The map formerly known as World Cities

[sully800]

I agree with the concerns of having 3 globes on the map. It seems pretty repetitive and I was surprised with the initial positive response. I haven't changed it yet but I am exploring some other options.

Here's an update with help from a friend. Lots of graphical improvements, including highlights around the army circles and drop shadows under the connecting lines. Also the text colors have been reversed so its now the light color with a darker outer glow. The ocean color looks very washed out after uploading it, I'm not exactly sure why. It still looks like a more vivid blue in photoshop, even when saved as a jpeg. Will be corrected, assuming you all prefer the brighter ocean like I do.

There are also 6 options for fonts. Please vote for which font you like best (categorized by the bonus region the font is attached to).

Click image to enlarge.

[RjBeals]

i like the purple Oceania font the best. The small tweeks map this map feel nearly complete to me. Just work on the title a bit. I honestly don't mind the desaturated ocean. It looks fine to me as is. Nice job.

[ender516]

I don't have a specific favourite font, but I believe I did hear somewhere that true upper/lower case is more legible than block capitals, which I believe might include large and small caps combinations like all these fonts except Asia and N. America. Do those two fonts differ at all apart from colour?
I don't mind the third globe, it gives the composition of the map stability and balance in my eyes. Say, is it possible to animate it, so that the title globe rotates behind the buildings?

[whitestazn88]

south america font is nice. i think thats what i'm gonna vote for

[sully800]

I don't have a specific favourite font, but I believe I did hear somewhere that true upper/lower case is more legible than block capitals, which I believe might include large and small caps combinations like all these fonts except Asia and N. America. Do those two fonts differ at all apart from colour?
I don't mind the third globe, it gives the composition of the map stability and balance in my eyes. Say, is it possible to animate it, so that the title globe rotates behind the buildings?

The NAmerica and Asia fonts are different, though at second glance they are probably too similar to be separate options. That's okay, this is just to gauge interest in something other than Arial which I've had since the start.

As for the rotating globe - yes it is possible to include small animations in the map (as seen in Conquerman, and possibly other maps). I'm worried that the quality of the image would be reduced by trying to make the globe rotate, but I suppose it is something to look into.

RJ - thanks for the kind words, as always. I probably have a ways to go since this is still in Drafts, but that's great to hear from you.

[Danyael]

i like South America font
the colour of na and Oceania are the same too me maybe switch that colour with Africa if not i understand Africa colour might not look as good there as well if you don't know if Honolulu isn't part of na then its there problem sorry to be blunt
from the art classes I had years ago was taught that odd amounts of things in photos painting and images make things flow better
so i think the title works well, but as it is the title it should stand out more
-maybe try to add a a faded gradient behind the title in a shape like this <0>
but then stretch it out -<0>-


kinda like this but more refined to keep your image looking sharp

i think this will make it more nature sitting up there and keep the odd number of globes so you don't just two balls hanging there
I also like the faded out oceans the land doesn't contrast to much with the water
This map keeps getting better and better

EDIT:: added example image

[the.killing.44]

I voted South America — I think it's the best for the map's style (clean look). The others were too Grecian-Roman for my taste and the North American and Asian upper & lowercase letters a bit too hard to read for me. Capitals are better

I'm with RJ — I like the ocean as is. It directs one's attention to the land more, while still complementing the it nicely.

I'd suppose you'd change the note to the same font as on the map (and make it caps as well!)? Consistency would be nice. And if you could move it up out of the shadows of the flags it'd be more noticeable, which is good 'cause it's … well, sorta important

Now that I look at it more, the globe does seem rather redundant. But I beg of you to keep the building representation you have right now — that goes perfectly. And I disagree with having the globe move around, firstly because it'd take away from the image quality but also because it might be too much for the eyes.

What does having the attack lines have the same glow as the continent colors look like? And you could add a gradient on the inter-continental lines?

And I still hold true to:

One thing is that I'd use the lighting effects you put on the globe over the land as well. A way to do it is, if you have the lighting on a globe layer below the land, what you could do is duplicate the layer, place the copy over the land but set the fill opacity to 0% (keeping the overall opacity whatever it was on the original), then right-click Copy Layer Style from original and right-click Paste Layer style onto the copy. Then right-click Clear Layer Style on the original. Looking sweet!

Lovin' the map,
.44

[iancanton]

keep the building representation you have right now — that goes perfectly. And I disagree with having the globe move around, firstly because it'd take away from the image quality but also because it might be too much for the eyes.

i couldn't agree more. the conquerman animation becomes annoying after a while.

ian.

[SultanOfSurreal]

I'm a font nerd, and I think the font for East Asia is the best for this map. The others are mostly very Papyrus-like fonts, in fact I believe at least one of them IS Papyrus, and these types of fonts are amateurish, dumb, and unoriginal. The only font that's not like this outside of Asia is North America, which isn't nearly as neat and readable as Asia's.

The best thing about this map, in my opinion, is its simplicity and cleanliness. That's the same reason I didn't like the change from solid colors or the addition of flags to the top and bottom, which just add unnecessary clutter. And using a font like the one in Oceania, for instance, just adds more gratuitous flashiness that further hurts the aesthetic appeal. Stick with something simple, clean, and readable.

[thenobodies80]

The choice to add colors on circles is great!
The water is ok in both versions.
I prefer the old coloured numbers for bonuses on the two globes, but it's only a personal choice
The animation is unnecessary as the third globe. Try a test without the globe, moving the skyscrapers...
Finally my vote is for oceania font.

