Dark Continent (Colonial Africa) [Quenched]

[Industrial Helix]

I think a coloring style more like the second style, with the interior outlines, would suit the map better. The Thyseneal style is a bit over used at the moment. Why don't you try something like I did for South Africa in Photoshop... just a generic mock up of what it is that you're intending to do.

[Victor Sullivan]

I think a coloring style more like the second style, with the interior outlines, would suit the map better. The Thyseneal style is a bit over used at the moment. Why don't you try something like I did for South Africa in Photoshop... just a generic mock up of what it is that you're intending to do.

What about if TBK did it the way he suggested but included a think inside line as well, as per your South Africa map? TBK is pretty talented with watercolors, I doubt you will be disappointed with his product. Besides, you gotta give him a little elbow room, graphics are largely subjective, so I think the mapmaker should have the final say, no?

[natty dread]

I much prefer the medium to photoshop colors and the sterility of computer perfection...

On the other hand (just to provide an alternate view on the issue)...

You still have to scan anything you do by watercolour (or oil paint, or charcoal, or ink) and the result will be pixels in a graphics file... just like what you can create in photoshop or gimp. So in principle, you can't really create anything with conventional methods that is not at least theoretically possible to create digitally.

For example... I have this nice software ArtRage that came free with my drawing tablet... it's a sort of "painting simulator", which gives you a canvas and a choice of virtual brushes and paints, and the results actually look a lot like conventionally painted & scanned images.

Anyway, my point is that hand-drawn is not necessarily always better, especially when the medium is digital graphics. You inevitably suffer a loss of quality and detail when you transfer your art from manual to digital. And working with digital medium gives you a certain preciseness: you get to measure stuff by the pixel, and you'll know exactly where each pixel ends up in...

All this said, I'm not against working with watercolours and scanners, but I think you should be using the watercolour as an asset instead of a limitation. For example: use of layers. Don't paint everything at once on one paper. Instead, paint the sea on one paper, then scan it and set it to a background layer. Then paint the land area on another paper, scan it and alpha mask it, then put it on a second layer. IMO it is foolish to do the whole graphics on one paper, discarding the #1 benefit you get from working in digital media - the use of layers.

Another thing that can be done: draw the shape of your land area digitally first. Then print the outline of your land on paper. Then fill the land area with watercolour, following the outlines. Scan, and alpha mask it with the land shape you drew digitally, and you're done. Simple!

[Industrial Helix]

Well, I think watercolor is an asset. Inevitably, the final product is at least half digital half 'real.' Things like borders and names are best done via photoshop. Texture and color, I find you can get a better product via paint. When I did SA, I did the completely digital version of SA, printed it, traced it and painted it and then scanned it in where I cloned out my mistakes. I think of it more as an asset as you describe than really any limitation. If you plan with a sort of digital cartoon of the final product, I think its a major help... which is what I'm encouraging BK to do.

Vic - Bk is talented with watercolors but there are those who are not happy with the way California has ended up. Rather than encourage BK to waste his time we're trying to deal with potential issues as early as possible. And technically the mapmaker has the final say on his map, but CC has the final say on whether they will host it or not.

[The Bison King]

I think a coloring style more like the second style, with the interior outlines, would suit the map better. The Thyseneal style is a bit over used at the moment. Why don't you try something like I did for South Africa in Photoshop... just a generic mock up of what it is that you're intending to do.

Click image to enlarge.

How's this. Does this help?

[isaiah40]

Well for me it is heading in the right direction, much better!

[Victor Sullivan]

Ivory Coast - Why the dark blue stripes? They don't correspond to anything...

[theBastard]

Ivory Coast - Why the dark blue stripes? They don't correspond to anything...

agree. maybe do all regions of Ivory Coast bonus witht he same colour?

I saw you sea in Non CC maps (do not remember accurate name). I want to see your beautifull see also here

[The Bison King]

Come on guys read the legend. It's listed TWICE why Ivory coast has dashes. Maybe there's a better way to express it visually though.

What I'm trying to convey is that While Ivory coast is adjacent to another French bonus, it is not a part of the larger bonus but is it's own smaller bonus independent of the +5 it sits next to.

[The Bison King]

I saw you sea in Non CC maps (do not remember accurate name). I want to see your beautifull see also here

I assume you're referring to how I handled the ocean in this map?:

Click image to enlarge.

That's actually what I had in mind.

[theBastard]

Come on guys read the legend. It's listed TWICE why Ivory coast has dashes. Maybe there's a better way to express it visually though.

What I'm trying to convey is that While Ivory coast is adjacent to another French bonus, it is not a part of the larger bonus but is it's own smaller bonus independent of the +5 it sits next to.

see now. than made it another colour. the stripes in all map means +1 to any bonus or required for bonus.

yes this is the picture. and all colours looks better for me. the Colonial Africa map has too light.

[Industrial Helix]

What you need to do in order to get this into gameplay:
1) Figure out something different than Naval superiority. Maybe sea territories? Direct connections (France to Algeria, Madagascar, maybe colonial captials).
2) Figure out something different for the metropole/colony bonus than doubling it. One option would be to have a unified empire bonus... for example, Hold Germany and Kameroon +2, Hold Germany, Kameroon and SW Africa +4, ect. Another option would be Hold Britain and receive +1 per British territory in addition to any other bonuses held (still keeping +3 for South Africa, +1 for Nigeria, ect).
3) Approach your graphics very cautiously. Obviously you don't want to make a giant watercolor and have to overhaul it.

