[Abandoned] - Treasure Map

[LED ZEPPELINER]

Would it be possible for the pirates to bombard any territories on any island? Also, since the treasure borders only one territory, wouldn't it be a bit too easy for someone to achieve an objective win?

yes, the boats could bombard grendelia shouthern coastal territories, and x borders one territiry, and people have to go through 20 neutrals to get to X

I will add some bombardments

[LED ZEPPELINER]

This just gets better and better everytime I look at it. A couple of things though;

Firstly, There seems to be an overkill on attack routes and they seem to be muddled up.

What is the reasoning behind having a route from Far East to N.Bound and then back up to Middle World. Wouldn't it be better to go straight to Middle World?
I wanted there to be a connection from every continent to X, to keep it fair

Some of the attack routes going between ships criss-cross. I hate this, it looks messy.

I don't know how to fix this other than having one connection go extreamely out of the way

Secondly, What about not grouping all the boats together? Why not move Treasure island down and anti-clockwise roughly 20 degrees and then moving a couple of the boats to the north of the island?
This would make more longer attack lines, and make the map even more confusing

Thirdly, I love the colours of the islands. Very nice indeed!
Thank you

Keep it going!
I'll try

Premier2k

[LED ZEPPELINER]

is everybody happy with this one?

v21.3

Click image to enlarge.

[list]1. moved boats
2. moved connections
3. added bombardments in the riddle
4. changed the compass look
5. changed the boats (a little)
DRAFT?

[aequitas08]

this map is much improved since last i saw it.

Questions:
Does Black Dog only go to S. Grendelia or can it attack Creeker and vice versa?
Does West North only go to Grand Peninsula or can it attack Old Port and vice versa?
these attack routs should be made more clear perhaps arrows to designate direction.

Other:
The far east shore seems cramped while there is too much open space around the island of Grendelia. Obviously geographic perfection is not needed so you should try moving the mainland closer to the treasure island to make the playable area more obvious.

Great work and i hope to see this in the foundry soon.
-aequitas08

[porkenbeans]

I like the paper that it is written on. Was that cut and paste like the rest ?

[LED ZEPPELINER]

I like the paper that it is written on. Was that cut and paste like the rest ?

it was, but i burnt it, and made the curl and the burn holes

[LED ZEPPELINER]

this map is much improved since last i saw it.

Questions:
Does Black Dog only go to S. Grendelia or can it attack Creeker and vice versa?
it connects to both
Does West North only go to Grand Peninsula or can it attack Old Port and vice versa?
yes, and i will fix
these attack routs should be made more clear perhaps arrows to designate direction.

Other:
The far east shore seems cramped while there is too much open space around the island of Grendelia.
I don't see it
Obviously geographic perfection is not needed so you should try moving the mainland closer to the treasure island to make the playable area more obvious.
huh

Great work and i hope to see this in the foundry soon.
thank you
-aequitas08

[oaktown]

To advance, or not to advance? That is the question...

At first glance it is easy to say good things about this map. For starters, parchment maps are cool; the parchment effect here is very much like that of the Romania map which may never again see the light of day, so it's nice to have another parchment map step up. Some of the burned areas are especially nice. And there's need around here for a good pirate map, or two, so this fills a much-needed niche. As for the gameplay, I like that this is basically a classic style map with an objective, yet the sea routes and armada of ships make it look as if it isn't classic at all... nice work.

Upon closer inspection, I find things that bother me... things that can certainly be fixed, but they require some attention.

• The lay-out of the map is problematic - for a 48 territory map on a fairly big image the territories are very cramped. The bottom 80 pixels or so are underused, as is the western edge, while the eastern part of the map is so tightly spaced some of the army coordinates will run off the screen. The result is that half of the map is open and lightly colored, the other half dark and tightly spaced. I'd like to see the eastern islands finished with as much sea/dead space/border past them as you have on the western side of the map.

• Same concern I had weeks ago about some of the visual elements not working together. The hand that drew the maountains is obviously not the hand that wrote the text, and the shaded elements - boats, skulls - don't look hand-drawn at all.

• The land colors... again they don't look as if they are hand-colored. In addition to stains on top of the colors, they'll need some areas in which the colors have faded, or warn off entirely.

• Attack lines that branch out to multiple territories are potentially confusing... does the night flight-S. bound line cross under, or connect with, the east-west running attack lines? Since you've made the three attack lines near The Queen branch out to show all possible routes, you will probably need to do the same everywhere else on the map for consistency.

• Colors are going to be tough for the color blind users such as myself.

• Gameplay-wise, I like that the smallest and easiest to hold bonus is all the way across the map from the objective... as the easier bonus will give a player an early advantage it should be a tough road from there to victory. But with all the cross-map attack routes you can take the objective region from anywhere on the map, making distance negligible. I'd like to see large, nearly impossible to hold regions nearer the objective, and some space between the objective and the easy bonuses.

