Gilgamesh; Coordinates on pg 20

[oaktown]

only name i have trouble with ANSHAN but only on the small map
final forge it

good catch - I'll flip the positions of the title and army count to get the title out the crack.

[MrBenn]

I'm not a fan of the extra bevel; but I'm not going to push for change....

If you're happy with it, then I'm happy with it.

[porkenbeans]

Well it looks like you went with my suggestion after all. By me posting that over saturated example up, you have compromised, to just about where I was hoping.
I think that it is much nicer than before, aren't you glad that I stopped by ?
Just funnin with ya bro.
I will offer just one more sugg for ya, (oh boy) If you are worried about the territories borders getting lost amongst the grout lines, just go ahead and throw a bevel and or drop shadow on them. This by the way, will also help to bring a little "relief" to the map as well, like the lion picture.

[saaimen]

porkenbeans,
I'm not sure if you've noticed, but...
oaktown foed you. He's not reading your posts.

[oaktown]

porkenbeans,
I'm not sure if you've noticed, but...
oaktown foed you. He's not reading your posts.

No mention of the map... you'll be next saaimen!

[the.killing.44]

If you're going to make the bricks so accentuated, then I still think that the mortar lines are too perfect. If you just take a brush and paint little influxes in the mortar. If you use the same color overlay is should work perfectly, and if you go down the crack-heavy path, that'll make it more accurate.

.44

[porkenbeans]

porkenbeans,
I'm not sure if you've noticed, but...
oaktown foed you. He's not reading your posts.

No mention of the map... you'll be next saaimen!

Your post does not say anything towards the topic, OAK.
But maybe you are trying to be humorous ?
In that case, GO OAK, nice to see that you have lightened up a tad. It is understandable that a person can get too serious and overprotective of his creation, after spending so many hours on it, but you need to steep back and let the reviewers do their job without taking it so personal. Your foe button is for those that you do not like, so does this mean that you will use it on every person that says something about your maps, that you do not like ?

BTW, Kill is on target about the grout lines.

[AndyDufresne]

Oak hasn't lightened up a tad---he's never even had to---he's always been a light-hearted hippo. Perhaps it was their perception that made people think otherwise!

As for the map, I'm quite satisified and look forward to seeing it, and other maps as well, Forged soon.


--Andy

[porkenbeans]

porkenbeans wrote:@Oak,
I never went off topic, only responded to your "off topic" remarks.
You should not let constructive criticism upset you so much. It is ok to disagree, but you should unbunch your panties. Just kidding, c'mon Oak lighten up friend. Do I need to say once more that I think this map is cool ? ... well it IS. Just relax and take deep breaths, You would think with all the quenches under your belt, that you would be a bit more used to this process by now.
Not me or anyone else can MAKE you change a damn thing on your map, so just let the the unjustified critique roll off, like water on a ducks back. it wont penetrate unless you ruffle up your feathers.
...oh, and have FUN !!!

Oak wrote;
No mention of the map. Foed.


This whole dialog IS about the map, and the fact that, I think Oak needs to just take the criticism kindly, and not just the positive ones. This whole exchange IS on topic, and follows a logical path of conversion, that is until Oak gets upset at the neg. criticism and goes off topic with his FOE proclamation.
If you read my remarks carefully, you will see that I am NOT being belligerent, and only trying to help smooth his feathers.

[oaktown]

Click image to enlarge.

I've scuffed up the edges of some of the tiles/brocks... I see the concern - the horizontal lines across the map look too perfect. At this point with the grout, tiles color, and the tile effects being different layers it's really tricky to completely angle a brick, so mussing up the straight lines may be the best I'm willing to commit to. I'll fuss around more as I work on the code, but I hope that nobody thinks that should hold the map up at this point,

The "depth" of the tiles has been decreased slightly on the large map, even more so on the small map where I found it distracting.

I also lightened up the right edge of the map - I'd screwed up a layer which left a shadow. And I fixed some little things like borders that didn't touch.

Click image to enlarge.

[MrBenn]

Final Forge

---The Gilgamesh Map has reached the ‘Final Forge’ Stage. The map has passed rigorous gameplay and graphics examinations, and major concerns have been addressed. If you have any other concerns, please make your voice heard. If after a reasonable amount of time there has not been any objection or protest, the map will be deemed finished with the 'Foundry Brand' of approval and will be submitted for live play. As long as there is still discussion or posts that have yet to be commented on, the map will remain in Final Forge until said discussion has reached the conclusion that the map has reached its final and polished version.

