wcaclimbing wrote:As your first map, Romania seems to be coming along nicely.
That being said, I think its run into a few problems that most mapmakers have at first. They can easily be solved, but might take a bit of creativity on your part.
---First off, i think the biggest issue visually are the conflicting themes throughout the image. You have an excellent parchment/old paper feel going on, but when you add in the colors of the continents, it doesn't seem to work too well.
Take this image for example:
- Click image to enlarge.
Its an old map, similar to yours. Where they are different, though, is the issue.
Old images usually have faded lighter colors, or no color at all. Because the color might fade away over time or the person that made the map might just not have access to the needed colors.
I think that could be solved by replacing the color scheme you are using now.
Make the tan paper a bit lighter, and then use softer, more similar colors to make your continents.
Take a look at Age of Merchants, Battle for Iraq, or the Middle East map. They are all similar to what it looks like you are trying for, and they might give you an idea or two on how to do the graphics.
Another issue I see is pixellated borders, a big pet peeve for many foundry members. That is when the borders don't look smooth. Its mostly visible in the pink continent, because there are little light spots on the borders.
While not as extreme as this example, your image kinda feels that way in some places. The diamond on the left is bad, because you can see the edges are harsh and pixellated. The one on the right is better, because the edges are smooth and look more normal. In testing out ways to draw your lines, try to get them smooth like the right diamond, not rough like the left.
And, could you remove the water mark covering most of the yellow continent? It just doesn't look too great where it crosses into the grey continent.
For gameplay, I know nothing about how Romania is set up. But from how the map is set up right now, it looks kinda blocked together and doesn't really flow.
Its not really a problem right now, just a few changes might need to be made later on in development.
DiM, one of the best mapmakers in the foundry, is from Romania, but he has disappeared recently and hasn't been active in the forums at all....
If he ever shows up, I bet he'd be able to help you with the gameplay.
So, with all that, I think you should continue the map.
There are some great parts in your image already, you just need to pull up everything else to match it.
(Shameless bump)
