[Abandoned] - Medieval Denmark

[oaktown]

Whoops, looks like someone thaught I'd abandoned this. Exams and coursework came up and stopped me doing anything for several months. Anywho, in a week it'll all be finished so I'll leave it in here 'till then but EXPECT A MAJOR GRAPHICS UPDATE!

We tagged everything that had been sitting for more than six weeks or so. PM me when you want to move this back out.

[Balsiefen]

Thanks Oaktown, will do.

Already started on the new graphics which will hopefully give a more handmade sense to the map and I've downloaded some new fonts which are very nice to look at but readability has still to be tested.

[Balsiefen]

And finally, the all too long awaited.....

Medieval Denmark V2.0-GRAPHICS OVERHAUL

Click image to enlarge.

Current map comments
First of all, I know I said NEW UPDATE SOON!!!!!!!11!!1!!, but.. well things kinda got on top of me and end of august sort of turned into beggining of november. Sorry about that and I'm afraid my life atm means that my level of consistancy is likely to be about that much

Anyway, to the map! Been planning it for long enough and the new look should be an improvement (and hopefully the new font won't inspire quite as many problems). Used some lovely new tools which everyone else has probably known since time began but nvm. Sea routs need touching up? Comments welcome!

[Mr. Squirrel]

Wow, great map. This looks ten times better than your original. I have only two nitpicks. First of all, your font isn't easy to read, but that is easily fixed. Secondly, there are a few small island territories that you will have a very hard time putting numbers on (e.g. Anund, Imbrae, and Samso). Other than that, it is an awesome improvement. I'll be looking for you back in the foundry soon.

[Balsiefen]

Thanks Mr Squirrel (Got to be one of the best avvys I've seen btw), glad you like the new map.

Do you mean the Bonus box font (which is very easy) or the main territories? (which will require either a changed font or borders to be redrawn a little to enlarge it - I'll have a little play with that when I get time)

As for the small islands, I'm less sure. Perhaps for the larger Islands (Laeso, Moon, Imbrae and possibly Samso) I could distort them a little to make them large enough to fit. For Anund, I am considering putting it in the sea on the north of the island. Langeland is more of a mess, but theres the possibility of again using the sea south-west of the islands, just above the name. Does that strike people as possible?

Thanks again and looking forward to rejoining the foundry fray

[Balsiefen]

Right, to give a better picture of what we have, I've added some numbers (97's to be different ) Might help suggestions on where to go next.

Click image to enlarge.

[oaktown]

welcome back to the real world!

[Mr. Squirrel]

Do you mean the Bonus box font (which is very easy) or the main territories? (which will require either a changed font or borders to be redrawn a little to enlarge it - I'll have a little play with that when I get time)

I was referring to the main territories. A few of the letters looked very strange to me. For example, I have trouble telling the difference between a lower-case 'o' and 'a' on your map, and I also had no idea that the first letter of Langeland was indeed an 'L'. To me it looked like a boxy 'C'. (the only reason I figured it out was because you used the name in your last post) The legend text looks alright though.

As for the small islands, I'm less sure. Perhaps for the larger Islands (Laeso, Moon, Imbrae and possibly Samso) I could distort them a little to make them large enough to fit. For Anund, I am considering putting it in the sea on the north of the island. Langeland is more of a mess, but theres the possibility of again using the sea south-west of the islands, just above the name. Does that strike people as possible?

After seeing how you arranged them on your '97' map, they actually look pretty good. You are going to want to test with all the colors too to make sure that smaller territories like Laeso look fine when green for example is placed on it.

Also, does Thytae border Saling (or Soling, whichever its named)? It's hard to tell because one of the little islands in there does touch, but only barely.

Other than those little nitpicks, I think you're on your way to having a very nice map.

[Balsiefen]

welcome back to the real world!

Thanks oak

Okay then, I'll go have a shop for some fonts (though coursework and now exams'll be slowing me again) and put up a graphics test

Sometime I'll fiddle a few borders to make sure about the numbers (though it'll be a long job so It might take a while to get round to it) but I'm glad you think they dont look too awful.

Thytae does not boarder Saling (its an a ) and I've been wondering myself how to show that. Maybe I could make the touching island part of the blue cont?

[ZeakCytho]

The neon-yellow color used for the northeastern most continent is very jarring. Consider toning it down a little?

Also, as has been said before, the font is kind of hard to read.