Post questions and concerns if any.

[Echospree]

The only concern I can think of at this point is making sure that each colour is easily visible against the backdrop of a bonus region of the same colour.

I think the only ones you'd need to check would be the neutrals in Subartu and blue in Dilmun.

I notice you've got the neutrals already shown in the two regions where I might be concerned, they seem fine to me, I just want to be sure everyone agrees.

[oaktown]

The only concern I can think of at this point is making sure that each colour is easily visible against the backdrop of a bonus region of the same colour.

I think the only ones you'd need to check would be the neutrals in Subartu and blue in Dilmun.

I notice you've got the neutrals already shown in the two regions where I might be concerned, they seem fine to me, I just want to be sure everyone agrees.

I'll be working on the XML and coordinates next... as I post coordinate examples everybody can give feedback on the colors as well. Increasing the opacity of the army streaks will be easy enough.

[oaktown]

Click image to enlarge.

Click image to enlarge.

Small and large maps for army count checks... there was concern about the colors of the army counts against the backgrounds, but I think the grey blotches behind the counts do the trick even with three digit #s.

I canalready see that a few of the counts on the large map are a bit low - after a few minutes of doing this your eyes start to miss shit. Anything that strikes you funny let me know and I'll adjust.

If anybody wants to do further checking...
Code: http://www.fileden.com/files/2008/7/30/ ... gamesh.xml
Small: http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r76/ ... 0testS.jpg
Large: http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r76/ ... 0testL.jpg

Code: Select all

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<map>
   <title>Gilgamesh</title>
   <smallwidth>630</smallwidth>
   <smallheight>480</smallheight>
   <largewidth>840</largewidth>
   <largeheight>640</largeheight>
   <filetype>jpg</filetype>

<positions>
   <position>
      <territory>Humbaba</territory>
      <territory>Nineveh</territory>
   </position>
   <position>
      <territory>Assur</territory>
      <territory>Bull of Heaven</territory>
   </position>
   <position>
      <territory>Mashu</territory>
      <territory>Ur</territory>
   </position>
</positions>

   <continent>
      <name>Wilds</name>
      <bonus>2</bonus>
      <components>
         <territory>Humbaba</territory>
         <territory>Cedar Forest</territory>
         <territory>Silver Mountain</territory>
         <territory>The Passes</territory>
      </components>
   </continent>

   <continent>
      <name>Dilmun</name>
      <bonus>3</bonus>
      <components>
         <territory>Nisir</territory>
         <territory>Forest of Dilmun</territory>   
         <territory>The Waters of Death</territory>
         <territory>The Great Darkness</territory>
         <territory>Garden of the Gods</territory>
         <territory>Aratta</territory>
         <territory>Mashu</territory>
      </components>
   </continent>

   <continent>
      <name>Subartu</name>
      <bonus>5</bonus>
      <components>
         <territory>Karkemish</territory>
         <territory>Urkesh</territory>
         <territory>Nagar</territory>
         <territory>Qattara</territory>
         <territory>Nineveh</territory>
         <territory>Dur Kaltimmu</territory>
         <territory>Tuttul</territory>
         <territory>Harran</territory>
         <territory>Assur</territory>
      </components>
   </continent>

   <continent>
      <name>Canaan</name>
      <bonus>2</bonus>
      <components>
         <territory>Alakhtum</territory>
         <territory>Ebla</territory>
         <territory>Tyre</territory>
         <territory>Jerusalem</territory>
         <territory>Jericho</territory>
      </components>
   </continent>

   <continent>
      <name>Sumer</name>
      <bonus>5</bonus>
      <components>
         <territory>Gassur</territory>
         <territory>Shurupak</territory>
         <territory>Babylon</territory>
         <territory>Uruk</territory>
         <territory>Nippur</territory>
         <territory>Lagash</territory>
         <territory>Eridu</territory>
         <territory>Ur</territory>
      </components>
   </continent>
   
   <continent>
      <name>Amorites</name>
      <bonus>3</bonus>
      <components>
         <territory>Halab</territory>
         <territory>Emar</territory>
         <territory>Terqa</territory>
         <territory>Mari</territory>
         <territory>Tadmor</territory>
         <territory>Rapiqum</territory>
      </components>
   </continent>
   
   <continent>
      <name>Elam</name>
      <bonus>2</bonus>
      <components>
         <territory>Eshnunna</territory>
         <territory>Awan</territory>
         <territory>Susa</territory>
         <territory>Anshan</territory>
      </components>
   </continent>
   
