Japan Map [abandoned]

by **Haydena** on Fri May 12, 2006 3:12 pm

I could dullen the colouring... I'll see what it does... I'll also work on the shadows...

by **Jota** on Fri May 12, 2006 3:27 pm

I love the background for the legend. The font that's used for the mountains and ports messages seems a bit off, though, like it's not really blended right (more anti-aliasing issues?). It could look nicer, but it's not really a big deal, since you only have to read that part once anyway.

Also, cool artwork. The standing warrior is a little big; he might seem slightly less crowded by the land and legend if he were shrunk a little. But that's just my personal taste, not an objective judgement.

As for the seal, did you add the compass points to it? Maybe something without the compass points would fit better. Or maybe if the shade of yellow were different, it might match the rest of the map slightly better.

[Edit: Also, Yamanashi's caption overlaps its circle a bit. I think it'd look nicer if it didn't.]

by **Haydena** on Fri May 12, 2006 3:42 pm

Alright, I'll make some alterations...

I thought something wasnt right about that font... I'll change it, and the position of the Yamanashi circle or caption... I'll make the standing samurai smaller and put shadows on the text, and dullen the compass rose...

by **kevinc** on Sat May 13, 2006 9:09 am

Hi,

I thought the map on page 4 was great. Vibrant clear. The latest map you posted was just cluttered. Sometimes removing elements maps things clearer. Also, the text labels for the countries needs to be clearer.

Also, as a general suggestion I reccommend using a vector image editing program so you get clean crisp lines rather than jaggy pixelated ones. Inkscape is a free one.

I have to say I really like this mapo in general. I'm looking forward to it immensely.

by **Marvaddin** on Sat May 13, 2006 11:36 am

I also dislike the compass rose... By the way, where can we find some good ones? I will need too...

The legend is very beautiful, but really the ports explanation is unnecessary.

And maybe some old imperial flags could help the art, or some oriental style "castle"...

by **AndyDufresne** on Sat May 13, 2006 12:23 pm

Well lets see...

---It's coming along rather well. The legend is on its way to being superb. The background texture for it works well for the style of the map. The font is wonderful, it gives it a nice feel of what the map is representing. That black explanations though are rather hard to read. They don't seem to quite mesh with the other areas in the legend. And I'd agree with Marv that the ports are unecessary to be explained. What are the black lines next to the two descriptions? And, I utterly dislike 'directional area' names for continents, but perhaps there aren't any other names for the area due to them being from the same starting region, but I'd surely look into seeing if there are some other names for the respective regions.

---The compass stands out glaringly. It clashes I think too much with the over all appeal of the map right now. Perhaps looking into another design or different colors/toned down colors would be something to investigate. I do like the artwork that is in the map. It helps create the Japanese feel.

---Hokkaido's name looks a little off and different compared to the other names on the map. Just a quick fix there.

---I still dislike the mountains. They seem rather unimaginative and feel like random splotches of brown paint fell onto the map, or perhaps a dozen or so worms decided to make the borders of your map their homes.

---I think your map could be benefitted from perhaps darkening and increasing the borders around the island (just so they are not the same thickness as the internal country borders).

--Andy

by **Haydena** on Sat May 13, 2006 1:08 pm

but perhaps there aren't any other names for the area due to them being from the same starting region, but I'd surely look into seeing if there are some other names for the respective regions.

Well, there are some regions I can use... I was a bit worried because they weren't exact, does that matter?

That black explanations though are rather hard to read. They don't seem to quite mesh with the other areas in the legend. And I'd agree with Marv that the ports are unecessary to be explained. What are the black lines next to the two descriptions?

Taking all of that out...

I still dislike the mountains. They seem rather unimaginative and feel like random splotches of brown paint fell onto the map, or perhaps a dozen or so worms decided to make the borders of your map their homes

Got some artwork for mountains... forgot completely to use them lol :oops:

. I'll put em in.

I think your map could be benefitted from perhaps darkening and increasing the borders around the island (just so they are not the same thickness as the internal country borders).

I'll get right on it...

And of course that other long list of additions lol

by **Jota** on Sat May 13, 2006 1:32 pm

Well, there are some regions I can use... I was a bit worried because they weren't exact, does that matter?

