Jewel of the Empire coordinates & xml (new xml?)

by **Contrickster** on Mon Mar 19, 2007 10:02 am

http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/5236 ... 612op1.jpg

Choice 1

408/499
http://img127.imageshack.us/img127/9948 ... 499nd4.jpg
500/612
http://img127.imageshack.us/img127/8412 ... 612hm7.jpg

Choice 2
408/499
http://img244.imageshack.us/img244/7371 ... 499ck5.jpg
500/612
http://img252.imageshack.us/img252/8297 ... 612ay0.jpg

Choice 3
408/499
http://img252.imageshack.us/img252/61/3 ... 499ql4.jpg
500/612
http://img252.imageshack.us/img252/3507 ... 612ol2.jpg

28
NOTE the error in the below version - the mountains are actually a barrier between Nagpur and Vinhiya.

http://img250.imageshack.us/img250/5770 ... bigxx7.jpg

27

http://img295.imageshack.us/img295/6097 ... allgw4.jpg

http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/5910 ... bigol7.jpg

26

http://img68.imageshack.us/img68/2972/i ... allsj8.jpg

http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/9321 ... biglx9.jpg

25
http://img260.imageshack.us/img260/5877 ... bigqr2.jpg

24

http://img409.imageshack.us/img409/2337/untitledkr1.png

http://img164.imageshack.us/img164/139/ ... bigno3.jpg

23
Small
http://img164.imageshack.us/img164/8275/smalltk5.jpg

Large
http://img164.imageshack.us/img164/7923/largekm1.jpg

22
http://img387.imageshack.us/img387/2554/hkhbt7.png

21
http://img250.imageshack.us/img250/2542 ... allvp0.jpg

20
http://img74.imageshack.us/img74/6017/indiasmallsc2.jpg

19
http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/7964 ... allgx9.jpg

18
http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/4052 ... ia1gb8.jpg

http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/7201 ... ia1bw9.jpg

http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/9348 ... ia1jj2.jpg

17
http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/6631/purpleqh3.jpg

16
http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/9893 ... ia1ty8.jpg

15a
http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/9070/india14cl1.jpg

15
http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/9813/india13tm5.jpg

14
http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/3539/india12ku4.jpg

13
http://img67.imageshack.us/img67/196/india10es1.jpg
http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/5416/india10fq4.jpg

12
Oops - mistake. BBL.

Eleventh draft
http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/4630/indapnk0.jpg

Tenth draft - two options: "floating look" versus "anchored look"

[URL=http://img131.imageshack.us/img131/7593/indafloatqw0.jpg[/URL]

[URL=http://img131.imageshack.us/img131/6207/indalandir1.jpg[/URL]

Nineth draft
[URL=http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/1894/indacc1zu8.jpg[/URL]

Eighth draft
[URL=http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/7016/indanewsj1.jpg[/URL]

Seventh draft
[URL=http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/7817/inda5ru6.jpg[/URL]

Sixth draft
[URL=http://img86.imageshack.us/img86/8589/draft6jpgvz8.jpg[/URL]

Fifth draft
[URL=http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/9202/indattestjy2.jpg[/URL]

Fourth draft
*

Third draft
*

Second draft:
Beige background
*

Blue background
*

Poll:
Would you like me to continue with this map?
Yes 87% [ 7 ]
No 12% [ 1 ]
Total Votes : 8

First Draft:

*

Idea: "Passage to India"
Included will be Indian states, Empires and colonial territories during the colonial age on the sub-continent, from 1600+. Not adhering to strict chronology although intend to stay true to rough geographic positioning.

NB: Downloaded GIMP over the weekend, first time using Photoshop application so still a lot to learn!

Title was thought up last - an obvious allusion to EM Forster novel A Passage to India - may give new ideas for the map / image??

Thisis a "first ideas map" - I called it a "first draft" but it's not even that. Please comment on everything from names to borders, fonts and colours. I recognise the presentation is very bad at this stage suggestions would be great. You should though have a fairly clear idea of the countries, borders and style of game I want.

41 Countries, 7 Continents.
Partly based on historical maps found here.

I know got a bit carried away with the features, but I rather liked the lighting effect...?