   <continent>
      <name>Challenges of the Gods</name>
      <bonus>5</bonus>
      <components>
         <territory>Mashu</territory>
         <territory>Humbaba</territory>
         <territory>Bull of Heaven</territory>
      </components>
   </continent>

   <continent>
      <name>Six Great Cities</name>
      <bonus>4</bonus>
      <components>
         <territory>Karkemish</territory>
         <territory>Ur</territory>
         <territory>Babylon</territory>
         <territory>Nineveh</territory>
         <territory>Harran</territory>
         <territory>Uruk</territory>
      </components>
   <overrides>
      <override>Four Great Cities</override>
   </overrides>      
   </continent>
   
   <continent>
      <name>Four Great Cities</name>
      <bonus>2</bonus>
      <components>
         <territory>Karkemish</territory>
         <territory>Ur</territory>
         <territory>Babylon</territory>
         <territory>Nineveh</territory>
         <territory>Harran</territory>
         <territory>Uruk</territory>
      </components>
   <required>4</required>
   </continent>

   <territory>
      <name>Humbaba</name>
      <borders>
         <border>Cedar Forest</border>
         <border>Silver Mountain</border>
      </borders>
      <coordinates>
         <smallx>101</smallx>
         <smally>60</smally>
         <largex>137</largex>
         <largey>74</largey>

      </coordinates>
   </territory>

   <territory>
      <name>Cedar Forest</name>
      <borders>
         <border>Humbaba</border>
         <border>Silver Mountain</border>
         <border>The Passes</border>
      </borders>
      <coordinates>
         <smallx>57</smallx>
         <smally>123</smally>
         <largex>76</largex>
         <largey>157</largey>
      </coordinates>
   </territory>
   <territory>
      <name>Silver Mountain</name>
      <borders>
         <border>Nisir</border>
         <border>Urkesh</border>
         <border>Humbaba</border>
         <border>Cedar Forest</border>
      </borders>
      <coordinates>
         <smallx>194</smallx>
         <smally>75</smally>
         <largex>259</largex>
         <largey>94</largey>
      </coordinates>
   </territory>
   <territory>
      <name>The Passes</name>
      <borders>
         <border>Cedar Forest</border>
         <border>Alakhtum</border>
         <border>Halab</border>
      </borders>
      <coordinates>
         <smallx>49</smallx>
         <smally>155</smally>
         <largex>64</largex>
         <largey>200</largey>
      </coordinates>
   </territory>
   <territory>
      <name>Alakhtum</name>
      <borders>
         <border>The Passes</border>
         <border>Tyre</border>
         <border>Ebla</border>
         <border>Halab</border>
         <border>Emar</border>
      </borders>
      <coordinates>
         <smallx>70</smallx>
         <smally>216</smally>
         <largex>95</largex>
         <largey>281</largey>
      </coordinates>
   </territory>
   
   <territory>
      <name>Tyre</name>
      <borders>
         <border>Alakhtum</border>
         <border>Ebla</border>
         <border>Jerusalem</border>
         <border>Jericho</border>            
      </borders>
      <coordinates>
         <smallx>63</smallx>
         <smally>285</smally>
         <largex>84</largex>
         <largey>374</largey>
      </coordinates>
   </territory>
   
   <territory>
      <name>Jerusalem</name>
      <borders>
         <border>Jericho</border>
         <border>Tyre</border>         
      </borders>
      <coordinates>
         <smallx>43</smallx>
         <smally>349</smally>
         <largex>57</largex>
         <largey>460</largey>
      </coordinates>
   </territory>
      
   <territory>
      <name>Jericho</name>
      <borders>
         <border>Jerusalem</border>
         <border>Tyre</border>         
      </borders>
      <coordinates>
         <smallx>54</smallx>
         <smally>397</smally>
         <largex>72</largex>
         <largey>522</largey>
   </coordinates>
   </territory>
      
   <territory>
      <name>Ebla</name>
      <borders>
         <border>Alakhtum</border>
         <border>Tyre</border>   
         <border>Emar</border>      
      </borders>
      <coordinates>
         <smallx>93</smallx>
         <smally>255</smally>
         <largex>124</largex>
         <largey>332</largey>
   </coordinates>
   </territory>
      
   <territory>
      <name>Emar</name>
      <borders>
         <border>Halab</border>
         <border>Terqa</border>
         <border>Alakhtum</border>
         <border>Ebla</border>      
      </borders>
      <coordinates>
         <smallx>117</smallx>
         <smally>214</smally>
         <largex>155</largex>
         <largey>279</largey>
      </coordinates>
   </territory>
      
