Japan - pg 1+6 - update 3/01

[InkL0sed]

I made this before the previous comments, which I definitely don't intend on ignoring, but I thought I'd post it anyway:

[snapdoodle]

I think part of the problem is that part of the art style says Feudal Japan but the way the bonuses are separated feels awfully modern.

Have you ever played the game samurai warriors? That game is a lot of fun because it brings to life (in a completely fantastic way) the characters and the culture.

Another good bit of reference material is the graphic novel Lone Wolf and Cub. Known for it's amazingly accurate portrayal of the end of Feudal Japanese culture with the shogunate and the filial Daimyo that serve him. I kind of wish we had more of that because the art style, and I'm really just talking about the parchment paper, really evokes that for me. That may not be where you want to take this but it's a suggestion.

I personally think it would be pretty cool to take over Daimyo and Shogun bonuses across the country and rule the Empire of the Rising Sun.

And you could have NINJAS! I mean, this map just screams for MORE NINJAS.

Ok, that last bit is just the internet nerd in me but no other map has a better claim to ninjas than this one. And the failed pirates vs ninjas map. Which failed. Whereas I think this could succeed.

I know it's probably a ton of work so I'm not pressing it but chew on the idea.

In the end though I think you need to set the historic era of this map in your head and then the rest of it will come.

[shakeycat]

Perhaps since this map is clearly of modern Japan, we need a background that says "modern" instead of "old-timey". The would leave the window open for another person to pursue the feudal map as they see fit.

[InkL0sed]

I think I'm gonna go with the railway idea, and let someone who does a Feudal Japan map go with the ninjas etc.

I also don't think the graphics are necessarily Feudal Japan - I think you get that feeling from the calligraphy-like font, but really the Japanese do still often write that way.

And shakeycat, I don't see that as a problem. If somebody decides to do a Feudal Japan, they can make that their title to differentiate.

In any case, I'm thinking the railways will work best for game play. They'll be more like British India rather than NYC, but it'll have a minimap to show the connections, and territories with stations will connect instead of forming a bonus.

[shakeycat]

I like the idea of British India-style rail. I look forward to seeing it!

[MrBenn]

Let's get this ready to move up a level...

[Advanced Draft]

[InkL0sed]

Thanks to both of the above

[snapdoodle]

I also don't think the graphics are necessarily Feudal Japan - I think you get that feeling from the calligraphy-like font, but really the Japanese do still often write that way.

no, not for me. The calligraphy is pretty modern feeling. it's really the parchment paper in the back. parchment paper screams old. Yellowed out stained paper just doesn't scream "fresh" and "new".

[InkL0sed]

Update. I added Tokyo as a minimap - took me all day, but I'm planning on adding a minimap for a rail system as well.

[The Neon Peon]

The square borders for the minimap are not working for me. Would you consider changing them to something else such as
[bigimg]http://edp.org/Travel/Florida/EPCOT/JapanShrine.jpg[/bigimg]

Aka, the wooden posts act as the borders of the legend and stuff, or lose the thing altogether and make it freefloating.

Also, can you change the design on the northern island? I think it is interfering with the territory division line.

[shakeycat]

Why does Tokyo need a minimap?

[InkL0sed]

Added rails for better connectivity.



Is the way it works clear enough?

[ustus]

just one item of confusion: where does the station in Tokyo connect to???

[InkL0sed]

Yeah, I didn't connect it to anywhere

I'll just add it to the minimap, and probably get rid of Chiba station as well.

[AndyDufresne]

With all the added insets, I'd almost prefer a shrunk Japan (both in territory count and size) as the main game board... because Hokkaido is horrendous on this map and will always turn me off.

But that would require major retooling of the map, and I don't expect you to even consider it. I just know that it is major put off for me.


--Andy

[nagerous]

I'm thinking scrap the mini map as it is making the map too big and complex, but that is just me.

[ustus]

I LIKE big maps... just to balance the opinions offered thus far... and this one doesn't seem overly complex to me.

[gho]

Maybe make more than 1 city, maybe add mini maps of osaka and the other major cities.

[shakeycat]

Forget the minimap. It makes things too complicated. Just keep it straightforward Japan. Nothing funny.

[Industrial Helix]

I don't like the notion of Chubu connecting to Hokkaido by railroad as its very unrealistic. I understand it makes the map more circular, but Japan is not a circular country. I think that should be taken out.

Also, I think that Tokyo should be colored blue on the main map as to connect it with that of the minimap because it took me a while to make that connection on my own.

[InkL0sed]

Sounds good to me on both counts.

[sailorseal]

Stunning map visually. The addition of Tokyo was great along with other things. I could name them all but you know what they are. Make Tokyo on the real map a blue color so it stands out more then just being shaded. Give Tokyo an Orange army circle or two.
Great Map!

[shakeycat]

I second Industrial Helix. By connecting Hokkaido to unnatural places, it gives the impression that the island really is where you have placed it.

And why do you call it Kyushu and Okinawa? I see no Okinawa.

[Qwert]

I see two(maybe three)things what is strange.
1.Conections Hokaido-Chuku
2.Yours minimap have Army numbers,and also in main map these place have army numbers-i belive that these is not possible.
3.I dont understand why you add MIni map of Tokyo in minimap of japan ,because its not explane what is purpose of these minimap in these place.

Now i have sugestion that you create real possition of japan in minimap and that in mini map you put bonuses numbers, and that maybe to explane that these is real possition of japan,and that hokaido is in these direction for space.

[InkL0sed]

To-do list:

• Make Tokyo blue on the main map
• Remove Chubu-Hokkaido rail connection
• Rename Kyushu&Okinawa to Kyushu
• Remove army numbers from the rail minimap

As to why I think the Tokyo minimap should stay: first of all, I don't see a good reason why not. It's a part of Japan. And the minimap adds territories and thus helps make the map less linear (if not quite circular).

This map can't be straight classic-style game play for it to succeed, I think.