• Treasure Cove territory plays no role in this map and will never be taken in 95% of games. You hit three neutrals and are nowhere closer to the objective - in fact, you're farther.

• If you do start playing with the orientation of the map, consider the size of the smaller territories and how that will translate to a small map. Since these are all made up places anyway, no harm in making everything a more convenient size.

[captainwalrus]

I think that fuzzier borders that are a bit thicker would help the hand drawn effect. Also, instead of using something like the bucket tool for the interior of the territories try using either a thick fuzzy brush or even an airbrush possibly because that would make certain spots darker or lighter within the territory, but make sure that the color fills the entire territory, unlike earlier versions of this.
This is getting real close.

[LED ZEPPELINER]

To advance, or not to advance? That is the question...

At first glance it is easy to say good things about this map. For starters, parchment maps are cool; the parchment effect here is very much like that of the Romania map which may never again see the light of day, so it's nice to have another parchment map step up. Some of the burned areas are especially nice. And there's need around here for a good pirate map, or two, so this fills a much-needed niche. As for the gameplay, I like that this is basically a classic style map with an objective, yet the sea routes and armada of ships make it look as if it isn't classic at all... nice work.
Thank you

Upon closer inspection, I find things that bother me... things that can certainly be fixed, but they require some attention.

• The lay-out of the map is problematic - for a 48 territory map on a fairly big image the territories are very cramped. The bottom 80 pixels or so are underused, as is the western edge, while the eastern part of the map is so tightly spaced some of the army coordinates will run off the screen. The result is that half of the map is open and lightly colored, the other half dark and tightly spaced. I'd like to see the eastern islands finished with as much sea/dead space/border past them as you have on the western side of the map.
[color=#0000FF]i tried a little while ago, but i will try again and harder[/color]

• Same concern I had weeks ago about some of the visual elements not working together. The hand that drew the maountains is obviously not the hand that wrote the text, and the shaded elements - boats, skulls - don't look hand-drawn at all.
what would you suggest

• The land colors... again they don't look as if they are hand-colored. In addition to stains on top of the colors, they'll need some areas in which the colors have faded, or warn off entirely.
ok

• Attack lines that branch out to multiple territories are potentially confusing... does the night flight-S. bound line cross under, or connect with, the east-west running attack lines? Since you've made the three attack lines near The Queen branch out to show all possible routes, you will probably need to do the same everywhere else on the map for consistency.

• Colors are going to be tough for the color blind users such as myself.
should i change them

• Gameplay-wise, I like that the smallest and easiest to hold bonus is all the way across the map from the objective... as the easier bonus will give a player an early advantage it should be a tough road from there to victory. But with all the cross-map attack routes you can take the objective region from anywhere on the map, making distance negligible. I'd like to see large, nearly impossible to hold regions nearer the objective, and some space between the objective and the easy bonuses.
[color=#0000FF]i will move the attac routes to the harder bonuses[/color]

• Treasure Cove territory plays no role in this map and will never be taken in 95% of games. You hit three neutrals and are nowhere closer to the objective - in fact, you're farther.
the thing about treasure cove is it allows you to pass through it to get to another bonus

• If you do start playing with the orientation of the map, consider the size of the smaller territories and how that will translate to a small map. Since these are all made up places anyway, no harm in making everything a more convenient size.
i see

[Dublanous1]

Nice, its coming out good and I think it will make a good map, very unique.

[LED ZEPPELINER]

thank you

[aequitas08]

• The lay-out of the map is problematic - for a 48 territory map on a fairly big image the territories are very cramped. The bottom 80 pixels or so are underused, as is the western edge, while the eastern part of the map is so tightly spaced some of the army coordinates will run off the screen. The result is that half of the map is open and lightly colored, the other half dark and tightly spaced. I'd like to see the eastern islands finished with as much sea/dead space/border past them as you have on the western side of the map.

• Same concern I had weeks ago about some of the visual elements not working together. The hand that drew the maountains is obviously not the hand that wrote the text, and the shaded elements - boats, skulls - don't look hand-drawn at all.

These are some of the graphics concerns i consider most important, the first point about cramped and empty spaces on the map i think you mentioned you're working on. I hope you can fix this in the next update.

To make the mountains and shaded elements listed by oaktown look more hand drawn you may want to try tracing them with a hand drawn line (in the same thickness as the text). I don't know if you can change the thickness of the lines that form the mountains without redrawing but i imagine it would look better if the mountains had the same clean look that the territory borders and text have.

The map is very good and by your hand i'm sure it will be excellent soon.
-aequitas08

[MrBenn]

The preliminary review of this map is now complete.

The over-riding concern I currently have is to do with the spacing/arrangement/layout of the landmasses. Other than that, this map is definitely Main Foundry material. On the assumption that the mapmaker will continue to show a good attitude towards feedback, and will work on addressing this concern, I am happy to award the draft stamp:



Welcome to the Foundry Proper... Onwards and Upwards!