   <territory>
      <name>Terqa</name>
      <borders>
         <border>Emar</border>
         <border>Tadmor</border>
         <border>Mari</border>      
      </borders>
      <coordinates>
         <smallx>176</smallx>
         <smally>247</smally>
         <largex>236</largex>
         <largey>322</largey>
      </coordinates>
   </territory>
      
   <territory>
      <name>Halab</name>
      <borders>
         <border>Alakhtum</border>
         <border>Karkemish</border>
         <border>Emar</border>
         <border>The Passes</border>      
      </borders>
      <coordinates>
         <smallx>107</smallx>
         <smally>183</smally>
         <largex>142</largex>
         <largey>237</largey>
      </coordinates>
   </territory>
      
   <territory>
      <name>Tadmor</name>
      <borders>
         <border>Terqa</border>   
         <border>Mari</border>      
      </borders>
      <coordinates>
         <smallx>178</smallx>
         <smally>300</smally>
         <largex>239</largex>
         <largey>393</largey>
      </coordinates>
   </territory>
      
   <territory>
      <name>Mari</name>
      <borders>
         <border>Terqa</border>
         <border>Tadmor</border>
         <border>Rapiqum</border>
         <border>Assur</border>   
         <border>Dur Kaltimmu</border>      
      </borders>
      <coordinates>
         <smallx>253</smallx>
         <smally>299</smally>
         <largex>338</largex>
         <largey>392</largey>
      </coordinates>
   </territory>   

   <territory>
      <name>Rapiqum</name>
      <borders>
         <border>Mari</border>
         <border>Shurupak</border>
         <border>Babylon</border>   
      </borders>
      <coordinates>
         <smallx>310</smallx>
         <smally>300</smally>
         <largex>413</largex>
         <largey>393</largey>
      </coordinates>
   </territory>   

   <territory>
      <name>Karkemish</name>
      <borders>
         <border>Urkesh</border>
         <border>Harran</border>
         <border>Halab</border>
      </borders>
      <coordinates>
         <smallx>122</smallx>
         <smally>138</smally>
         <largex>171</largex>
         <largey>178</largey>
      </coordinates>
     <neutral>3</neutral>
   </territory>   

   <territory>
      <name>Urkesh</name>
      <borders>
         <border>Karkemish</border>
         <border>Nagar</border>
         <border>Harran</border>   
         <border>Silver Mountain</border>         
      </borders>
      <coordinates>
         <smallx>217</smallx>
         <smally>125</smally>
         <largex>289</largex>
         <largey>159</largey>
      </coordinates>
   </territory>   

   <territory>
      <name>Nagar</name>
      <borders>
         <border>Urkesh</border>
         <border>Harran</border>
         <border>Dur Kaltimmu</border>   
         <border>Tuttul</border>      
         <border>Qattara</border>         
      </borders>
      <coordinates>
         <smallx>248</smallx>
         <smally>162</smally>
         <largex>331</largex>
         <largey>209</largey>
   </coordinates>
   </territory>   

   <territory>
      <name>Harran</name>
      <borders>
         <border>Karkemish</border>
         <border>Urkesh</border>      
         <border>Nagar</border>   
         <border>Tuttul</border>   
      </borders>
      <coordinates>
            <smallx>186</smallx>
         <smally>162</smally>
         <largex>248</largex>
         <largey>209</largey>
   </coordinates>
   </territory>   

   <territory>
      <name>Tuttul</name>
      <borders>
         <border>Harran</border>
         <border>Nagar</border>
         <border>Dur Kaltimmu</border>      
      </borders>
      <coordinates>
         <smallx>186</smallx>
         <smally>200</smally>
         <largex>248</largex>
         <largey>260</largey>
      </coordinates>
   </territory>   
   
   <territory>
      <name>Qattara</name>
      <borders>
         <border>Nagar</border>
         <border>Dur Kaltimmu</border>
         <border>Assur</border>         
      </borders>
      <coordinates>
         <smallx>290</smallx>
         <smally>172</smally>
         <largex>387</largex>
         <largey>222</largey>
      </coordinates>
   </territory>   
   
   <territory>
      <name>Dur Kaltimmu</name>
      <borders>
         <border>Tuttul</border>
         <border>Nagar</border>
         <border>Qattara</border>
         <border>Assur</border>   
         <border>Mari</border>         
      </borders>
      <coordinates>
         <smallx>243</smallx>
         <smally>235</smally>
         <largex>325</largex>
         <largey>306</largey>
      </coordinates>
   </territory>   