Best of luck figuring something out. I think the idea is a solid one and I hope to play this map!

[The Bison King]

1) Figure out something different than Naval superiority. Maybe sea territories? Direct connections (France to Algeria, Madagascar, maybe colonial captials).

Why? Is it because of the fact that Eastern Hemisphere has a territory that's called Naval superiority? The functions are similar but they are different, if that's the concern shouldn't changing the name suffice?

2) Figure out something different for the metropole/colony bonus than doubling it. One option would be to have a unified empire bonus... for example, Hold Germany and Kameroon +2, Hold Germany, Kameroon and SW Africa +4, ect. Another option would be Hold Britain and receive +1 per British territory in addition to any other bonuses held (still keeping +3 for South Africa, +1 for Nigeria, ect).

I'm leaning more towards the top options. It wouldn't be to hard to figure out but it would take up a lot more Legend space (but I've got some of that to spare any way.

3) Approach your graphics very cautiously. Obviously you don't want to make a giant watercolor and have to overhaul it.

This is wisdom that shall be heeded.

[Industrial Helix]

Well, to be honest, I'm not sure the current "naval superiority" works. You've got two types of sea connections... NS and the dotted lines. Why not get rid of both and just use some sort of one way attack symbols. That would be much smoother, imo. it would also free up some space in the legend and in the south Atlantic.

On a side note, wasn't Djbouti French?

[The Bison King]

Well, to be honest, I'm not sure the current "naval superiority" works. You've got two types of sea connections... NS and the dotted lines. Why not get rid of both and just use some sort of one way attack symbols. That would be much smoother, imo. it would also free up some space in the legend and in the south Atlantic.

Well I like that it gives additional powers to the European Colonies that the African territories don't have. Thus symbolizing the fact the Europe did have the superior naval capabilities that allowed them to Colonize Africa in the way they did. Europeans could land wherever they wanted on the African continent. The Africans could not sail back up to Europe. However Which ever European power has the strongest navy has the ability to prevent the other powers from landing where they want. That being said, I still need certain territories to have 2 way connections because otherwise Europe has too much of an advantage. That is why I have it as I do.

Also this was your idea, maybe you remember writing this:

The only major gameplay element that I think you ought to add is a European one way attack on at least one of their major colonies. I'm thinking Britain to SA, Germany to German East Africa, Belgium to Congo, and Portugal to Angola. This way you get the Europeans able to land and conquer Africa, but Africans stuck in Africa... true to history and also makes some of the more harder to achieve bonuses, such as Portugal, easier to achieve. Maybe, even consider killer neutral ocean territories, giving European players a chance to make landings, ect. In fact, I think killer neutral sea territories would really liven up the gameplay.

Or this:

Also, if you have room, a Mediterranean/Suez Canal/Red Sea Naval Superiority might be pretty cool as well.

On a side note, wasn't Djbouti French?

You might be right about that actually.

[Industrial Helix]

Yeah, that sounds familiar. My favorite idea is killer neutral territories in the Red Sea, Atlantic, Med. and Indian Ocean, rather than both the dotted lines and naval Superiority. I think it might make for a better dynamic. And I was thinking... Yes, Africans can't attack from Zululand to Britain... but the British who occupy Zululand can jump from Zululand to Kenya and attack. Maybe the Killer neutral territories would be better.

[Joodoo]

One of the territory names should be "Tunisia", not "Tunesia".
If you can squeeze in some of the island countries it would be great.

[The Bison King]

If you can squeeze in some of the island countries it would be great.

Examples?

[Industrial Helix]

Cape Verde is the only island countries that I noticed were missing.

[Joodoo]

If you can squeeze in some of the island countries it would be great.

Examples?

Sao Tome, Comoros

[The Bison King]

I'll make an update soon. It'll probably take the form of a brainstorm with several different ways of re-arranging the sea connections.

If you can squeeze in some of the island countries it would be great.

Examples?

Sao Tome, Comoros

Maybe, I'm really not sure they would add much though. They're pretty small an un-strategic. I really don't see a reason for them to be included at this point.

[The Bison King]

Click image to enlarge.

Ok here's my solution to the first concern.

There might be a better way of phrasing it in the Legend but the idea is that the amounts below "With colonial power" are added to your total when you have the European territory as well as the mentioned bonus. So for example, if you have South Africa you get +3, if you also posses England you get in an additional +2 so a total of +5.

thoughts?

[Industrial Helix]

Ok, that works in concept.

Shouldn't Ottoman Empire have something about holding Egypt as well? Hmm... I'm noticing a few bonuses have yet to be listed... I'm presuming you mocked this up to show what you were thinking? I'd say stick with and finish it off with complete bonuses. We'll work out value accuracy in the GP workshop.

Now, what to do about the naval territories.

[The Bison King]

Sorry for the slow reply.

Shouldn't Ottoman Empire have something about holding Egypt as well?

Egypt is included into the middle east. It's mentioned in the section below additional bonus that will be label disputed territories.

I'm noticing a few bonuses have yet to be listed

The only ones not listed are Guinea Bissau, Ivory Coast, and Gold coast, and that's because I was thinking that they either only get the +1 and that it is not increased by holding the European power, OR that you ONLY get the +1 when you have the European power and that with out it they aren't worth anything.

[Industrial Helix]

Hmm... I kind of think to keep everything uniform and have it keep a bonus being held and a bonus with its metropole.