Italy [Quenched]

[RjBeals]

I didn't want to angle the map, but it works better for displaying on computer monitors. Less 'scrolling'. I will put a directonal compass on the map once I start fixing it up.

[RjBeals]

Changed:
1. Added "Parte" in front of Meridionale
2. Added Garda Lake
3. Added mountain range to landscape background. This was hard and I'm still not totally satisfied with the results.
4. Added Compass showing true north to lower left side
5. Added "Monferrato" between Turin-Lombardy gap. This gave an extra territory, so I removed Milano as it looked out of place.
6. Added more cities to make a total of 36 countries.
7. Increased bonus values
8. Inverted South Tyrol & Trentino (Removed word "south")
9. Fixed spelling of several regions


NOT Changed:
1) Ustica is very small, I think only about 1,000 people live there - I feel that positioning island of Pantelleria more north (so it's included in the mapped area) works better.

3) I still didn't make Corsica a part of the map because it's officially not a part of Italy. I read the arguments on earlier posts, and it would flow nicely with the water routes - but didn't feel it should be there.

2) I tried my hardest to keep the Po river flowing across Lombardia region, instead of following the southern border, but I could not get an impassable border (Mountain) I was happy with. If this really bothers people, I will keep trying.

3) I looked at moving territory boundaries so "Central & Southern Italy were split into 3 continents instead of only 2" - I feel it works best the way it is since there are only 36 countries.

4) I'm having trouble replacing the piers with harbour symbols. I don't know what symbols or monuments represent these harbours, other than a small anchor or ship - which I tried, I didn't feel it looked right, and it looses it's shape when it is so small. I have a few anchors placed in the map, do you like these?

5) I linked Puglia (Southern Apulia) with Friulli and not the true port state of Trieste only because the pier symbol would not fit in Trieste. I can fix if it's really wanted

6) Personally I didn't like the idea of airports being connectors, or groups of harbors being countries. I know it's been done on other maps, but I prefer playing for regions only. I had to add a few cities (Turin, Palermo, Rome, Venice, Naples & San Marino) to make 36 countries. The city boundaries are way bigger on my map than in real life because I had to allow room for the numbers & titles.

Whew - This is taking longer than I thought !!

[wicked]

what are the anchors for?

[RjBeals]

what are the anchors for?

Several people didn't like the wooden piers linking the waterways. Just a sample of a harbour symbol of sorts.... I need some suggestions if the wooden piers are not to be used.

[Ruben Cassar]

I will give my feedback about the piers/anchor debate. I prefer the piers and I didn't find anything wrong with them in the first place. They are quite 'picturesque'.

What I would like to see is the names of the regions/cities in Italian but you already told me you would look into that in a previous post so I am assuming you didn't have time to implement that change.

On Monferrato. I actually think it makes the Piemonte region a bit too cluttered. I cannot understand why you removed Milano as I think it was better that way. Was there any particular reason?

On Sicilia. I would remove Northern Sicily and replace it with the city of Messina which is actually located in that region. I think that makes more sense.

[happysadfun]

I'm assuming that the raised section is ariver but right now it looks like a varicose vein.



Man, I love using metaphors.


I like thae sandy look, though. It draws attention to the map, rather than the water. Good job!

[AndyDufresne]

Well this map is surely coming along RJ! Looking much nicer than many of the previous versions...

Right now I'll just comment on the visuals...

• I really like the overall look you have going, it's unique and a 'lighter map', something we haven't had lately.
• I would suggest perhaps changing Parte Meridionale's color from blue to a light purple, that still blends with the map, might be something to look into. Right now, Parte M. looks a little water logged like a swamp.
• The rest of the colors I like quite fine, though perhaps make Roma Premio stand out a little more.
• The water in the rivers and lake looks a little odd, have you tried experimenting with various shades? Just something to play with.
• Regarding the anchor or the pier...I like the pier. No map currently has a 'pier'...and I think it works rather well with the style and tone of the map. I'd change all to them. Perhaps you could darken the connecting lines a little so they don't get lost in the seas.
• Regarding the compass, have you considered perhaps drawing a compass that corresponds with the feel and tone of light and soft colors the map has? Just a little something that could add some effect.
• I do strongly suggest you make the names a little bigger. You might have to play with the positioning, but I think they are on the small side and could use a bump up. You also have to consider how small the names will be on the small map, when you shrink it down.
• And one last thing...regarding the Bonus Legend. Perhaps you could remove the white background, and have a light, near transparent version the of the Italian flag in the background, or something similar to that. I'm not a big fan of the strong white background.

