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Foundry Changes: New Layout, Handbook and More

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Foundry Changes: New Layout, Handbook and More

Postby thenobodies80 on Fri Aug 12, 2011 4:20 pm

Hello Everyone,

As a result of the community desire for more clear and accessible information, the Cartographers have decided to find a suitable way to have all the necessary info up to date and easy to find. After considering that another drastic change (like the addition of more nested subforums) would not have helped so much and after considering that Map Foundry has 3 main area of activity (develope maps, informations/tools and discussion), we have decided to not change again the whole layout, but just to split it.

The map foundry is now divided into 3 main sections (or categories) with the following format:

  • Foundry Discussions
    • Competitions
  • Tools, Tutorials & Guides
    • Tools
    • Guides
  • Map Foundry
    • Drafting Room
    • Main Foundry Workshops
    • Final Forge
    • Viewing Gallery

As you can see, we have also decided to split the Tools, Tutorials & Guides section in two parts. Now every the mapmakers (old or new) will be able to find the necessary information or tools more easily. All links/threads were updated, tools attached to posts and now all the essential info have a visible place in their dedicated forum. I think that now no one can say that is not able to find something! :P

But there's more!

It was January 2008 when the first (and only) edition of the Mapmaker Handbook was posted. During the years the foundry has changed its face and the map process has improved a lot and now, the Handbook is a bit old and outdated. What? We can't have a dedicated forum to fill with outdated information!
But don't worry, the Cartographers, with the help of a small group of users, have worked hard behind the scenes to collect all the required informations and show all them into a single place.

As result of this long-hard work, I'm very proud to release the new version of the Official Mapmaker Handbook


And more again!

With the release of our new handbook we have also decided to refine/officialize some parts of the foundry process:

Removal of the design Brief
Since when it was introduced, the Design Brief never worked like we had imagined it. These days it seems more a burocratic step than something really useful, both for mapmakers and CAs. For this reason we've decided to remove it.

But for a thing that is gone, the evil CAs :twisted: are going to add a new one:

Pre-made template
All new topics into the drafting room will have a pre-populated post. Athough we know that everyone has his way to do things, it's important that all the necessary information are visible (and updated) in the first post, for this reason fill the pre-made template will be mandatory. Don't take it like another thing to do or a restriction, because it's not in this way! The information required are all basic info, things that a good mapmaker will write in his first post in any case. Let me also state clear that you can add to the post anything else you want, but fill the template first. ;)

Supersizes Applications
It has passed a while since we introduced the super sized maps, but we never formalized a real procedure for them. From now, any mapmaker that needs to go super-size can apply for them using a dedicated thread into the Drafting Room. You can find additional info about the supersize applications into our new handbook.

That's all for now, but stay tuned because there're other things in the pipeline! 8-[

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Re: Foundry Changes: New Layout, Handbook and More

Postby natty dread on Fri Aug 12, 2011 4:48 pm

=D>

One thing... can you make the subforums visible again from the "map foundry" page? So you don't have to go through 2 clicks to get to competitions or melting pot...
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Re: Foundry Changes: New Layout, Handbook and More

Postby DiM on Fri Aug 12, 2011 4:51 pm

i especially love the new template. perhaps now everybody will finally keep their first post organized.
i hate it when i find a first that lacks essential info.
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Re: Foundry Changes: New Layout, Handbook and More

Postby Victor Sullivan on Fri Aug 12, 2011 5:05 pm

Awesome! :D Love the changes!

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Re: Foundry Changes: New Layout, Handbook and More

Postby Victor Sullivan on Fri Aug 12, 2011 5:11 pm

Thinking about it... Would it be easier to create a "Foundry Announcements" forum (likely where Foundry Discussions is on the Map Foundry page) for announcements like these, rather than having to continually update the Archive Index? Just thinking aloud.