I wouldn't worry about exactness. I vote for having cool continent names.

by **qeee1** on Sat May 13, 2006 6:41 pm

I was the one who initially suggested an explanation of the ports system, but that was when there were three north and three south ports... now it's fairly self explanatory, so I agree it doesn't need to be there.

I've never found compass directional names to be bad... in some cases people might find it offensive to be lumped into a name for their teritory that they're not actually in.

You could try make the samurai's dark blue like the animals in the africa map, to make them blend better...

Oh and like everyone else the compass has got to go...

Legend is looking very nice.

by **Nobunaga** on Mon May 15, 2006 9:03 pm

... This map is coming alaong quite nicely!!

... I disagree with the comments about the compass, but that's just me. If you are thinking about dumping it, perhaps reconsider and find a smaller, less "intrusive" compass....

by **Truman** on Mon May 15, 2006 9:37 pm

I like the compass, actually. It's very Japanese-looking with a good yellow texture (although, maybe you could dim it a bit to make it mysterious).

But I also partially agree with Nobunaga with the characters to mark the compass points. But if you do that, make sure they are Japanese characters, not Chinese.

I disagree with marv on the legend color. I think it's very becoming to the map, and gives it a little "ancient" hint in there, as if there aren't men with guns fighting to take over; just a battle back in B.C. Keep the color by all means.

I also agree that you make the words on the legend have shadowing to give it a more 3D look, which would also make it easier to read as well.

The color of the continents has to go. Get dimmer colors and put texture into the continents, as if there are very faint mountains you might see....You get the idea.

Change the ocean background. To me it looks like a blue piece of construction paper was crinkled up and then spread back out flat.

Keep up the good work, Haydena!

--Truman

by **Haydena** on Sat May 20, 2006 4:59 am

I think I may incoporate that Compass that Nobunaga has put forward... Just to check, they are Japanese characters are they? The rest is done now...

by **Nobunaga** on Sat May 20, 2006 5:08 am

... Japanese yes. I've still got that graphic if you didn't already copy it. Just PM me and I'll send it your way. Or I can make one a different color if you prefer.

by **Haydena** on Sat May 20, 2006 5:10 am

I've already copied it into one of my versions, and I'm going to keep the black if you don't mind me using it... If you don't then thanks! I had major troubles with the seal... I just never looked right no matter what I did...

by **Nobunaga** on Sat May 20, 2006 5:11 am

... Excellent.

... Looking forward to playing the map!

by **qeee1** on Sat May 20, 2006 3:19 pm

...As am I. Hope you've sorted out your problems with Gimp crashing and such.

by **Haydena** on Sat May 20, 2006 3:29 pm

Trying to find my previous version, may have to redo some things... :oops:

by **Haydena** on Tue May 23, 2006 1:52 pm

Gah, this is going all wrong guys... Lost my backup of my map when I went from Windows 2000 to XP... It may look slightly different as I've had to go back a few steps... Grrr...

by **Lord Watkins** on Tue May 23, 2006 11:53 pm

It should prove to be a good map.

by **qeee1** on Wed May 24, 2006 4:26 am

It's the gameplay that's important anyway, so as long as you keep the same layout, graphical alterations aren't that big a deal.

by **Haydena** on Tue May 30, 2006 3:54 pm

Finally... Here's what I hope is the final version... And the XML is being started on now...

I've:

- Added drop shadowing to territory names.
- Put mountains instead of worms.

- Changed the compass.
- Changed the font in the legend and taken out the black font and explanations
- Thickened outlines of islands.
- Changed white text colour.

I think it's finished now. What does everyone think?

by **mrdexter** on Tue May 30, 2006 3:57 pm

Fabtastic, can't wait to beat you on it.

by **thegrimsleeper** on Tue May 30, 2006 4:03 pm

The red countries' names should be a lighter shade of red, I think.
The compass looks good... It would look better if you made it a bit more textured, it probably really only needs a stroke... but it has its charm this way, too...
The new legend looks awesome.

by **haha** on Tue May 30, 2006 4:07 pm

you should a have a mushrome clowed over japan

by **areyouincahoots** on Tue May 30, 2006 4:41 pm

The legend is my favorite part...but I like it all and will give it a try...good job.

Japan Map [abandoned]

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