American Civil War [Quenched]

[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

[Elijah S]

Wow... this looks much better! Thanks!

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

[Elijah S]

6th Revision

Notable changes:
-The Legend has been made wider. Thanks for the ideas cairnswk!
-The drum and bugle have been made smaller and moved to the legend area.
-Some more pixelation has been tweaked.

I think this is coming together pretty well...
Everyone's input is very much appreciated. Thanks! -Elijah

[Coleman]

Would you play this map?

• Yes, most certainly. 85% - [ 35 ]
• No, it doesn't interest me. 14% - [ 6 ]

Total Votes : 41

[insomniacdude]

Now that you have the flags over the oceans (which looks nice) the naval ships look really awkward and out of place.

[cairnswk]

Elijah...OK...your map is coming along nicely.

Some more fixes if you would...

1. the borders around Tennessee and Kentucky are the ones that really need attending to...too jaggered, but still looking for that gaussian blur or similar.

2. a couple of the fonts in the legend appear different sizes i.e. key northern cities and key southern cities, but please check that all of them are the same each side of the legend if that's what u want.

3. Your army circles need centering where possible in the middle of the territory or as close to that as you can get it.

4. Can you investigate a way of speling out Missouri in full please, and look at some of the different sizes of text for each tert, more consistency between them sizewise would be preferred where it is possible.

5. If possible, reduce the size of the "Civil War" in the title to give a little more space between those two first lines.

6. a challenge for you...i'd prefer to see the names of those north eastern states Vermont etc spelled out in full also if possible. While I as an aussie know your states to some degree, other players from other countries might not have the same level of knowledge and this might stop them from playing the map. maybe the top of the legend will need to move down so that those names can be fit in.

7. is there a link between alabama or florida to the css2...i think that is awkward gameplay to have a string of 4 terts off the coast like that as it gives a huge advantage to forting louisianna. think about that one.

8. there is a bit of pixelation happening on the city circles.

Elijah, don't be discouraged by the number of issues that i have targeted here...my object is to make you aware of what people sometimes look for, and these fixes could make your map look so much better.

Good work so far.!

[Elijah S]

7th Revision


Notable changes:
-Pixelation has been addressed
-Rivers have been changed to follow actual geographical path
-Bridges repositioned and one added
-All states have been spelled out and fonts made uniform
-Legend realligned and fonts resized accordingly
-City circles made smaller and less pixelated
-Army circles placed more center in their territory

[Lupo]

It's the first time I look at this map.

I have some advices to give you:

- You made fonts uniform and that's good, but, at least for me, font in 6th Revision was easier to read (for the size, I mean); so, I would suggest to increase a little bit font size.

- In Lousiana I would invert territory name and army circle position, in order-Army circles placed more center in their territory in order to not cover Missisipi river.

[cairnswk]

My Version

[cairnswk]

OK...Elijah S....here's the go in the map above.

1. i have gone over your borders with a 2px pen totally black with .5 gaussiuan blur....this is what i was hoping you can achieve....please forgive some areas of smudging...but you will see that it certainly straightens those borders out and removes that jaggered look.

2. some of the left side states need their text centered in alignment

3. some armies could move more towards where i have the red circles.

4. there is a difference in the spacing in the legend where i have marked....you appear to have used two different fonts for the topp and bottom remarks.

5. the northern states maine to connecticut don't appear to have the same texture applied as the other states.

6. the title looks fab, as do the other things that you fixed in the 7th revision....great work!

This is really improving and you are going to be so proud, as will CC....excellent work...keep it up!

[Elijah S]

8th Revision


Notable changes:
-Pixelation addressed... again. This time the borders have been made larger using vector lines and a slight gaussian blur.
-Some army circles have been repositioned.
-Legend spacing is more consistent.
-A texture has been added to the blue states.
-An slight overall texture has been added to all states.
-Yellow territory titles have been centered.

[cairnswk]

8th Revision

Elijah....this is looking so much better; what do you think, are you happy with this?

OK, the next step to be working towards (if there are no further objections to anything from the Foundry, assuming you will attend to or justify those issues) is the large map.

You are required to complete a large version (I wouldn't go anything wider than 800px) of this map. You may be able to simply use the re-size function to increase the size of elements on the map the large version.
The only thing you will have to re-work if you upsize this way is the size of the army shadows themsleves.

It is recommended that the army shadow circle be 24 px dia. this is unfortunately a tedious piece of the mapmaking process, however WidowMakers has completed a tutorial in Map Making Tools for the Army Circles, check there.

You need to show both maps together, with the army circle numbers on both versions.

See how you go!

[Elijah S]

I'm pleased with the progress and think this map's about's ready for final forge.

Since the height's a pretty good size, I may not go quite to 800px wide for the large map, but I'll try a few sizes before posting it.

The army circles, while yes, tedious work, should pose no problem.

Thanks for all the assistance... let's get this thing into production! I'm anxious to start kicking ass playing it!

8th Revision

Elijah....this is looking so much better; what do you think, are you happy with this?

OK, the next step to be working towards (if there are no further objections to anything from the Foundry, assuming you will attend to or justify those issues) is the large map.

You are required to complete a large version (I wouldn't go anything wider than 800px) of this map. You may be able to simply use the re-size function to increase the size of elements on the map the large version.
The only thing you will have to re-work if you upsize this way is the size of the army shadows themsleves.

It is recommended that the army shadow circle be 24 px dia. this is unfortunately a tedious piece of the mapmaking process, however WidowMakers has completed a tutorial in Map Making Tools for the Army Circles, check there.

You need to show both maps together, with the army circle numbers on both versions.

See how you go!

[cairnswk]

I'm pleased with the progress and think this map's about's ready for final forge.

Not so Elijah S, this is still some way off Final Forge.

And when it gets to Final Forge, are you ready to and or have you got someone doing the xml for you. All those coordinates don't just magically appear.

Since the height's a pretty good size, I may not go quite to 800px wide for the large map, but I'll try a few sizes before posting it.

The army circles, while yes, tedious work, should pose no problem.

Thanks for all the assistance... let's get this thing into production! I'm anxious to start kicking ass playing it!

Don't be anxious, but work methodically and take each step slowly.
I can understand you want to start using the map, but I don't think it will be ready for play for a short while yet. You could prove me wrong though.

[Elijah S]

"And when it gets to Final Forge, are you ready to and or have you got someone doing the xml for you. All those coordinates don't just magically appear."

lol... I enjoyed this. Ah, the supportive, yet somewhat biting and condescending tone.

Having written a considerable amount of web-script, including java and html, I don't think the xml should pose any particular problem for me.
-I've not only read Lack's Tutorial, but also printed out a sample of the script format.

The coordinates (army circles) are still subject to being moved, so I won't begin the xml until they are fixed.

The maps, small and large, are below.

The small map: 620px wide x 499px high.

The large map: 750px wide x 604px high.

[Elijah S]

***I just noticed I'm missing Maryland's army circle in the lg. map... I'll fix that with the next update.