American Civil War [Quenched]

[Elijah S]

2nd revision

Notable changes:
-The pixelation issue has been dealt with by making the borders smaller and reducing diagonals.
-The Nuetral states color is different. This served to have only one green group and provided a better background for the Nuetral font (which is no longer bold and easier to read)
-The state names are now spelled out instead of abbreviated, except a few small eastern states, where space was not adequate.
-Attack lines have been drawn for the ships and across the rivers.
-Bonus values have been adjusted.
-The army circles are darker.
-The image size was brought up to 600px wide and 499px high.
-A sandstone texture was added to the states.
-Memphis replaced Nashville as one of the South's key cities.
-Army Numbers have been added.
-Crossing swords have been placed under the title.
-The Legend has been realligned.

Thanks for the support Cairnswk, it would be great to see more of that in this forum.

In answering your question- The decisive battle of the war was probably Gettysburg, and I could see no way to implement that into gameplay; However, Historians widely believe that it was the Union blockade, leaving the South without means to export its agriculture, which was, in the long term, the reason the Confederacy lost. -I think this has been effectively put into gameplay.

Elijah S...i'd like to see you continue this...and thanks for that first update. I think there will be good support for this.

Your map is only 579 px wide at present...so think about maybe extending it to 600px to give yourself some room for a really good legend, which btw is coming together very nicely.

Forgive my ignorance of your Civil War history ( i am an aussie afterall), in which state was the deciding battle? Perhaps this could be made into a gameplay feature (only a suggestion).

Can you improve slightly the colour of the green army tert shadows, they are very lighton?

I'd look forward to next updates.

Keep up the good work...your colleagues will guide you well, but keep your style and flavour for the map in mind also.

[Suzy1]

Wow, Elijah! Your map looks even better. I sure hope that this map gets some play time. I can't wait. It's brilliant. Good luck

[ciancama]

hi
i want to create a new map but what software you use for design this map.. ?
photoshop? other

please tell me

thanks

[ciancama]

please answer me

[lt_oddball]

nice to have the navy element incorporated in this map.
many tend to forget that the navy battles (more the blockading and breaking of it) was very important.

But I would like to see the larger states divided in 2 or 3 smaller parts so that progress in the western/middle states are similar to progress in the north east states.
I mean, conquering Maine in one turn now gives less sensation than conquering kansas in one turn.


mapland sizes should be dictated by comparable likely military advancement per timeframe ("a turn") and not by some political demarcation.
That can be straightened with the bonussystem such that a state of a couple of lands yields a bonus.
You do understand what I am saying ?



Oh , and can you exhange the toygun figure with something more spectacular ? A part of a painting (of gunners, cavalry, whatever..).
The toy thing seems so so.. silly.

[Elijah S]

Ciancama... -This map has been done entirely with Photoshop, but there are several good programs out there, most are probably much easier to learn.
I'd suggest asking other cartographers which programs they use...

lt_oddball.... One of the things I find most appealing about this map is that it is a true representation of the US during the Civil War era (with the exception that Rhode Island and Delaware have been taken out)...

With 13 available bonuses, I think the gameplay should be lively, and the bonuses range from holding the 2 capitols to holding the entire North or South, which, in combination with the fact that the Nuetral States provide no bonus, and the lines of attack across the rivers, effectively promotes North - South progression.

I see your point though and will put it in a poll later... as it would be easy to devide some of the larger states and come up with another six territories...

As for the cannon... I kinda like it and, in expressing a degree of my particular style, take a degree of artistic license...
But maybe a poll regarding icons is in store later too.

Thanks for the input! -Elijah

nice to have the navy element incorporated in this map.
many tend to forget that the navy battles (more the blockading and breaking of it) was very important.

But I would like to see the larger states divided in 2 or 3 smaller parts so that progress in the western/middle states are similar to progress in the north east states.
I mean, conquering Maine in one turn now gives less sensation than conquering kansas in one turn.


mapland sizes should be dictated by comparable likely military advancement per timeframe ("a turn") and not by some political demarcation.
That can be straightened with the bonussystem such that a state of a couple of lands yields a bonus.
You do understand what I am saying ?



Oh , and can you exhange the toygun figure with something more spectacular ? A part of a painting (of gunners, cavalry, whatever..).
The toy thing seems so so.. silly.

[edbeard]

I'd like to see the drum and trumpet come back. These are two great symbols for that period.

I think you could do a lot better with the bridges and water routes. If you want to wait until the locations of these are firmly set before upgrading the graphics that's fine.

I'm not sure if you have a reason for not having the confederate ships touch the coast, but I'd like to see at least one of em touch. Maybe have CSS2 connect to Miss. ?

I liked the independents having a bonus, but I guess 13 bonuses is plenty.

[Elijah S]

I like the idea of having one of the south's ships touching land... hadn't even thought of it.
Maybe CSS1 touching Louisiana or CSS3 touching S. Carolina...

As for the bridges and water routes I'm open to ideas.

I'd like to see the drum and trumpet come back. These are two great symbols for that period.

I think you could do a lot better with the bridges and water routes. If you want to wait until the locations of these are firmly set before upgrading the graphics that's fine.