   <territory>
      <name>Assur</name>
      <borders>
         <border>Qattara</border>
         <border>Dur Kaltimmu</border>
         <border>Nineveh</border>
         <border>Mari</border>
         <border>Shurupak</border>   
      </borders>
      <coordinates>
         <smallx>287</smallx>
         <smally>243</smally>
         <largex>384</largex>
         <largey>317</largey>
      </coordinates>
   </territory>   

   <territory>
      <name>Nineveh</name>
      <borders>
         <border>Assur</border>
         <border>Gassur</border>      
      </borders>
      <coordinates>
         <smallx>345</smallx>
         <smally>168</smally>
         <largex>461</largex>
         <largey>217</largey>
      </coordinates>
   </territory>   

   <territory>
      <name>Shurupak</name>
      <borders>
         <border>Babylon</border>
         <border>Assur</border>
         <border>Rapiqum</border>         
      </borders>
      <coordinates>
         <smallx>357</smallx>
         <smally>252</smally>
         <largex>476</largex>
         <largey>330</largey>
      </coordinates>
   </territory>   

   <territory>
      <name>Gassur</name>
      <borders>
         <border>Babylon</border>
         <border>Nineveh</border>
         <border>Mashu</border>
         <border>Eshnunna</border>            
      </borders>
      <coordinates>
         <smallx>404</smallx>
         <smally>238</smally>
         <largex>539</largex>
         <largey>311</largey>
      </coordinates>
   </territory>   

   <territory>
      <name>Babylon</name>
      <borders>
         <border>Gassur</border>
         <border>Shurupak</border>
         <border>Uruk</border>
         <border>Nippur</border>
         <border>Eshnunna</border>
         <border>Rapiqum</border>            
      </borders>
      <coordinates>
         <smallx>401</smallx>
         <smally>320</smally>
         <largex>535</largex>
         <largey>419</largey>
      </coordinates>
     <neutral>3</neutral>
   </territory>   

   <territory>
      <name>Uruk</name>
      <borders>
         <border>Babylon</border>
         <border>Nippur</border>
         <border>Lagash</border>
         <border>Eridu</border>      
         <border>Bull of Heaven</border>      
      </borders>
      <coordinates>
         <smallx>430</smallx>
         <smally>366</smally>
         <largex>574</largex>
         <largey>481</largey>
      </coordinates>
   </territory>   

   <territory>
      <name>Nippur</name>
      <borders>
         <border>Babylon</border>
         <border>Uruk</border>
         <border>Lagash</border>         
      </borders>
      <coordinates>
         <smallx>466</smallx>
         <smally>305</smally>
         <largex>623</largex>
         <largey>399</largey>
      </coordinates>
   </territory>   

   <territory>
      <name>Lagash</name>
      <borders>
         <border>Nippur</border>
         <border>Uruk</border>
         <border>Susa</border>            
      </borders>
      <coordinates>
         <smallx>481</smallx>
         <smally>365</smally>
         <largex>642</largex>
         <largey>480</largey>
      </coordinates>
   </territory>   

   <territory>
      <name>Eridu</name>
      <borders>
         <border>Uruk</border>
         <border>Ur</border>   
      </borders>
      <coordinates>
         <smallx>472</smallx>
         <smally>416</smally>
         <largex>631</largex>
         <largey>547</largey>
      </coordinates>
   </territory>   

   <territory>
      <name>Ur</name>
      <borders>
         <border>Eridu</border>
         <border>Susa</border>         
      </borders>
      <coordinates>
         <smallx>553</smallx>
         <smally>421</smally>
         <largex>739</largex>
         <largey>554</largey>
      </coordinates>
   </territory>   

   <territory>
      <name>Susa</name>
      <borders>
         <border>Anshan</border>
         <border>Awan</border>
         <border>Lagash</border>
         <border>Ur</border>      
      </borders>
      <coordinates>
         <smallx>563</smallx>
         <smally>350</smally>
         <largex>752</largex>
         <largey>460</largey>
      </coordinates>
   </territory>   

   <territory>
      <name>Anshan</name>
      <borders>
         <border>Susa</border>
         <border>Awan</border>         
      </borders>
      <coordinates>
         <smallx>603</smallx>
         <smally>377</smally>
         <largex>804</largex>
         <largey>496</largey>
      </coordinates>
   </territory>   

