Conquer Club

shakeycat wrote:I prefer the red and yellow stars, since they are more with the theme and the new minimap. The anchors may have to become similarly flat, since the star is no longer 3D.

Hm, that makes sense.

shakeycat wrote:There's something funny about how the flag sits on the new 'paper' minimap, tucked under the land like that.

Yes, I know. I could try enlarging it (finding a larger flag that is) so it goes all the way to Macedonia, I think that would help - I think the ugly gap between the flag & Macedonia is what is off-putting here.

shakeycat wrote:I notice in earlier versions the rivers tapered off as they left the map, perhaps that would be more flowing than the blunt ending.

Yep, will do.

I like the 3 dimensional looking stars more. The red and yellow ones just seem kind of clumsy. In my opinion the 3d looking stars fit with the map better because this map has a very textural feel to it. It looks like I could run my hand across it and feels the bumps and cracks. It's pretty cool and unique. There's a lot of flat looking maps out there so I think the 3 dimensional look brings something new to the table. Also I like the drawn in sea routes.

In fact I think if anything it's the mini-map that should conform to fit in with the main map. I think it would be really cool if you tried to make the mini map look more like a dirty propaganda poster that's been pasted onto this concrete wall.

the yellow/red stars are realy better - they looks as star in Yugoslavian flag. could you them 3d? Bison is right, the map is textural, also circles for numbers you have 3d. so could be yellow/red stars 3d?

I like sea connections. they looks as gyrus after ship...

what about add to small legend large flag and draw only borders, names and numbers of bonuses here? so small map without colored regions?

btw, nice work as allways from you .you use GIMP, right?

The Bison King wrote:I like the 3 dimensional looking stars more. The red and yellow ones just seem kind of clumsy. In my opinion the 3d looking stars fit with the map better because this map has a very textural feel to it. It looks like I could run my hand across it and feels the bumps and cracks. It's pretty cool and unique. There's a lot of flat looking maps out there so I think the 3 dimensional look brings something new to the table. Also I like the drawn in sea routes.

Yes, there's something about that concrete look that just seems to fit with Yugoslavia. I mean when you think of Yugoslavia, you instantly think of concrete walls, for some reason.

I could make the stars more bumpy while keeping the red/yellow colour. Let's see how that works out...

The Bison King wrote:In fact I think if anything it's the mini-map that should conform to fit in with the main map. I think it would be really cool if you tried to make the mini map look more like a dirty propaganda poster that's been pasted onto this concrete wall.

That, actually, is exactly what I was planning to do. Just not totally sure how exactly I'm going to do it yet.

theBastard wrote:what about add to small legend large flag and draw only borders, names and numbers of bonuses here? so small map without colored regions?

I could try that... not sure if it works out though, having the colours on the minimap makes it easier to find the bonuses...

theBastard wrote:btw, nice work as allways from you .you use GIMP, right?

Thanks, yes I do.

i say keep the dash lines for the borders and definitely keep the new red/yellow stars. also you need to flatten the anchors and the mountains to get the perfect "paint on concrete feeling".

for the river endings you could try making them like the paint is flaking...

Here's some changes done.

the stars from here have a thicker yellow border that makes them nicer.
also you need to change the star and anchor in the legend.

How about the mountains?

i'm ok with them

natty_dread wrote:How about the mountains?

Not a fan.

Hi natty,

I am loving the grungy look of this map. Sort of reminds me of an RJbeal map, sort of. I have a few aesthetics issues I want to bring up with you if you don't mind.

First, your titles area doesn't seem to best utilise the space you have. The title doesn't seemed to be centered well and the icons for stars and anchors feel untidy. I suggest you stretch your title to the edge of the map to cover more of the dead space to the right. As for the legends icons, you have stars and anchors mentioned, why not mention the impassables as well? try to fill up that space.

I am not sold on the mountains. I think it is because I see the rivers as rivers, while the mountains and sort of concentric shapes. I think you would fair better with proper looking mountains, in my opinion.

Hi Gimil, thanks for your feedback. Comparing this to a Beals map is a huge compliment in my book, so thanks...

I agree, the title area isn't composed as optimally as possible. As far as impassables... I don't know, I sort of get the feeling that explicitly explaining that mountains and rivers are impassable is kinda redundant by now, you know? Everyone already knows they are impassables, it's just something that has become generally accepted in CC - these days, you only need to mention your rivers and mountains if they are not impassables...