Looking good! I'll check in later.


--Andy

[RjBeals]

I do strongly suggest you make the names a little bigger... You also have to consider how small the names will be on the small map, when you shrink it down.

Great feedback from the few posts above. Give me a day or two to work on some revisions. Also, I was not going to just simply reduce the image down. I was going to resize just the map, while keeping the text the same size. But I will look at font. Thanks !!

[Bad Speler]

It looks like you have your text layer below the army shadow layer, this is noticible on turin and rome. Great map otherwise!

[RjBeals]

It looks like you have your text layer below the army shadow layer

Correct. It will be changed. Thanks.

[gavin_sidhu]

Sorry if some of these have been mentioned already but here is what i think needs to be changed:

Treste, Venice, Palermo and to a lesser extent Naples, Turin and San Marino need to be made bigger, they are too small currently and i doubt anybody would mind if these territories took the area of other territories.

Rome should be connected to a Parte Meridionale territory, to make it harder to sercure and for more fights over them to occur.

The outside border of Lombardia looks screwed up at one place which is all white. the lake in lombardia also does not look too good.

[RjBeals]

Most recent update. Still lots I need to do, but thought & would show the new bonus's I'm thinking of. Also, I need help with Italian names. All I could find is what I have.

[insertnamehere]

thats a prettty good map , has some unique features which other maps dont have . i would enjoy playing that .

[KEYOGI]

Great map. I've tried to find something I don't like, but I can't. Look forward to playing it.

[Bad Speler]

As with Italian names, i remember from the olympics that turin is torino in italian, and rome is roma.

[boberz]

very good map but personally i dont like the crossing of the oceans dunno how it could get better perhaps make the lines straight dunno. But the map is great and i want to play it

[Lupo]

I really care about the development of this map.
I like the graphic style the map maker used and I think it could be still improved in some graphic details.

About Italian names:

Regioni (Regions)

Valle d'Aosta (French name: Vallée d'Aoste)
Trentino
Alto Adige (German name: Südtirol)
Piemonte
Liguria
Lombardia
Veneto
Friuli-Venezia Giulia
Emilia
Romagna
Toscana
Umbria
Marche
Lazio
Abruzzo
Molise
Campania
Puglia Settentrionale (North Puglia)
Salento (Puglia Meridionale - South Puglia)
Basilicata
Calabria
Sicilia
Sardegna


Città Principali (Main Cities)

Roma (Rome)
Milano (Milan)
Napoli (Naples)
Torino (Turin)
Palermo


Altre Città (Other Cities)

Genova (Genoa)
Bologna
Firenze (Florence)
Bari
Catania
.......
Messina
Venezia (Venice)


Mari (Seas)

Mar Mediterraneo
Mar Ionio (Mar Jonio)
Mar Adriatico
Mar di Sardegna
Mar Ligure
Mar Tirreno
Mar di Sicilia


Legend

Nord-Ovest
Nord-Est
Centro
Sud
Isole

[RjBeals]

Lupo Thanks again... I can devote more time after the new years to this map. I will use the Italian names you provided.

[Edward]

I haven't read all the replys and I won't give any complex opinion or advisce, I just want to say, COOL MAP RJ!, I'd love to play it. I don't know much about Italy or it's provences but it definitly looks good. I had thought of making a France Map, but the vast amount of time and effort scared me away from trying. Good luck with your map, hope you can finish it.

[happysadfun]

*pauses* But there is a france map going...

[Fantius]

Wow, a lot of buzz surrounding this new map. Looks great, RJ. Keep up the good work. And props for listening to and considering all of these suggestions.

[Master Bush]

Is this map still coming along? I cant wait to play. It's gonna be my favorite map by far.

Also, anyone ever try doing a Roman Empire map?

[Ruben Cassar]

Is this map still coming along? I cant wait to play. It's gonna be my favorite map by far.

Also, anyone ever try doing a Roman Empire map?

I will be doing a Roman Empire map once I finish Malta.

[Lone.prophet]

ohh i wanted 2 make 1 too,though i have my amsterdam project next

[Guiscard]

Had also started a Roman empire map... oh dear