   <territory>
      <name>Awan</name>
      <borders>
         <border>Susa</border>
         <border>Anshan</border>
         <border>Eshnunna</border>   
      </borders>
      <coordinates>
         <smallx>576</smallx>
         <smally>297</smally>
         <largex>769</largex>
         <largey>389</largey>
      </coordinates>
   </territory>   

   <territory>
      <name>Eshnunna</name>
      <borders>
         <border>Awan</border>
         <border>Babylon</border>
         <border>Gassur</border>
         <border>Mashu</border>      
      </borders>
      <coordinates>
         <smallx>516</smallx>
         <smally>285</smally>
         <largex>689</largex>
         <largey>373</largey>
   </coordinates>
   </territory>   

   <territory>
      <name>Mashu</name>
      <borders>
         <border>The Great Darkness</border>
         <border>Gassur</border>
         <border>Eshnunna</border>
      </borders>
      <coordinates>
         <smallx>445</smallx>
         <smally>238</smally>
         <largex>594</largex>
         <largey>310</largey>
      </coordinates>
   </territory>   

   <territory>
      <name>The Great Darkness</name>
      <borders>
         <border>Mashu</border>
         <border>Forest of Dilmun</border>         
         <border>The Waters of Death</border>
         <border>Garden of the Gods</border>
         <border>Aratta</border>
      </borders>
      <coordinates>
         <smallx>477</smallx>
         <smally>168</smally>
         <largex>637</largex>
         <largey>218</largey>
      </coordinates>
   </territory>   

   <territory>
      <name>Aratta</name>
      <borders>
         <border>The Great Darkness</border>
         <border>Garden of the Gods</border>            
      </borders>
      <coordinates>
         <smallx>570</smallx>
         <smally>192</smally>
         <largex>761</largex>
         <largey>249</largey>
      </coordinates>
   </territory>   

   <territory>
      <name>Garden of the Gods</name>
      <borders>
         <border>The Waters of Death</border>
         <border>Aratta</border>
         <border>The Great Darkness</border>   
      </borders>
      <coordinates>
         <smallx>543</smallx>
         <smally>149</smally>
         <largex>724</largex>
         <largey>191</largey>
      </coordinates>
   </territory>   

   <territory>
      <name>The Waters of Death</name>
      <borders>
         <border>Garden of the Gods</border>
         <border>The Great Darkness</border>
         <border>Forest of Dilmun</border>
      </borders>
      <coordinates>
         <smallx>509</smallx>
         <smally>70</smally>
         <largex>680</largex>
         <largey>87</largey>
      </coordinates>
   </territory>   

   <territory>
      <name>Forest of Dilmun</name>
      <borders>
         <border>Nisir</border>
         <border>The Great Darkness</border>
         <border>The Waters of Death</border>            
      </borders>
      <coordinates>
         <smallx>437</smallx>
         <smally>78</smally>
         <largex>583</largex>
         <largey>98</largey>
   </coordinates>      
   </territory>   
   
   <territory>
      <name>Nisir</name>
      <borders>
         <border>Silver Mountain</border>
         <border>Forest of Dilmun</border>         
      </borders>
      <coordinates>
         <smallx>388</smallx>
         <smally>62</smally>
         <largex>518</largex>
         <largey>77</largey>
      </coordinates>      
   </territory>   
   <territory>
      <name>Bull of Heaven</name>
      <borders>
         <border>Uruk</border>      
      </borders>
      <coordinates>
         <smallx>420</smallx>
         <smally>398</smally>
         <largex>560</largex>
         <largey>523</largey>
      </coordinates>
   </territory>   
   
</map>


[porkenbeans]

Well I guess you will have to take me off of your foe list if you happen to be interested in My thoughts. Like on gimils new feudal, I find it easier to show, than try to explain. Here is some of what I had in mind. Note the center where I have tried to show, how it may be possible, to have the grout lines more pronounced, (the way you have made them), and still be able to clearly define the borders. As on fuedal, just a little bevel and drop shadow will bring things into the 3-D world, and allow the viewer to better distinguish whats what on YOUR map.
Also the other concern that I have is the blurriness of the text. Not so much on the large version, but the small version it seems to not be as clear. I tried to play with the contrast and color values to compensate for this, but it is very difficult to do without the full file, but you will notice that, it is much easier to read now.
Also a helpful tip to all the mapmakers out there, Photobucket has a great editing room to give your image a final tweak or two. I find that it is very useful, as you can play around and try different things quickly.

Click image to enlarge.