Anyway, I'll try to arrange the title area better. Maybe a wider title, a picture of Tito, something...

As for the mountains... I've tried various more conventional types of mountains here, but none of them really seemed to fit the style of the map... I'll keep working on them though.

I agree, the title area isn't composed as optimally as possible. As far as impassables... I don't know, I sort of get the feeling that explicitly explaining that mountains and rivers are impassable is kinda redundant by now, you know? Everyone already knows they are impassables, it's just something that has become generally accepted in CC - these days, you only need to mention your rivers and mountains if they are not impassables...

Fair point.

As for the mountains... I've tried various more conventional types of mountains here, but none of them really seemed to fit the style of the map... I'll keep working on them though.

Good man. I know how frustrating it can be when something just won't work on a map. Keep trying though, you'll feel better when you finally find something that fits! Good luck.

natty_dread wrote: Maybe a wider title, a picture of Tito, something...

much better now:

Aaaah, wrong Tito...

Anywho,

natty_dread wrote:As for the mountains... I've tried various more conventional types of mountains here, but none of them really seemed to fit the style of the map... I'll keep working on them though.

This is a really avant garde thought, but what is you made the mountains look like a chipped away part of the wall? rather than part of the paining itself.

Title looks lovely now. I shall come back here and have another looks with a fresh pair of eyes in the morning, see if I come across anything else!

The Bison King wrote:

natty_dread wrote:As for the mountains... I've tried various more conventional types of mountains here, but none of them really seemed to fit the style of the map... I'll keep working on them though.

This is a really avant garde thought, but what is you made the mountains look like a chipped away part of the wall? rather than part of the paining itself.

Seems a bit counterintuitive. Mountains rise up from ground... they're like, the opposite of canyons.

natty_dread wrote:

The Bison King wrote:

natty_dread wrote:As for the mountains... I've tried various more conventional types of mountains here, but none of them really seemed to fit the style of the map... I'll keep working on them though.

This is a really avant garde thought, but what is you made the mountains look like a chipped away part of the wall? rather than part of the paining itself.

Seems a bit counterintuitive. Mountains rise up from ground... they're like, the opposite of canyons.

Not really, if you make the chips peeling away from the wall, with a little drop shadow to them I think it would look good and would blend in with the rest of the map IMHO.

Since we're going 2D on everything else, how about the army circles? Is there some cool option other than the bubble that you can think of? While I like how simple and understated they are, I just wonder if they no longer fit the map/theme.

shakeycat wrote:Since we're going 2D on everything else, how about the army circles? Is there some cool option other than the bubble that you can think of? While I like how simple and understated they are, I just wonder if they no longer fit the map/theme.

ugh it's like you are on a crusade to make natty change everything I've found to be visually unique about this map. The dimples are cool, the 3d stars were cool, the 3d port symbols were cool, and the mountains were cool. Now everything is flat and boring. just like every other map ever.

(not that every map on this site is boring, but you get my point)

hi natty,

I have to be honest, I have taken a disliking to the army circles you have used. They look like contact lenses. I don't like the 3D effect of them, doesn't go with the 2Dness of the map. I think you would be better with plan old, flat dark circles.

Hey guys, I'm afraid I'm going to have to go with my gut instinct with this one...

The army circles may not be the most theme-appropriate thing ever, but they actually improve the clarity of the map - and they blend in with the map unlike any other army circles I've seen. I don't think any other army circle type could fit this map as well.

If the idea that someone would carve small hemispheroid holes in a wall painting of a map bothers you, maybe you can just pretend that the army circles are painted on? I don't know. I just really like them. It's like you can imagine placing little marbles into those holes.

natty_dread wrote:Hey guys, I'm afraid I'm going to have to go with my gut instinct with this one...

The army circles may not be the most theme-appropriate thing ever, but they actually improve the clarity of the map - and they blend in with the map unlike any other army circles I've seen. I don't think any other army circle type could fit this map as well.

If the idea that someone would carve small hemispheroid holes in a wall painting of a map bothers you, maybe you can just pretend that the army circles are painted on? I don't know. I just really like them. It's like you can imagine placing little marbles into those holes.

Thats cool with me, it was just a thought. The contact lenses can stay