Jewel of the Empire coordinates & xml (new xml?)

[Contrickster]

You have a map of a very specific location, one country infact, and at a specific time period. It does not have a wide appeal but it is not suppose to.

Surely it's very famous time period though - colonial India is at least as famous as, say, Alexander's Empire. Someone has to do it.

Those who could care less about india or colonialism probably wont play this map unless it turns out to have great game play.

It is great game play. I've made a map that I'd want to play. Otherwise I wouldn't have bothered.

but those who dig india will love it. and the rest will just give a shot for the hell of it.

It's not about India, the modern state... the map will be called "Jewel of the Empire." It's a colonial theme.

so dont worry about the amount of replies in this thread. just keep going and it will get into the forge in due time.

Thank you for your encouraging words and for taking my punches. As a first map it's really hard knowing where I am and I'm so nervous it's going to be rejected after the 100+ hours of work (okay I know it doesn't look like it) I've put in.

personally i would like to see some red and gold going on because that reminds me of india, and maybe a jewel!. i dont think this map has much indian flavor beside the shape of the country.

It's not about India, is it? India does not include the Himalayas and - shock - Pakistan is there too. And Bangladesh. And Sri Lanka. It's a colonial map - at a time when a larger part of the sub-continent was referred to by the word "India".

There should be a colonial flavour and there is. That is provided by the wallpaper and territory names.

The Germany map isn't particularly "German" except for the massive German flag. I think this JOTE map has done a lot to locate it within its original theme.

[Contrickster]

Just thought I'd put up an alternative background.

[mibi]

personally i would like to see some red and gold going on because that reminds me of india, and maybe a jewel!. i dont think this map has much indian flavor beside the shape of the country.

It's not about India, is it? India does not include the Himalayas and - shock - Pakistan is there too. And Bangladesh. And Sri Lanka. It's a colonial map - at a time when a larger part of the sub-continent was referred to by the word "India".

There should be a colonial flavour and there is. That is provided by the wallpaper and territory names.

The Germany map isn't particularly "German" except for the massive German flag. I think this JOTE map has done a lot to locate it within its original theme.

Well if its not about India as you say then maybe you should change the title.

To me it looks like india and it says india, so its india. I dont know the geography of india worth a shit so the inclusion of the Himalayas, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri lanka, which by the way, arnt even labeled, means nothing to me. Maybe those with a thorough understanding of the histroy of india will be able to pick up the difference, but I suspect those players are few. As for colonial flavor, you failed. I can make out some folks wearing robes, a tree, and a boat. Not quite the colonial flavor you think. And as for the colonial names, lol, sorry, my lack of the historical geography of india fails me here too.

For me, and many others, the only thing Indian about it is the shape, which you even claim is not Indian due to the other areas. So I guess in the end, i have on idea what this map is about, its not Indian, its not colonial. Hopefully the gameplay will be as awesome as you say it is, in which case I will play you map all the time, but if its not, there is nothing that draws me to a map called "India" but decidedly non-indian.

And lets not compare current maps to those made almost a year ago. but since you brought it up, the germany map makes me think of germany, maybe its the shape and i dunno, the huge german flag.

[Contrickster]

Well if its not about India as you say then maybe you should change the title.

Maybe I should.

To me it looks like india and it says india, so its india. I dont know the geography of india worth a shit so the inclusion of the Himalayas, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri lanka, which by the way, arnt even labeled, means nothing to me. Maybe those with a thorough understanding of the histroy of india will be able to pick up the difference, but I suspect those players are few. As for colonial flavor, you failed. I can make out some folks wearing robes, a tree, and a boat. Not quite the colonial flavor you think. And as for the colonial names, lol, sorry, my lack of the historical geography of india fails me here too.

I can lighten the background slightly but many asked for it to be dark.

You learn the names of places from playing the map.

For me, and many others, the only thing Indian about it is the shape, which you even claim is not Indian due to the other areas. So I guess in the end, i have on idea what this map is about, its not Indian, its not colonial. Hopefully the gameplay will be as awesome as you say it is, in which case I will play you map all the time, but if its not, there is nothing that draws me to a map called "India" but decidedly non-indian.

Okay, I'll change the main title to Jewel of the Empire. That's a good suggestion.

And lets not compare current maps to those made almost a year ago. but since you brought it up, the germany map makes me think of germany, maybe its the shape and i dunno, the huge german flag.

I'll add to the wall paper and territory names, the sea routes, choice of colonial territories, whole landmass and continents.

[Contrickster]

Change to green and lightened by 10%. Title changed to Jewel of the Empire. Better?

[fireedud]

Well, I'm not an expert of the subject, but back then Pakistan was infact, a part of India, it declared it's freedom about 50 years ago, and Sri lanka was probably part of India. I'm not sure about Nepal, though.

