New Zealand

[Zivel]

First timer here, I want to make a map and use it to teach myself some more skills. I am ok with GIMP and think I can get my head around the xml. I am wondering if anyone has seen a New Zealand map made? Is it a good map to use? I am from New Zealand and have seen a lot of the maps floating around here are mainly countries and thought it would be a good a place to start as any.

My idea is to base it off:


With maybe a more kiwi flavour... using the Maori designs:


and a few icons of New Zealand to keep the interest up. Thinking the gameplay would be pretty simple with about 30-40 territories.

Is this worth trying my hand at for a first map? I am willing to put in the time to set it up right and would enjoy the constructive ideas that flow around these parts.

Thoughts?

[Industrial Helix]

I think that a New Zealand map would be a great addition. Someone tried it already and it got trashed though,

viewtopic.php?f=242&t=60675

but I think its worth either picking up again or a fresh start. Take a look at, if you haven't already, the mapmaker's guide book:

viewtopic.php?f=466&t=40463

[AndyDufresne]

I'd like to see a New Zealand map---it'd be good for Tournament series (I.E Australia, Rail Australia, Oceania, Carins Coral Coast, Cairns Metro, Sydney Metro, etc).

The biggest problem will most likely be linearity, and the general smallness of territories. However, this map and area sounds like it could make a decent small map...less than 42 territories.


--Andy

[Zivel]

Alright... I am just having a play around with a draft, will start from scratch me thinks... I will not be the fastest map maker in the world though sorry. I have a busy lifestyle

[Industrial Helix]

Alright... I am just having a play around with a draft, will start from scratch me thinks... I will not be the fastest map maker in the world though sorry. I have a busy lifestyle

I hope you have patience then. My 13 colonies map has been in production since Feb. 2009 and I've been updating at the very least once a week, usually 2-3 times a week though.

[ender516]

Alright... I am just having a play around with a draft, will start from scratch me thinks... I will not be the fastest map maker in the world though sorry. I have a busy lifestyle

It seems to me that the tourism ads from the NZ government used to emphasise the various types of terrain (mountains, beaches, pastures, ...). This could help both graphically and in terms of impassables for gameplay. I hope to see something more from you soon.

[nosorozec39]

Hi Zivel,
I had a similar idea the other day, looks like you beat me to it . This is a country that really deserves a CC map.
Anyway, more to the point:
As Andy said, I think it will work well as a smaller map. To deal with linearity, you could use airports (maybe Auckland City, Wellington City, Christchurch, Invercargill, etc.) that would all be connected. I know you mentioned you're thinking of simple gameplay, and I prefer simple maps to ones with autodeploys, bombardments, etc., but I feel that it would be too much of a one-front war otherwise. Alternately, you could use SE AUS (say, from Melbourne up to Brisbane) and turn it into more of a triangle (SE AUS, NZ North Island, NZ South Island), but I assume you want to make it just NZ. As Ender516 mentioned, the physical geography would really help (i.e., the South Alps to seperate South Island into west and east).
Best of luck,
nosorozec39