The Stages of a Map's Development

[TaCktiX]

This work is fine all by itself, so I edited it out of the Map Health topic.

The Stages of a Map's Development

Each map goes through 8 distinct stages. Each starts at a specific point, and in general has posts of a certain content.

In the Map Ideas forum

Stage I: Feasibility
At this starting stage, a mapmaker needs to show that his map is feasible for eventual quenching. This includes a decent draft and some general support from both Foundry regulars and people who don't usually come to the Foundry (referred to as unregulars from here on).
Starts: Upon topic creation
Post Content:
- Simple Feedback: Feedback is typically very generic, giving comments about the present graphics and the rare comment on gameplay. It's enough to get a second or third version released, but not much more.
- Idea Support: Small comments about "I like it", and "that's a cool map" from unregulars.
- Anti-support: Noob-bashing and/or general nay-saying about the map's core idea. The map creator's responses to Anti-support determine if the map gets to Stage II.

Stage II: Formulation
The mapmaker has proven the idea is feasible, and now needs to take more detailed comments and formulate new versions off of them. The longer it takes for the map's design direction to formulate, the longer it takes to get to Stage III.
Starts: Advanced Idea sticky
Post Content:
- Graphics Feedback: Typically of the "I like it" , "I don't like it" variety after the mapmaker has released a new version. Sometimes feedback is more lengthy, though.
- Small Gameplay Feedback: Not much is discussed about gameplay in comparison to the graphics, but bonus numbers and territory name ideas/corrections may be posted.
- Checklist Feedback: The goldmine for an Advanced Idea. A few Foundry people will take a long, hard look at the map and then ticking off things to fix or consider.
- Move to Foundry Support: Some regular posters will feel their immediate concerns met, and then advocate throwing an Idea stamp on the map and moving it onward. This is the gateway to Stage III.

[TaCktiX]

In the Main Foundry

Stage III: Justification
The longest and most difficult stage, so named as the mapmaker needs to justify the map's existence by making appropriate and timely changes to gameplay and graphics in the midst of a storm of contradictory feedback.
Starts: Idea Passed
Post Content:
- Conflicting Feedback: People will post conflicting opinions. Some of it will have already been tried and decided to not work for the map. The majority will be one set of people wanting simplicity in graphics and/or gameplay, and another set wanting complexity in graphics and/or gameplay.
- "Backwards Momentum": In the storm of conflicting feedback, the mapmaker will feel like the map isn't just going nowhere fast, it's going backwards from eventual quenching. This is the most likely stage that a map will fall into the Furnace.
- Minimal Support: People will have more opinions than generic "I like it" support during Stage III. Support will actually go down relative to when the map was an Advanced Idea.
- Lower Interest: Posts will come slower, and require more revisions to generate enough comments to keep on progressing. Sometimes this lower interest is offset by a really good idea, or a well-known mapmaker, but it's still an issue.

Stage IV: Polishing
After the Gameplay stamp lands, the mapmaker begins polishing up the graphic look, removing any readability issues, addressing border changes (if applicable),and likely re-addressing gameplay issues that people decide to post after the stamp.
Starts: Gameplay Passed
Post Content:
- Graphical Nitpicks: Nothing on the scale of previous stages, but people will post their nitpick comments on the graphics.
- Further Gameplay Feedback: For some, Gameplay Passed is when to start hardcore commenting about the gameplay. Additional edits to the gameplay may be necessary when well-reasoned comments are made.
- Higher Interest: Getting another stamp re-kindles interest in the map, making posts come easier with fewer revisions needed.

Stage V: Confirmation
As the sticky is applied, unregulars will take greater notice in the map. Regulars will post their nitpicks and support.
Starts: Graphics Passed
Post Content:
- "Forge it" Support: Regulars will find all their issues resolved, and petition moving the map to the Final Forge.
- Question Spam: The unregulars will see a cool map, and promptly ask irrelevant or redundant questions. Technically it's spam, but it is interest in the map from the "outside".
- Justification-like Feedback: At this point, regulars will try to "break" the map with a hefty amount of feedback. Overall feedback will seem like Stage II and III, but on a much lesser scale.

[TaCktiX]

In the Final Forge

Stage VI: Coding
Passing into the Forge, coding the XML and posting test images will become rote. Feedback will be nitpicky, but critical to a great map.
Starts: Final Forge
Post Content:
- Centering Nitpick Feedback: Making sure all the armies are centered on their respective circles or territory name. Very important feedback.
- Graphical Finetune Feedback: As 88 and 888 tests come out, some text and map features will need to be moved to accommodate them.
- XML Checks: The XML will be fully checked out and made sure to be free of errors.

Stage VII: Finalization
With all stamps on, both regulars and unregulars will leave their final regards.
Starts: XML Passed
Post Content:
- "Quench" Support: Foundry regulars will clamor for a Quench, as will unregulars (without saying quench explicitly).
- Rehash Feedback: Regulars will have their last issues resolved, most often by rehashing things already covered earlier in the now-long topic.

Stage VIII: Completion
The end of the road, a new map will be added to live play.
Starts: Quenched
Post Content:
- Congratulations Support: Regulars offering their congrats on the quench.
- "Can't wait to play" Support: Regulars and unregulars expressing their interest in playing the map.