But, this is a wonderful improvement from last time!

[e_i_pi]

Beautiful update. Let's see what can be nit-picked

Graphics
The yellow continent looks out of place, needs much less saturation, and to be a little darker, kind of a gold colour rather than neon yellow.
The sky blue continent could be a little darker to fit with the rest of the colours nicer
Anund wins the cuteness award of 2008. Unfortunately though, it is impossible to tell which continent it belongs to

Gameplay
North Jutland is 5 provinces that can be defended from 2. A 3 bonus would probably be more fitting
Blekyng og Burghaendeholm might be better as 1 army bonus, as it can be defended through chained chokepoints (ie, only 1 province can attack each border)
The rest of the bonuses look about right though

Game Creation
Lots of chained chokepoints, but also a fair few crossroads, looks good for various game types
41 territories all up, interesting regarding neutrals:
3 player: 2
4 player: 1
5 player: 1
6 player: 5
7 player: 6
8 player: 1
Trips games will be very interesting, with a lot of neutrals interfering with continent bonuses, BUT, great small amount of neutrals for 3/4/5/8 player games. I think this map size is popular in the 6 player style, but I like the idea of it having a fair few neutrals. As a comparison, if you added 1 more territory:
3 player: 0
4 player: 2
5 player: 2
6 player: 0
7 player: 0
8 player: 2
Might be worth considering popping in one more province, though I think 41 would be interesting.

[Balsiefen]

Wehey more comments

Beautiful update. Let's see what can be nit-picked

Graphics
The yellow continent looks out of place, needs much less saturation, and to be a little darker, kind of a gold colour rather than neon yellow.
The sky blue continent could be a little darker to fit with the rest of the colours nicer
Anund wins the cuteness award of 2008. Unfortunately though, it is impossible to tell which continent it belongs to

Thanks (and Zeak), I'll do that next update and enlarge anund a little so you can see its colour, though probably not enough to fit the army no in.

Gameplay
North Jutland is 5 provinces that can be defended from 2. A 3 bonus would probably be more fitting
Blekyng og Burghaendeholm might be better as 1 army bonus, as it can be defended through chained chokepoints (ie, only 1 province can attack each border)
The rest of the bonuses look about right though

North jutland's bonus is I think a remenent of an earlier map, I'll give it a change. Blekyng & burg makes sense too. (actually, I was concidering to changing the islands name to one of its other names. While they would not be from the exact right centuary there is a choice of several slightly more pronouncable names avalable: Borghund (ancient) burghundeholm (a name now i look which, while still long winded, is actually a good era) and Bornholm (modern) )

Game Creation
Lots of chained chokepoints, but also a fair few crossroads, looks good for various game types
41 territories all up, interesting regarding neutrals:
3 player: 2
4 player: 1
5 player: 1
6 player: 5
7 player: 6
8 player: 1
Trips games will be very interesting, with a lot of neutrals interfering with continent bonuses, BUT, great small amount of neutrals for 3/4/5/8 player games. I think this map size is popular in the 6 player style, but I like the idea of it having a fair few neutrals. As a comparison, if you added 1 more territory:
3 player: 0
4 player: 2
5 player: 2
6 player: 0
7 player: 0
8 player: 2
Might be worth considering popping in one more province, though I think 41 would be interesting.

Actually, I count 42 myself. And I always like a good choke point to focus on

[MrBenn]

Looking good....

[Advanced Draft]

[e_i_pi]

Actually, I count 42 myself. And I always like a good choke point to focus on

Damn straight, my eyes must need a service. 42 it is, good pick. I do like the number of chained chokepoints on this map. It's going to make for some very interesting play. I think the majority of play-winning styles will be to go for the north and east of the map, though it is possible to choke off the south continents and work to hit enemy provs behind the front in Skaggerak. Can't wait to give this one a run, looks like it could become one fo my faves

[Balsiefen]

Thanks, I hope it will be

this is my current tally:

To Do
-Graphics test to decide a new font for territories
-Enlarge Anund enough to see its colour
-Enlarge other islands a little so their bonuses will fit nicely
-Switch the island touching saling to blue so its clearer that saling and thytae do not boarder.
-Darken sky blue and neon yellow conts
-Change bonus: North Jutland-2, Blekyng & burg-1

Edit: Just to say, I'm afraid due to real life its going to be at least a week before I can do anything