Nordic Countries [Quenched]

[DiM]

I think you are missing a lot of good maps, and are speaking a little naively.

show: Maps since January 2010

There are a fair number of popular maps in that list.


--Andy

yeah there are a few good maps there. but how many are great? how many are poor?
i didn't say that all maps made in 2010 and 2011 are crap. i just said they're less appealing than the maps made before that date. which is true. the greatest maps have been made before 2010.
excluding beta and limited edition maps and judging by average games per day we have no maps from 2010 and 2011 in top 20 and just 6 maps in top 50. so no great maps done in this period of time, but we have 6 good maps out of 34 made. we have 11 more decent maps placed from 51 to 100. the rest are in the bottom half.
that's really not such a great performance.

[natty dread]

Ok Dim, Andy & rest, please take the discussion about 2010 maps to another thread, this is a map thread after all.

About this revamp: Dim, I get what you're saying, but honestly, this revamp is something I want to do. Nordic Countries, the map, means a lot to me, firstly because I happen to live there and secondly because it's my first map. It's a map that in my mind deserves better treatment than what I gave it when I was still a foundry noob and made graphics with paint.

Also, I enjoy doing graphics. It's something I do because I like it. When I start a new project, I don't think if it's a waste of time or if I could spend my efforts on something better - or to put it in other words, even if this revamp does nothing to the popularity of NC, even if it doesn't benefit anything, it doesn't matter to me, because I enjoy the graphics work. It's what I do.

Now, here's an update, still some things missing (texts on the minimap, mostly, and impassables) but almost everything is there:

Click image to enlarge.

Now, would anyone care to give opinion about the graphics?

[natty dread]

Ok all stuff done, comments plox.

Click image to enlarge.

[RjBeals]

the ocean looks nice, but that texture pattern over land looks bad

[natty dread]

If someone doesn't think this looks better than the currently playable map... then I don't know what to say, they should get new eyes I guess...

[natty dread]

the ocean looks nice, but that texture pattern over land looks bad

Please take a look at the newer version in the drafting room...

[koontz1973]

natty, I am not going to say it looks better or worse, just new and maybe improved but I will wait till you are nearer the finish to say that. A few small points though for now.

The mountains do look better, the trees (green things) worse. Why, because the mountains look like mountains and the green blobs look like blobs. I would think that a forest would have a more uniform colour all over and not a dark edge with a light middle.
The bridge is a cross over from Yugoslavia map, am I correct and if so, how about something new.
In the old map, the shields carried army numbers, I take it this would be the same and if so, certain numbers and colours may not show to well + you have drawn these great shields which will have army numbers on them.
Lastly, the texture looks bloody awful (that is not a professional opinion but a personal one), but it is your map and if you want it then fine with me.

Good luck with the revamp.

[natty dread]

The bridges are new.

Textures... I kinda like the texture, myself. But I'm not opposed to trying other alternatives.

Forests... Idk. I'll tweak them somewhat.

Can we move this on to main foundry?

[Gillipig]

Nordic was my first map, and looking back now, I wish I had worked on it longer. I was a new mapmaker then... By today's standards, the map looks ugly, and I want to give my #1 map the makeover it deserves.

Here's what I have so far:

Click image to enlarge.

Olds...
http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/2875/nordic02.jpg
http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/5842/nordic01.jpg

I don't think it's ugly but it's not as visually stunning as this update! Beautiful colors and a varm outlook! Except for Norrland and the Glacier which stings in the eyes a bit! Love what you've done with the capitals !!!

[natty dread]

Ok, I'm trying a different texture

Click image to enlarge.

[Minister X]

If someone doesn't think this looks better than the currently playable map... then I don't know what to say, they should get new eyes I guess...

Better? Yes (except for the forests), but not very different. It looks like it was made by someone with more refined graphics and mapping skills, which I suppose is entirely the point. So... good on you.

However, I'd call this a spruce-up instead of a re-vamp. Other than the loss of the many circles, the changes are subtle. I've never played this map; my first impression of it was something like, "That looks playable but not inviting." If I were looking to make changes that might really affect rate of play I'd start by reconsidering the color scheme. When I think of Scandinavia I think of light colors and lots of white. To me, the most attractive little pieces of the maps are the little shields for the capitals. It strikes me that each country, rather than being filled with purple-green-white-blue, could be filled by a single representation of (a part of) the national flag. If everything were then also made light instead of dark, the map would, to me, look much more Nordic, pleasant and inviting. At the very least I'd change Finland from purple to white. That alone would make a huge difference. To my eyes purple and green are not very compatible colors and Finland-Sweden especially look bad next to each other. Here's another possibility: Iceland, Denmark and Finland all either ice blue, cold green or white, Norway and Sweden the unused two. I really think it would be more inviting.

[natty dread]

When I think of Scandinavia I think of light colors and lots of white.

And polar bears walking on the streets, right?

Btw, I am posting this without any pants on, due to the heat wave that's been boiling us alive here for the last few weeks... anyway.

That "flag colours for the countries" thing was suggested back when I first worked on the map. I tried it then, it didn't work then, I doubt it would work now.

The colour scheme is actually pretty well representative of the Nordics. All of the colours are cold colours, except for Denmark. Iceland is white, it has glaciers. Etc.

To my eyes purple and green are not very compatible colors

That's kind of odd, seeing as how purple and green are actually complement colours. Also, Sweden is cyan, not green.

Anyway, I don't really see a problem with the current colour scheme.

[natty dread]

Can I get this moved?

Where are the new foundry assistants, shouldn't they be earning their bread?

[Gillipig]

Can I get this moved?

Where are the new foundry assistants, shouldn't they be earning their bread?

I think a virtual pat on the back is the most they ever get for their efforts! And even that is rarely awarded !

[isaiah40]

Where are the new foundry assistants, shouldn't they be earning their bread?

They are in training, and need someone to hold there hands!