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Re: Foundry Changes: New Layout, Handbook and More

Postby cairnswk on Fri Aug 12, 2011 5:12 pm

Well done. Luv the new templates, layout, change to size guidance. This really look professional. =D>
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Re: Foundry Changes: New Layout, Handbook and More

Postby Telvannia on Fri Aug 12, 2011 5:30 pm

ha that was meant to be in another topic, never drink and post
Last edited by Telvannia on Sat Aug 13, 2011 3:44 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Foundry Changes: New Layout, Handbook and More

Postby natty dread on Fri Aug 12, 2011 5:41 pm

Why does the template have entries for both size images?

No one has both images at drafting room...
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Re: Foundry Changes: New Layout, Handbook and More

Postby isaiah40 on Fri Aug 12, 2011 5:50 pm

natty_dread wrote:Why does the template have entries for both size images?

No one has both images at drafting room...


That is so when they have the small they know where to put it, along with seeing it every time they post their large, it will remind them to put the small map in the OP as well.
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Re: Foundry Changes: New Layout, Handbook and More

Postby natty dread on Fri Aug 12, 2011 5:59 pm

But when the guide says "all fields MUST be filled or the map won't be considered for draft stamp!" .... this is bound to cause confusion and hastily scribbled up small maps from new mapmakers.
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Re: Foundry Changes: New Layout, Handbook and More

Postby Seamus76 on Fri Aug 12, 2011 6:36 pm

Cool. Will have to digest, but seems like a step in the right direction. Good work to those behind the scenes people.
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Re: Foundry Changes: New Layout, Handbook and More

Postby thenobodies80 on Fri Aug 12, 2011 6:49 pm

natty_dread wrote:=D>

One thing... can you make the subforums visible again from the "map foundry" page? So you don't have to go through 2 clicks to get to competitions or melting pot...


Sure! it just slipped away. Andy will fix this asap. :)

Victor Sullivan wrote:Thinking about it... Would it be easier to create a "Foundry Announcements" forum (likely where Foundry Discussions is on the Map Foundry page) for announcements like these, rather than having to continually update the Archive Index? Just thinking aloud.

-Sully


Maybe in the future, for now keep the Annoucement Index updated is not a big issue. ;)

natty_dread wrote:Why does the template have entries for both size images?

No one has both images at drafting room...


natty_dread wrote:But when the guide says "all fields MUST be filled or the map won't be considered for draft stamp!" .... this is bound to cause confusion and hastily scribbled up small maps from new mapmakers.


Both sizes are listed because, you know, some mapmakers prefer to work on small versions.
In any case, you're right, newcomers can be confused reading this.
We can simplify the template, for example in this way:

Code: Select all
    [b]Map Name:[/b]
    [b]Mapmaker(s):[/b]
    [b]Number of Territories:[/b]
    [b]Special Features:[/b]
    [b]What Makes This Map Worthy of Being Made:[/b]

    [b]Map Image:[/b]
    [bigimg][/bigimg]


Better?
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Re: Foundry Changes: New Layout, Handbook and More

Postby gimil on Sat Aug 13, 2011 5:51 am

I think the new handbook is a fantastic resource. Well done to the CA team for putting it together =D>
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Re: Foundry Changes: New Layout, Handbook and More

Postby Coleman on Sat Aug 13, 2011 4:36 pm

Fantastic change.
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Re: Foundry Changes: New Layout, Handbook and More

Postby thenobodies80 on Wed Sep 07, 2011 6:07 pm

Although a little late, I announce that with the aforementioned changes in this thread, it was also removed the limit of two maps in development for mapmaker. Of course the common sense must prevail, so please don't start too many map projects if you know you have to leave them on vacation because you don't have the time. ;)

A special thanks to cairnswk for letting me know that i forgot to write an announcement for this important change. If someone else will notice that something is slipped away from my attention, please let me know.

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Re: Foundry Changes: New Layout, Handbook and More

Postby Victor Sullivan on Wed Sep 07, 2011 6:19 pm

Nice! Silly rules, Trix are for kids!

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