[LED ZEPPELINER]

The preliminary review of this map is now complete.

The over-riding concern I currently have is to do with the spacing/arrangement/layout of the landmasses. Other than that, this map is definitely Main Foundry material. On the assumption that the mapmaker will continue to show a good attitude towards feedback, and will work on addressing this concern, I am happy to award the draft stamp:



Welcome to the Foundry Proper... Onwards and Upwards!

thank you soooooooo much, i haven't had much time recently, but i will try to come up with a new update soon.

[LED ZEPPELINER]

just wondering if everybody thought i should stay with the dashed hand drawn lines, or go for the even dotted cirlcs line?

[tlane]

just wondering if everybody thought i should stay with the dashed hand drawn lines, or go for the even dotted cirlcs line?

i think how it is is good, but i think you need to make it much more clear.
i think you should take out the attack route from old port, this will make it clearer and in my mind will give the map better gameplay.
Also to make it more clear, i would make it so Tibbar can only attack E. Haven or W. Haven, but not both (you could make it attack Haven).
I would also take out the attack rout from black dog that connects to attack route from south grendelia

just some idea, not sure what other people will think of this idea
tlane

[LED ZEPPELINER]

just wondering if everybody thought i should stay with the dashed hand drawn lines, or go for the even dotted cirlcs line?

i think how it is is good, but i think you need to make it much more clear.
i think you should take out the attack route from old port, this will make it clearer and in my mind will give the map better gameplay.
Already done
Also to make it more clear, i would make it so Tibbar can only attack E. Haven or W. Haven, but not both (you could make it attack Haven).
I'll tink about it
I would also take out the attack rout from black dog that connects to attack route from south grendelia
Otay
just some idea, not sure what other people will think of this idea
tlane

[LED ZEPPELINER]

I moved some of the attack routes as to make the gameplay a little more interesting, the attack routes are now on the harder to hold bonuses
v21.5

Click image to enlarge.

changes:

1. changed attack routes
2. faded sploches on the land
3. changed land shape so all names fit in
4. minor graphic changes

[LED ZEPPELINER]

anything,,, anyone?

[aequitas08]

• The lay-out of the map is problematic - for a 48 territory map on a fairly big image the territories are very cramped. The bottom 80 pixels or so are underused, as is the western edge, while the eastern part of the map is so tightly spaced some of the army coordinates will run off the screen. The result is that half of the map is open and lightly colored, the other half dark and tightly spaced. I'd like to see the eastern islands finished with as much sea/dead space/border past them as you have on the western side of the map.

• Same concern I had weeks ago about some of the visual elements not working together. The hand that drew the maountains is obviously not the hand that wrote the text, and the shaded elements - boats, skulls - don't look hand-drawn at all.

These are some of the graphics concerns i consider most important, the first point about cramped and empty spaces on the map i think you mentioned you're working on. I hope you can fix this in the next update.

To make the mountains and shaded elements listed by oaktown look more hand drawn you may want to try tracing them with a hand drawn line (in the same thickness as the text). I don't know if you can change the thickness of the lines that form the mountains without redrawing but i imagine it would look better if the mountains had the same clean look that the territory borders and text have.

The map is very good and by your hand i'm sure it will be excellent soon.
-aequitas08

I have not noticed any changes or responses to these graphics issues, beyond what you initially replied to oaktown. I'm not sure if you missed this post or what but I do think there are graphics issues to be addressed (cramped east side and mountains specifically).

The game play has been cleared up very well and I think it would play smoothly, keep up the great work.
-aequitas08

[AndyDufresne]

Looking good, Led.

A few random things---I'm sure you've discussed the colors before---I'm not a terribly big fan of them, they seem slightly out place in a grunge style map, but they really aren't something that would keep me from playing the map. It just slightly feels like you have two "tones" competing against each other visually.

The attack routes are great---but the territorial borders not as much...they seem to look a little too crisp and sharp, at least when compared to the flowing text, the boats, the mountains, and the attack routes once again. It'd be interesting to see if you can make them more old world feeling.

In regards to the legend, would you consider adding a shrunken boat or two behind the "Pirate Armada" text---perhaps for consistency as you have the colors behind the other text in the legend.

Also, in the text at the bottom of the map, consider replacing the black "X" with a red one---as you've signifed the X on the game map in red. Also, you could add a period after the last word in the paragraph.


--Andy

[LED ZEPPELINER]

i will see what i can do for the colors. i will try to make the borders a little rougher, and maybe a little more thick. I will add a boat next to the pirate armada in legend, and add that period to the end of the paragraph (maybe an exclamation mark).

As for the clutteredness of the map, i do not think it is too cluttered, but i will try to see what i can do to make it clearer. I will try to give everything (in terms of bats, mountains, and writing) either crisp, or make it a little rougher.

thank you for the interest.

LZ

[Blitzaholic]

looking better led

i like the attack routes

[LED ZEPPELINER]

looking better led

i like the attack routes

thank you