[Guiscard]

Well, I'm not an expert of the subject, but back then Pakistan was infact, a part of India, it declared it's freedom about 50 years ago, and Sri lanka was probably part of India. I'm not sure about Nepal, though.

And your point is?

[Evil DIMwit]

Well, I'm not an expert of the subject, but back then Pakistan was infact, a part of India, it declared it's freedom about 50 years ago, and Sri lanka was probably part of India. I'm not sure about Nepal, though.

And your point is?

I think the point is that it's fine to call this map India, and if someone (self-professedly ignorant) doesn't like that name just because the map doesn't fit their mental image or the stereotype of what India should look like, that's no reason to change the name.

Or maybe that's not the point. But it is my opinion; I like the "India" title better than the subtitle alone.

Anyway, I think the background carries the "colonial flavour" just fine, though I do like the latest green better than the brown and blue that preceded it.

[Contrickster]

That it could be called India?

Another reason why India can be scratched is it's confusing to have a subtitle and there could in the future be an Indian map and the name "India" should be reserved for that map.

[Guiscard]

That it could be called India?

Another reason why India can be scratched is it's confusing to have a subtitle and there could in the future be an Indian map and the name "India" should be reserved for that map.

Either it needs t be India alone or else India with the subtitle. To have it without is ludicrous really. It obviously IS India (and officially so for the period: my current research topic for Uni is colonial India) and to leave that off the title would seem like a big mistake.

[Evil DIMwit]

That it could be called India?

Another reason why India can be scratched is it's confusing to have a subtitle and there could in the future be an Indian map and the name "India" should be reserved for that map.

Yeah, and, really, who would make a map of just modern India after this map? If people want to use real-world locations they should come up with someplace new instead.

[Contrickster]

There should always be room for more maps, so this map cannot be called "India", which today refers to the modern state India.

I do agree that India is relevant.

"Colonial India"

"Jewel of the Empire"

Since I'm not going to have a jewel graphic perhaps "Colonial India" would be the better title unless anyone has a better idea for a title. Open to suggestions.

Scramble for India?

[Neilhouse]

Punjabi vs Rajput?

[Contrickster]

Punjabi vs Rajput?

Hehe. Very shrewd. Calcutta vs Assam probably comes a close second as the map's hot spots go.


RE title: I don't have a problem with Jewel of the Empire. If nobody has any strong objections or alternatives I'll keep it with Jewel of the Empire.

I certainly cannot use "India" on its own for the already mentioned reasons... and have gone off the idea of a sub-title, one title would be more simple.

[mibi]

what about India of the Jewelpire.

or Empire of Jewindia.

or Empindia Jewel Pants.

[Contrickster]

what about India of the Jewelpire.

or Empire of Jewindia.

or Empindia Jewel Pants.

What next then?

[DiM]

what about India of the Jewelpire.

or Empire of Jewindia.

or Empindia Jewel Pants.

i think this map should be called siege and get quenched before the other one so mibi can't use the name

[Neilhouse]

Final forge it.

[Contrickster]

It will never be the best looking map out there but I'd like it to fit within the higher standards set by the most recent efforts.

Where does it stand with the Arctic map presentation wise - the last country map?

Jewel of the Empire looks distinctive. Colours go well together. Background is interesting. I'm really liking the desert now. It looks sandy with dunes. Like the mountains too.

However it is not as impressive with graphics for title and legend. Here my lack of artistic genes fail me. I simply blind to knowing how to make it look impressive.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

The map has been done in Fireworks and transfered layer by layer to GIMP because Fireworks on my system doesn't handle more than a dozen layers without freezing.

My Fireworks runs out later this week. Any changes that require Fireworks - should be done now.

Changes done in GIMP won't look so good. There is a noticable difference in quality of borders, the blur tool, and especially text.

[DiM]

try making the word jewel like an actual jewel. it's really easy with fireworks.

[mibi]

try making the word jewel like an actual jewel. it's really easy with fireworks.

uh.... no.

[Contrickster]

I can apply pattern to the text using masks but I don't have that same background, or any kind of jewel background. I'd have to get a jewel image and repeatedly paste it. And I'm not sure that would be a suitable background. Does there have to be a jewel effect? I think it will look a bit tacky.

I'll update later with something influenced by the above but not jewel-like.

[Contrickster]

Actually, I'm not sure now. The whole reason for a faded title was so the patterned background shows through. I've got a patterned title now and it looks terrible. Much prefer the existing faded look.

Any other ideas? I'm not saying it needs to change. It's okay as it is... probably. Who knows.

[Neilhouse]

Classic, USA and Canada don't even have titles just to name a few. They play fine. Why is this such a big issue with this map?

[mibi]

I have the perfect image of a yellow diamond for it but at that resolution it doesn't look much like a jewel. It looks a cheesey, blurry mess.

I can't do an artistic equivalent. So, sorry, not possible. Good idea though.