Nordic Countries [Quenched]

[the.killing.44]

Hi natty,

I like what you've done here, and it's a solid map, graphically, but I can't honestly say it's FF-quality. There's just this mix of simplistic elements over a psychedelic background, coupled by some extreme bevels and text running rampant, and the word that comes to mind when I look at your map is 'chaotic.' There's just too much going on, too many clashing styles in one image.

The first thing you need to change is the water background. In fact, I'd probably first change the color to one more similar to that of the Iceland inset. I realize you're trying to set a dark fell in the back, and that's not bad, but there's such a thing as overdoing it. When something's too dark, the amount of time one can spend deciphering it decreases, and with it the legibility (the crux of your problems). On to the texture, I'm not quite sure why you chose this over-scaled, LSD-trip kind of pattern. Like I said, the background of an image sets the tone for the feel of the map. You should probably find a subtler pattern; the color scheme of the land already conveys your icy feel.

Next, I'd relook all the text. For me, that's lowering the opacity of that in the lower-left, upping that of the background bonus ones (and moving them to better spots that don't encroach the land), and finding a different font to differentiate between the tert names and legend stuff. On that same note, the title makes me do a backflip. It's two off-colored, widely-spaced, oddly-aligned words in an odd text—c'mon, you can do better.

I actually don't have much of a problem with your impassables, but I'd darken your trees and maybe sprinkle some snow on them.

The last thing is very simple: reduce the weight of the minimap inset border to that of Iceland. It'll free up space and look better.

I hope I'm not dooming you for a Japan-esque crusade to find the right map (which I'm probably not, because it's just certain aspects that create the wrong mood, unlike RB0's theme), but like Benn has said, it's just not there.

[natty dread]

Thanks for your input the.killing. I'll see what I can do to address these concerns.

[mibi]

the only problem with this map is that the base image is soft for some reason.

[yeti_c]

There's nothing wrong with it - per se... there's just nothing Pow-wow-jazang about it...

C.

[natty dread]

the only problem with this map is that the base image is soft for some reason.

Umm... I'm sorry, can you elaborate? I'm not quite sure what you mean...

There's nothing wrong with it - per se... there's just nothing Pow-wow-jazang about it...

Well... I'm still learning this stuff.

Anyway, how's this:

Click image to enlarge.

[the.killing.44]

Much better, but did you blur the trees or something? Oh, and maybe you could add something to the Iceland impassable to make it seem more, err, impassable.

[natty dread]

Much better, but did you blur the trees or something? Oh, and maybe you could add something to the Iceland impassable to make it seem more, err, impassable.

Well the iceland impassable is a glacier... I'm not sure what I could add there. Do you have any ideas? Should I bevel the glacier slightly to raise it slightly above the land?

As for the trees, yeah, MrBenn said they were too bright and a bit pixelated, so I fixed them.

[the.killing.44]

Much better, but did you blur the trees or something? Oh, and maybe you could add something to the Iceland impassable to make it seem more, err, impassable.

Well the iceland impassable is a glacier... I'm not sure what I could add there. Do you have any ideas? Should I bevel the glacier slightly to raise it slightly above the land?

As for the trees, yeah, MrBenn said they were too bright and a bit pixelated, so I fixed them.

You might've overdone the blur a tad.

The glacier, hmm. I noticed it's in the key, but it still seems sort of off (I dislike having impassables that occur once). I'd put an inner shadow or outer bevel, so the land around it is raised.

[natty dread]

Hmm... I'll see what I can do to it.

[yeti_c]

There's nothing wrong with it - per se... there's just nothing Pow-wow-jazang about it...

Well... I'm still learning this stuff.

No problems - but I'm not 100% sure this really should've passed the GFX test?

Like I say it's solid - there are no problems - but it's nothing special...

Keep going at it though and I'm sure it'll get done soon.

C.

[natty dread]

Thanks for the encouragement yeti.

As for passing the graphics test, well, what can I say... It's funny, there was a long period on the graphics workshop where I asked everyone to criticize the graphics, and after all the issues were dealt with, we thought it good enough to move to the final forge - obviously the gfx workshop mods agreed or the map wouldn't be here. So right after I get my GFX stamp I get loads of comments and crits on the graphics, it kinda makes me wonder why did these people stay silent when graphics feedback was asked for?

So anyway, the GFX stamp was given, so obviously there are people who like the map. I'm not opposed to doing changes to the graphics, but I'm hoping I don't have to do any major changes anymore... I'm open to all suggestions though.

Anyway, here's version 54, with some bevel added to the glacier, and small version updated with all the changes.

v54 large

Click image to enlarge.

v54 small

[cairnswk]

natty, congrats on getting this far.
has the vischeck been done for the colourblind?

[natty dread]

natty, congrats on getting this far.
has the vischeck been done for the colourblind?

Thanks and yes it has:

[natty dread]

Alternative title:

Click image to enlarge.

[the.killing.44]

Much much better. I love the glacier separation that you did. Three quarrels remain:

(a) Water texture. I see you just blurred it, meh.
(b) Title. Still just not there.
(c) The impassables key is pretty ugly, just all the types lumped together.

[natty dread]

Alternative ocean #1.

Click image to enlarge.

[natty dread]

Alt. ocean #2.

Click image to enlarge.

[natty dread]

Please forgive me for so many consequtive posts... this one has a new title again.

Click image to enlarge.

edit:

ok, I can't post any more posts in a row... I'm afraid the mods would go bonkers. So here's yet another version of the ocean, this time with a little help from the.killing:

Click image to enlarge.

[natty dread]

Another title variant.

Click image to enlarge.

ps. has anyone had time to take a look at the XML? There should be no errors, but just to be sure...

http://h1.ripway.com/ndread/nordic_xml_5.xml

[mibi]

its still soft... you know.. blurry.

[natty dread]

What is blurry? The ocean, the land area? The ocean needs to be a bit blurry... otherwise the texture is too "strong", I hear... As for the land area, I got complaints of pixelation so I softened the outline slightly.

Or do you mean the grunge texture of the land area?

Anyway, as for the title, we're down to two candidates:

Title #1

Click image to enlarge.

Title #2

Click image to enlarge.

[denominator]

I like Candidate A personally - it's more legible.

Although I think a major distracting feature on the title is the reflection below it. My eye automatically jumps there and it makes the title harder to read.

[natty dread]

Hmm. Thanks denominator. Anyone else find the reflection distracting? I kinda like the reflection, but I'm not opposed to removing it...

[isaiah40]

Congrats on making FF natty!

I think the reflection is okay, though maybe you can reduce it a tad bit, maybe. I won't be or if you remove it.

[natty dread]

Thanks Isaiah!

Well, just for comparison purposes, I made this version with no reflection, but a drop shadow instead.

Also brought the small version up to date.

Oh, and Forza told me the XML cleared the check. Do I get the XML stamp now?

anyway, v55 large

Click image to enlarge.

v55 small



So... reflection or no?