Here's a list of countries if you want to copy it to make specific comments

Muslim States
> Indus Valley
> Sind
> Thar Desert
> Runn of Kutch

Sikh Empire
> Sikh Confederacy
> Kashmir
> Lahore
> The Punjab
> Delhi

Hindu Kingdoms
> Gujarat
> Rajputanna
> Oudh
> Jhansi
> Vinhiya Mts.
> Western Ghats
> Nagpur
> Maratha States
> Smabalpur
> Orissa

Bengal
> Gangetic Plains
> Ganges
> Sundarbans

Himalayas
> Assam
> The Bramaputra
> Bhotan
> Ghokha Kingdom

Deccan
> Eastern Ghats
> Hyderabad
> Mysore
> Wodeyar
> Nizam's Dominion

Colonial Territories
> Diu
> Laccative Islands
> Maldives
> Goa
> Malabar Coast
> Travancore
> Calcutta
> Ceylon
> Pondicherry
> Fort St George
> Calcutta

Barriers on map

> Thar Desert (Desert)
> Vinhiya Mts (Mountains)
> Ghokha Kingdom (Mountains)
> Bhotan (Mountains)
> Jhansi (River)
> Gangetic Plains (River)
> Sundabans (Mangrove Forest and Ganges)
> Sambalpur (Mountains)
> Orissa (Mangrove Forest and Mountains)
> Goa (Mountains)

by **boberz** on Mon Mar 19, 2007 10:59 am

brilliant first draft that is honestly amazing

by **Guiscard** on Mon Mar 19, 2007 11:22 am

There is an absolutely gorgeous Indian map in development at the moment (although it might be on vacation)...

Bit of competition never hurt anyone though. Usually I'd say this was a good first draft, but you've got a lot to live up to (see the Indian Presidencies map).

by **Contrickster** on Mon Mar 19, 2007 12:02 pm

Guiscard wrote:There is an absolutely gorgeous Indian map in development at the moment (although it might be on vacation)...

Bit of competition never hurt anyone though. Usually I'd say this was a good first draft, but you've got a lot to live up to (see the Indian Presidencies map).

I thought the Colonial aspect made this an original submission. Also my map does not include territories in Burma, whereas my map does include the Himalayas.

Very different, though I'd say complimentary rather than in competition. Straight competition my map loses.

Hope the designer of Indian Presidencies comes back and completes the work because it looks great.

Meanwhile I can take a few ideas from that map.

*Desert smudging (India Presidencies has the Thar *Desert the wrong colour!)
*Sea border highlights and shading
*Background picture
*Textured lands

by **Guiscard** on Mon Mar 19, 2007 12:10 pm

Yeh I'm not saying there's room for both, just that its a nice map to arpire to.

This is a great start though and I'll be interested to follow it as it develops.

Have you read the Forster novel? Its probably one of my favourite books to be honest, and I've studied it in depth as a critique of colonialism and as a commentary on colonialism in general.

by **Anarkistsdream** on Mon Mar 19, 2007 12:16 pm

I think this is a great idea... I think the water passages are a little big... Maybe make smaller dots closer together..?

by **Contrickster** on Mon Mar 19, 2007 12:48 pm

Just worked out the trick whereby you can blend images into the background.
New Layer > Paste image > Click on layer > Set opacity toggle

I'll do a search for non-copyrighted images to improve my map but will welcome bright ideas/links to suggestions.

Guiscard wrote:Yeh I'm not saying there's room for both, just that its a nice map to arpire to.

This is a great start though and I'll be interested to follow it as it develops.

Have you read the Forster novel? Its probably one of my favourite books to be honest, and I've studied it in depth as a critique of colonialism and as a commentary on colonialism in general.

I read it and seen the film. I wouldn't read too much into it critique wise.

BTW any suggestions on playability?

by **Contrickster** on Mon Mar 19, 2007 12:49 pm

Anarkistsdream wrote:I think this is a great idea... I think the water passages are a little big... Maybe make smaller dots closer together..?

Smaller dots closer together... like the idea.

by **Lone.prophet** on Mon Mar 19, 2007 12:56 pm

make it attractive it is now way to dark and messy

by **Contrickster** on Mon Mar 19, 2007 1:16 pm

Lone.prophet wrote:make it attractive it is now way to dark and messy

I could do away with the lighting feature that darkens the picture.

For Mountains I have "wingdings" #5

... could do better than that.

What else makes it messy? Anything specific in addition to colour? I plan to think more about how the borders look.

by **Lone.prophet** on Mon Mar 19, 2007 1:21 pm

try adding thing step by step,
first take the basic map, u have countries here and try to color them to a feeling that u think is best for the map.

than u go on with adding mountains and such.

if u trow everything in at once it very diffucult to critique. so i suggest first do the coloring than add better mountain.