[MrBenn]

You left out the last stage - Post-quench amendments!

[seamusk]

Hey this is helpful! What I am unclear about is how it is determined, for example, that one is done with stage 1. Is there someone who makes that decision? A mod? A particular mod? I know it hasn't been up long but I feel that my Allegheny Forest map is ready for stage II. Basically I need more particular commentary and have already addressed initial generic comments. Otherwise everyone has been supportive as far as I can see. Thanks for the help.

[RjBeals]

viewtopic.php?p=1061418#p1061418

You know about these stamps right? They are given from the cartography assistants (cart ass's as they're known). We can scream and moan that our map is ready for the foundry proper, but until you get that idea's passed stamp, your stuck here. You only have 1 full page of posts. There are so many maps that are abandoned, that it takes some time in idea's to show you are serious, and there is enough interest in the map, before it's moved. My Charleston map is on page 5 of posting, and I'm still in ideas.

[seamusk]

http://www.conquerclub.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1061418#p1061418

You know about these stamps right? They are given from the cartography assistants (cart ass's as they're known). We can scream and moan that our map is ready for the foundry proper, but until you get that idea's passed stamp, your stuck here. You only have 1 full page of posts. There are so many maps that are abandoned, that it takes some time in idea's to show you are serious, and there is enough interest in the map, before it's moved. My Charleston map is on page 5 of posting, and I'm still in ideas.

I surely didn't intend to scream and moan (in fact I know i didn't). I just feel that its ready for more critical commentary. I'm not asking for the stamp, just stage 2 (which according to this thread is being pinned in the ideas thread for more critical review) so people can tear it apart. But even if I was I have no idea who the cartography assistants are. I'm just new to the forum and I didn't want it sitting there for no reason and the answers to my questions weren't obvious from the guides or handbooks. That is pretty much it. That forum is virtually dead quiet if you look at it any time of the day or night. There are better ways to determine one's seriousness than letting it just sit there.

[RjBeals]

We don't take kindly to strangers around here...

(joke)

[seamusk]

Joking aside, the handbook and what not have an outline of the process but is very vague on the details. Most of the content is about criteria (which is obviously important). It might help to put things in like maybe a FAQ, "What do I do when I'm stumped and am not sure how to proceed?" A. Read the xxx. B. Contact xxx. Or something along those lines. "What do I do if I am a seamusket and an idiot at the same time?" you know, normal questions...

[AndyDufresne]

We'd love for someone to take the initiative and create a FAQ. Also organize and categorize the map making tips and tricks. Who wants to?


--Andy

[t-o-m]

I WILL

i wont really, ide mess things up

[seamusk]

I WILL

i wont really, ide mess things up

you are supposed to volunteer someone who isn't here. Obviously I'm not the person.

[TaCktiX]

We'd love for someone to take the initiative and create a FAQ. Also organize and categorize the map making tips and tricks. Who wants to?


--Andy

I would be willing to do both in due time. For the FAQ, I'd need a relative list of "concerns" that I could hash out specifics on. For organizing the TTT, I'd need to know what categories you want, and where I'm going to index them (considering I didn't write the first post).

[seamusk]

I confess that I still don't understand how one goes about moving a map from one stage to the other. The only answer I got was that it hasn't been there long enough and that wasn't one of the listed criteria so I remain perplexed. Is there a particular method for asking a cartography assistant to review the map? An answer could be copied right into the new FAQ.

Thinking of it, other potential FAQ questions:
I have a map idea but am unsure if I should post its own unique thread in the map ideas sub-forum or if I should post in the ideas thread. (or something along those lines)

I posted my map and am waiting for feedback. What is the typical time period within which new maps typically get preliminary feedbacK?

What happens if my map gets support but little feedback on its components? Will my map be held up because of this?

OK I got feedback, made fixes and I'm liking how my map looks. What do I do next?

(obviously I'm taking these from personal experience of jumping in the map forums quickly with multiple ideas including one that was pretty far developed. These are just possibilities. Obviously the questions should be filtered to account for my own idiocy)

[TaCktiX]

"What is required" for each stage is stated in the How to make a map handbook topic stickied in the main Foundry. Those are minimum requirements, and the unstated ones are "time and patience". Cartography Assistants like doing things in batches, so some maps are "held up" to go with a couple other maps to the next stage. This isn't a given, though.

As for how to get C.A. input, PM them. I find most effective adding all of them (find their usergroup and copy the names down) to my Friends. That way when I'm browsing the Foundry and I see one of them also browsing, I can quickly send off a PM asking for their input.

[seamusk]

"What is required" for each stage is stated in the How to make a map handbook topic stickied in the main Foundry. Those are minimum requirements, and the unstated ones are "time and patience". Cartography Assistants like doing things in batches, so some maps are "held up" to go with a couple other maps to the next stage. This isn't a given, though.

As for how to get C.A. input, PM them. I find most effective adding all of them (find their usergroup and copy the names down) to my Friends. That way when I'm browsing the Foundry and I see one of them also browsing, I can quickly send off a PM asking for their input.

Thanks TaCktix! I appreciate that. I can see the handbook info, it is that unwritten stuff that I'm unclear about. Appreciated it.