches, so if you connect Low Is. and Double Is., that would leave only 1 territory, Snapper Is., that's sort of "off by itself."

Also, Agate Hills should be +3 now that it has 3 borders.

As far as connecting the Islands between regions, that would require changing the bonuses. While that's not automatically bad, the bonus distribution we now have (after increasing Agate Hills and The Beaches) is a good one:

two +2s
two +3s
two +4s
two +5s
one +6
one +7

Samus...respect for the discussion on the bonuses, and accordingly, they have been altered to your suggestion.

Disaster struck when I accidentally saved the icon verson over the top of version 29....so the re-worked version above (still V29) has slightly different mountains passes and I have changed the layout of some of the borders to this - a more wiggly feel...notice the crater - which btw is where that river starts.`

Hope this appeals....

by **Coleman** on Mon Apr 09, 2007 5:44 pm

Why have I never noticed this map? Is your xml done? :lol:

Okay, seriously I'll back off. But this map looks awesome, I have no idea how I've missed its existence.

by **cairnswk** on Mon Apr 09, 2007 5:50 pm

Coleman wrote:Why have I never noticed this map? Is your xml done?

Okay, seriously I'll back off. But this map looks awesome, I have no idea how I've missed its existence.

Coleman, why thank you :roll:

Where have you been all my life....????

Yes, XML almost done, just waiting to see if there are any changes resulting from latests graphic edits so that I can finalise territory borders and then I can post it.

And if it pleases you so much, then do let others know about it. Networking is a required bonus to get this map up and running.

by **johloh** on Mon Apr 09, 2007 6:15 pm

some ideas...

-I dont think the lake in the upper left corner should cross the black border.
-the river that borders topaz looks odd as it just starts out of nowhere...maybe connect it to a lake? and include a bridge if you dont want to block off that border?
-what do you think about doing some sort of border effect where the land hits the ocean? I'm thinking of a small sand like border or something? I dunno, just an idea...
-i think the color of maize silos is pretty ugly...is that kind of a corn color?
-mountain passes are great! but i think they could look smoother...
-the mountains that border the red continent seem to have a lot of stray pixels on the edges...specifically the lower left corner of each mountain...maybe make that look a little cleaner?
-id move the palm cove army circle inland if you can fit it...

also id start posting your images in PNG format...your jpeg compression is not very good, and makes the map appear odd in some parts...

by **Coleman** on Mon Apr 09, 2007 6:22 pm

johloh wrote:-the river that borders topaz looks odd as it just starts out of nowhere...

Underground spring.

I agree with everything else you said. I don't think the river is a problem because you see little rivers like that all the time in Nebraska because we have this huge underground lake. But I guess to you San Francisco folk (just kidding) it looks strange. :wink:

by **cairnswk** on Mon Apr 09, 2007 6:44 pm

Thanks for your comments johloh...As per the map at the bottom of this post....

johloh wrote:some ideas...

-I dont think the lake in the upper left corner should cross the black border.

Done.

-the river that borders topaz looks odd as it just starts out of nowhere...maybe connect it to a lake? and include a bridge if you dont want to block off that border?

Fixed...that river actually starts from an underground spring in a forest on the western side of the army shadow for Malanda. Putting a lake on their would only clutter the map and there have been several issues in back discussion about this situation. conseqnetly several things have already been moved.

-what do you think about doing some sort of border effect where the land hits the ocean? I'm thinking of a small sand like border or something? I dunno, just an idea...

Implemented. What do you think?

-i think the color of maize silos is pretty ugly...is that kind of a corn color?

Sorry on this one, but corn is yellow, the same colour as bananas, and I had to find a colour that didn't clash with bananaland...so I would like to keep it that colour.

-mountain passes are great! but i think they could look smoother...
-the mountains that border the red continent seem to have a lot of stray pixels on the edges...specifically the lower left corner of each mountain...maybe make that look a little cleaner?

Attended to.

-id move the palm cove army circle inland if you can fit it...

Done.

On the .png posting...that is going to have to wait. I'm still on dialup and that is already slow as all hell - you see we don't have super fast uploads here is OZ, and unless you want to pay for my broadband, then please don't insist until all the trails and tribulations of foundering are at an end....then the foundary can have the .png file.

by **johloh** on Mon Apr 09, 2007 6:58 pm

wow. i dont think ive ever seen my suggestions implemented quite so fast...impressive...

-i actually liked the river the way it was before...SORRY
-sand looks great! maybe a hair too bright? maybe not...
-the text of 'agate hills' in the legend looks odd...not a solid color like the others...
-what about playing around with the black background in the legend? i think it doesnt really match the overall feeling of the rest of the map...
-the river looks a little odd where it hits the ocean near palm cove...maybe it could look a little less abrupt? the one near the eubanangie swamp looks a little better...but maybe they could both improve...

I hope you dont feel like im nitpicking...just trying to give as much feedback as I can come up with...I like the way this is shaping up...

But I guess to you San Francisco folk (just kidding) it looks strange.

yeah, we have REAL rivers here in california...

by **johloh** on Mon Apr 09, 2007 7:00 pm

oh, and ill pass on paying for your broadband! :lol:

i can deal with jpegs!

by **cairnswk** on Mon Apr 09, 2007 7:25 pm

johloh wrote:oh, and ill pass on paying for your broadband! i can deal with jpegs!

Thank you! (quietly said with confidence).

by **cairnswk** on Mon Apr 09, 2007 7:32 pm

johloh wrote:wow. i dont think ive ever seen my suggestions implemented quite so fast...impressive...

Well, i'm doing all i can (to be a better man....) get this map up!

-i actually liked the river the way it was before...SORRY

Returned to somewhere near original state.

-sand looks great! maybe a hair too bright? maybe not...

Dulled.

-the text of 'agate hills' in the legend looks odd...not a solid color like the others...

You were correct, although I couldn't understand what was going wrong...it had parchment grain on it, but it didn't show on the font properties. Anyway, fixed.

-what about playing around with the black background in the legend? i think it doesnt really match the overall feeling of the rest of the map...

I'll have to think on that one...maybe me thinks it would detract from the clarity of the legend with all those region titles...yes!??

-the river looks a little odd where it hits the ocean near palm cove...maybe it could look a little less abrupt? the one near the eubanangie swamp looks a little better...but maybe they could both improve...

Improved....yes!???

I hope you dont feel like im nitpicking...just trying to give as much feedback as I can come up with

Why no johloh, i sees you are going thru a similar period in SF Bay. :lol:

I do appreciate however, your input.

...I like the way this is shaping up...

Why thank you ma'am. :lol:

by **Enigma** on Mon Apr 09, 2007 9:31 pm

cairnswk wrote:
-what about playing around with the black background in the legend? i think it doesnt really match the overall feeling of the rest of the map...

I'll have to think on that one...maybe me thinks it would detract from the clarity of the legend with all those region titles...yes!??

i agree- dont do anything to make the map cluttered/confusing.

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