Conquest of London [v13]

by **danoprey** on Fri Oct 16, 2009 11:25 pm

Gilligan:

Yes, I've read through all the previous threads on that map and think this one is significantly different as to get around the copyright issues. I didn't like the draft for that map as it was too linear.

Rattius:

Yeah, I agree that it has to be focussed on zone 1 to avoid lots of boring lines (and it would be massive!)

by **danoprey** on Sat Oct 17, 2009 6:36 pm

Hello, here is my first ever map attempt with my suggested initial placements:
v3:

Click image to enlarge.

or v11:

Click image to enlarge.

or v12:

Click image to enlarge.

Ideas thread here: viewtopic.php?f=63&t=97097

Unique location: No London Maps

Unique Gameplay: Players start at one of zone 1's busiest commuter stations and have to use the tube to get around and conquer regions. Territories cannot attack each other, they can only attack/be attacked to/from bordering tube stations.

Issues:

- Copyright. The idea of a London Underground map has been brought up many times before and killed due to copyright issues. I believe I get around this by having a geographical layout and so not using the classic design. I also don't use the logo, or name 'London Underground'.

- Regions. Holding the lines will be very hard/impossible I think. I have added regions which players must get to, take and hold to get the bonuses. This is inline with the idea that you have to get around London on the Tube. All bonuses are a rough starting point, feel free to comment.

- May struggle to fit it all on a small version, I will look in to this.

To Do:

- Fix distortion problem with place army circles.
- Make hold circle line a victory condition.

NB: I know Shoreditch isn't in Islington, but the map can't be perfectly accurate!

Thoughts?

by **danoprey** on Sat Oct 17, 2009 6:36 pm

Made it to the drafting room:
viewtopic.php?f=241&t=99340

by **rattius** on Sat Oct 17, 2009 7:23 pm

Thx for moving the idea over =D>

My personal thoughts are that the tube lines should have bonuses, but large ones, because as you say it would be near impossible to hold the entire line for a turn, and when one is, it will be most likly at the end of a game, and this will speed up the end game

by **danoprey** on Sat Oct 17, 2009 7:46 pm

Thanks, rattius.

Yes, I agree that they should have big bonuses. This would mean players would have to keep an eye out to make sure no one captures a line, or it will quickly be game over.

What do you think of holding the circle line to win?

by **natty dread** on Sat Oct 17, 2009 10:31 pm

I like this map. The colours are a bit... bland, I'm not a big fan of pastel colours.. Also I don't like the white background, but the gameplay seems interesting.

Although, the map is a bit complex to me, I've never been good at the complex maps, but I could definitely see myself at least trying to play this one.

The objective to hold the circle line... why not.

The idea of moving only via the tube routes is good.

by **isaiah40** on Sat Oct 17, 2009 10:34 pm

Looks good, but one suggestion. Where you have the instructions for the territories above the legend, move it into the legend area (you will have to change the color of it) and shorten it down to read "Territories can only attack and be attacked by the Tube Stations". That should make it clearer to everyone. Looking forward to your next update!

by **danoprey** on Sat Oct 17, 2009 10:40 pm

Thanks for the feedback guys!

natty_dread: Yes, I agree. The problem is that with the tube lines and the territories there are so many bonus regions that I ran out of colours! Any suggestions on that? I'm awful at complex maps, but if you approach it as the boroughs being the bonus regions and the tube lines the way to get around, I don't think it's too bad. The white background keeps the theme of the original iconic tube map a little...

isaiah40: Thanks a lot. Will move that down to where you suggested.

by **danoprey** on Sun Oct 18, 2009 1:36 am

Right, I've added rough started points for the bonuses for the lines using the complex mathematical formula of (number of stops on line x 1.5, rounded up).

by **rattius** on Sun Oct 18, 2009 7:32 am

Holding the circle line to win would make for an added strategy i think, so yeah lets add that in, and to bonuses for the lines are a good number, for how long they are, though is there really a point for writing a bonus for the circle? If you can hold it to win that is

by **danoprey** on Sun Oct 18, 2009 2:06 pm

No, not if it's a victory condition. I'll change that.

by **danoprey** on Sun Oct 18, 2009 3:29 pm

Updated: Circle line is now a victory condition, not a bonus.

by **natty dread** on Sun Oct 18, 2009 4:31 pm

About the graphics, the map is just too bright. It hurts my eyes a bit... all that white. You could replace the white background with some light-grey-ish image, it would preserve the style but be a bit easier on the eyes.

Also, the water could be made darker. (I assume that's water, that light blue thing that looks like a river...)

That white text (territory names) can also be a bit hard to read, especially when it's on a light background. Maybe you could outline the letters with black, or shade them, or just change them to a darker colour.

by **danoprey** on Sun Oct 18, 2009 5:05 pm

Is that any better?

by **isaiah40** on Sun Oct 18, 2009 6:05 pm

Change the white territory text from white to black and it would be easier to read. I like the background in the legend area, London skyline, but subdued. Perfect!

by **natty dread** on Sun Oct 18, 2009 8:04 pm

v10 and v11 are starting to look really nice. A huge improvement!

by **danoprey** on Sun Oct 18, 2009 11:32 pm

Thanks a lot guys! Your encouragement and tips are helping a lot, really starting to take shape now, I think.

v12 now has black text for the regions and the army circles are at 80% opacity. The look crap because photoshop is messing up the smart objects and taking the top and left 1px and putting it on the bottom and right... not sure how to fix this so I will just have to put normal circles there instead.

More tips, let's get this to the main foundry!

by **danoprey** on Mon Oct 19, 2009 3:08 am

Better with black or white writing?

by **thenobodies80** on Mon Oct 19, 2009 6:45 am

danoprey wrote:Made it to the drafting room:
viewtopic.php?f=241&t=99340

Please ask to a mod to move your thread from the ideas subforum to the drafting room the next time instead of starting a new thread with the same topic

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