U however dont need to listen to me

by **Jack0827** on Mon Mar 19, 2007 8:20 pm

nice draft. I just downloded gimp myself and this map is a great encouragment to me

by **Contrickster** on Mon Mar 19, 2007 11:53 pm

Lone.prophet wrote:try adding thing step by step,
first take the basic map, u have countries here and try to color them to a feeling that u think is best for the map.

than u go on with adding mountains and such.

if u trow everything in at once it very diffucult to critique. so i suggest first do the coloring than add better mountain.

U however dont need to listen to me

It's so tempting to rush ahead!

Here's a basic map. Like the Indian Presidencies map I could have an image merged into the background. Or I could go for a different style.

by **Samus** on Tue Mar 20, 2007 3:19 am

The colonial territories are sort of an interesting idea, but I don't think they will play out well.

They have 10 territories and you have to defend 8 of them! I think that's the most borders I've ever seen, obviously you'd never hold this in singles.

But in a team game, Imagine if your teammate owned Deccan. Suddenly you only have 3 borders to defend (and he has only 2 now), both of you are getting way too much bonus in relation to your exposure.

Try something more like what you just posted.

by **Contrickster** on Tue Mar 20, 2007 8:07 am

Samus wrote:The colonial territories are sort of an interesting idea, but I don't think they will play out well.

They have 10 territories and you have to defend 8 of them! I think that's the most borders I've ever seen, obviously you'd never hold this in singles.

But in a team game, Imagine if your teammate owned Deccan. Suddenly you only have 3 borders to defend (and he has only 2 now), both of you are getting way too much bonus in relation to your exposure.

Try something more like what you just posted.

Good points.

I'm still playing around with ideas and at a learning stage with GIMP which is why this was not technically a first draft.

I also agree Colonial territories are an interesting feature. The idea was for them to be hard to hold, but once you got them they would swing the game. Much like Asia on World 2.0, Eriador on Middle Earth or Near East on Middle East map. Perhaps I should reduce their number? Where would you reduce the number of borders?

Next update:

Probably remove the Indus/Bramaputra rivers, the andaman and nicobar Islands and reinstate the Maldives. The two rivers make the map look "messy" and are not required as a barrier. The two islands are where I plan to put the key, while I think the map looks better and, is more accurate, with colonial islands to the left of India

I'll add a layer for territory names, smooth out a few kinks, add links between territories. The blue colour is similar to purple so I may adjust the colours.

by **boberz** on Tue Mar 20, 2007 10:56 am

i really liked the light effects on the first draft any way to incorporate them please

by **Contrickster** on Tue Mar 20, 2007 2:51 pm

boberz wrote:i really liked the light effects on the first draft any way to incorporate them please

The thing I like about the light is it makes the map look like it's on a desk. This trick also adds perspective.

Problem with the light is the unlit bit is dark. If we can get the unlit bit light enough and the ligth still to look good I'd be all for the light effect.

by **Contrickster** on Tue Mar 20, 2007 7:59 pm

The light affect is a no go because it requires the rest of the map to be dark... too dark for an active playing surface.

Am I getting closer to a workable draft? Possibly moving to an idea that Colonial territories could be bonus territories aka Capitals on the Indian Presidency map. i.e not continent. Or, they could be a continent.

by **Contrickster** on Wed Mar 21, 2007 4:24 pm

First Draft 21/03/07

Suggested technical details:

Muslim Lands: 6 territories, 2 borders, bonus = 3
Sikh Empire: 3 territories, 4 borders, bonus = 2
Himalayas: 4 territories, 2 borders, bonus = 2
Hindu Kingdom: 9 territories, 9 borders, bonus = 8
Bengal: 4 territories, 4 borders, bonus = 3
Deccan: 5 territories, 4 borders, bonus = 4
Colonial Territories: 5 territories, 4 borders, bonus = 4

Total: 36 territories, 7 continents

by **mibi** on Wed Mar 21, 2007 11:31 pm

I like this map, looks really good, nice colors. you can light it with multiple spots in photoshop, just so you know.

like this

by **Contrickster** on Thu Mar 22, 2007 8:11 am

That lights up the map without looking too dark. I think GIMP has multiple spots. Will see if I can get it looking like that.

However the lighting is just the finishing touch....

How is the rest of the map? I've reduced the numbers of borders. 36 makes it a small map - perhaps I should add some more territories? I need to improve the look of the barriers, the key and title. Would be nice to have some suggestions/constructive criticism from third party.