I'm not sure if you have a reason for not having the confederate ships touch the coast, but I'd like to see at least one of em touch. Maybe have CSS2 connect to Miss. ?

I liked the independents having a bonus, but I guess 13 bonuses is plenty.

[Elijah S]

3rd Revision *Note*- River crossings and sea attacks are being worked on.


In this revision I've:
-Moved 2 Confederate ships to touch land.
-Re-alligned the Legend (again). I think this Legend is easy to read and less obtrusive than prior versions.
-Placed Union and Confederate flags in the background.
-Created ripples in the foreground to give the map greater depth.

I liked the trumpet and drum from the first version, but think that, with the addition of the background flags, if I place too many icons the map will begin to look busy.

Regarding the river crossing and sea attacks, I'm working on coming up with something that looks good without detracting from the background.

I'd like to see the drum and trumpet come back. These are two great symbols for that period.

I think you could do a lot better with the bridges and water routes. If you want to wait until the locations of these are firmly set before upgrading the graphics that's fine.

I'm not sure if you have a reason for not having the confederate ships touch the coast, but I'd like to see at least one of em touch. Maybe have CSS2 connect to Miss. ?

I liked the independents having a bonus, but I guess 13 bonuses is plenty.

[reverend_kyle]

what does yellow mean?

[Elijah S]

The yellow states were neutral territs during the war... I'll be placing something in the legend that expresses that and shows that they hold no collective bonus value.

what does yellow mean?

[Coleman]

Only river crossing I think would be a good idea at the moment is Mississippi & Arkansas.

[The Fuzzy Pengui]

It still looks like the borders are pixelated, and unfortunately it would be something that would be addressed later on (in Final Forge if nothing else). Try using a 2 pixel brush instead of using a pencil to draw the lines. Other than that, I really enjoy the map, and hope it progresses quickly through the foundry!

[Coleman]

Yeah, I was going to get to that after I or cairnswk transformed WidowMaker's border pictures into a tutorial, but he may understand what you mean now.

If not, check out one of the later pages of Iwo Jima, it's mostly there.

[cairnswk]

Elijah...

you have both flags on the title and you have also placed both flags in the background. There is something in design called "overkill". This i think is perhaps an overkill to have both flags in title and in background.
play around with this a little, and centre that sword under the actual title, and perhaps bring back the drums etc to each side of the title. also see what it looks like, but perhaps a drop shadow or similar on the title words. Suggestion!

The legend is improving, but still need work to line everything up...you have a mixture of things happening there...some +numbers in front of text, others behind. See if you can work some consistency in there.

Now...borders....try applying a guassian blur to the outlines of the borders, they are very "pixelated" and jaggered/edgy at present....perhaps could use a little "treatment" to make less jaggered...i think most punters in the foundry would prefer to see less jaggered/pixelated borders on maps.

The yellow needs toning down a little also, it is very contrasting against the other colours you've used, not out of place but simply needs toning down. I quite lilke the colour scheme actually.

Keep up the excellent work!

[The Fuzzy Pengui]

Yeah, I was going to get to that after I or cairnswk transformed WidowMaker's border pictures into a tutorial, but he may understand what you mean now.

If not, check out one of the later pages of Iwo Jima, it's mostly there.

I should be a CA or something for beating you to mentioning it

[Elijah S]

I've made notes of the recent input and will get going on those items...

The one thing I'm wondering about is if one river crossing, between Arkansas and Mississippi, will be enough...
It looks like not providing another crossing may cause play to kindof bottleneck in the north. Any thoughts?

[cairnswk]

I've made notes of the recent input and will get going on those items...

The one thing I'm wondering about is if one river crossing, between Arkansas and Mississippi, will be enough...
It looks like not providing another crossing may cause play to kindof bottleneck in the north. Any thoughts?

Perhaps do some research to see where the major river crossing were located, or did the soldiers simply wade through shallow river sections to get to the other side. That could also be an option...a shallow croissing on the river.

[Elijah S]

4th revision


Notable changes:
-The flags at the top were replaced with the bugle and drum.
-The yellow territories have been muted a little.
-The swords have been centered under the title.
-The Legend has been alligned so that all bonus values are along the right side.

I'm saving the tedious job of cleaning up the pixelation for later...

[ParadiceCity9]

you konw you could always just stick to the original thread...

[cairnswk]

Elijah S...your new ideas topic for American Civil War has been moved into the Map Foundry, there is no need to create another topic iun the Map Foundry.
Thanks

[Elijah S]

Hey guys... to my knowledge I didn't create a new thread.
I've been posting my revisions and comments under this one... the last one being the 4th map revision...

Elijah S...your new ideas topic for American Civil War has been moved into the Map Foundry, there is no need to create another topic iun the Map Foundry.
Thanks

[Elijah S]

5th Revision


Notable changes:
-Bridges have been added.
-Some of the pixelation has been addressed. (more work will be done with this)

[Suzy1]

I love what you have done to the map, Elijah...the bridges look great..I keep thinking that this map looks it's best and you keep making it even better...I am anxiously waiting to play it...It alos seems like a great strategic design

[cairnswk]

Elijah...below is what i suggest for your legend. I added 20px to the width, which is still within the absolute maximum in order to create "eyespace" for the legend.

Only a suggestion