[LED ZEPPELINER]

In terms of fonts, i like the european one better. I just think that it fits the feel and style of the map best. I think that Greenland should overlap to the otherside. It seems kind of weird if it just ends in the corner. It would give a nice sence of a globe feel to the map (I think).

[lespaulstudio]

As far as the font goes, I like how each continent has slightly different font. This map is a good idea- in my opinion- and I think you handled the regions really well. It looks balanced, I mean. Good luck!

[thedon5]

I like Oceania not in caps. The caps'd need to be in the game log then. I like the rotating globe idea.

[thenobodies80]

I am pleased to issue this map the draft stamp on behalf of the foundry community



Welcome to the Foundry Proper!

thenobodies80

[the.killing.44]

The caps'd need to be in the game log then.

They most definitely do not.

.44

[thedon5]

The caps'd need to be in the game log then.

They most definitely do not.

.44

They do. It's quite annoying having to read caps on the map, but to see non caps on the log. Same with abbreviations on the map, and full names on the log.

[SultanOfSurreal]

good job on making it to the foundry proper sully

this map pretty much rocks

(still totally keen on the asia font btw)

[ender516]

I think that Greenland should overlap to the otherside. It seems kind of weird if it just ends in the corner. It would give a nice sence of a globe feel to the map (I think).

I agree. Since it is purely decorative (no gameplay wraps around through Greenland), it shouldn't cause any confusion and could look better.

[sully800]

W00t, my first completed draft Thanks nobodies!

Seems like there is no consensus on font, which I didn't really expect. All of the capital fonts are doing quite well though, which leads me to believe people would prefer any one of those to the East Asia font. (People, except Sultan who did the best job of supporting his opinion). The multi fonts will stay for a while, but it doesn't seem like anyone is outraged by any of the choices, which is nice.

the colour of na and Oceania are the same too me maybe switch that colour with Africa if not i understand Africa colour might not look as good there as well if you don't know if Honolulu isn't part of na then its there problem sorry to be blunt

You are right, that Honolulu's allegiance needs to be very clear, even for colorblind people. I know there are lots of red/green colorblind people (even though they are on opposite sides of the spectrum). And the purple/blue that is currently used may be too close for people like yourself. Can you tell the difference between South America (orange) and Oceania (purple)? If so, the fix may be as simple as exchanging the colors of North and South America, which probably should have been done from the start.

I voted South America — I think it's the best for the map's style (clean look). The others were too Grecian-Roman for my taste and the North American and Asian upper & lowercase letters a bit too hard to read for me. Capitals are better

I'm with RJ — I like the ocean as is. It directs one's attention to the land more, while still complementing the it nicely.

I'd suppose you'd change the note to the same font as on the map (and make it caps as well!)? Consistency would be nice. And if you could move it up out of the shadows of the flags it'd be more noticeable, which is good 'cause it's … well, sorta important

Yes, the font in the legend will match the font picked for the labels, once one is picked.

Now that I look at it more, the globe does seem rather redundant. But I beg of you to keep the building representation you have right now — that goes perfectly. And I disagree with having the globe move around, firstly because it'd take away from the image quality but also because it might be too much for the eyes.

Yeah, the title still needs work. I think a rotating globe would be cool in a gimmicky way, but too distracting to actually add to the map.

What does having the attack lines have the same glow as the continent colors look like? And you could add a gradient on the inter-continental lines?

Not a bad idea. I will try that out in my next version.

One thing is that I'd use the lighting effects you put on the globe over the land as well. A way to do it is, if you have the lighting on a globe layer below the land, what you could do is duplicate the layer, place the copy over the land but set the fill opacity to 0% (keeping the overall opacity whatever it was on the original), then right-click Copy Layer Style from original and right-click Paste Layer style onto the copy. Then right-click Clear Layer Style on the original. Looking sweet!

Didn't mean to ignore this earlier. I tried to shadow the land when I first made the globes but couldn't figure it out. I will try your advice to make them look more realistic, because the land should be shadowed along with the water.

I think that Greenland should overlap to the otherside. It seems kind of weird if it just ends in the corner. It would give a nice sence of a globe feel to the map (I think).

I agree. Since it is purely decorative (no gameplay wraps around through Greenland), it shouldn't cause any confusion and could look better.

Hmmm, the reason I didn't have the land wrap around initially is because the Atlantic is actually much bigger than that. There is a decent amount of ocean on each side that is cut off, and that is what would actually wrap around on the map. Then again, I drastically shrank the Pacific to make things fit. I will make it wrap around so we can see how it looks at least.

[Danyael]

You are right, that Honolulu's allegiance needs to be very clear, even for colorblind people. I know there are lots of red/green colorblind people (even though they are on opposite sides of the spectrum). And the purple/blue that is currently used may be too close for people like yourself. Can you tell the difference between South America (orange) and Oceania (purple)? If so, the fix may be as simple as exchanging the colors of North and South America, which probably should have been done from the start.

if you switch SA with NA color that would be perfect

congrats on your draft stamp

[thedon5]

Why not leave the fonts as they are? It'll mean it's even easier to differentiate between continents, and it does get confusing when some places aren't in their actual real life continents.

[danfrank]

i think the graphics are wonderful and the map has come along way since it`s inception. The issue of other individuals getting there two cents so you change something graphically is rediculous. The map the way you have graphically created is unique to you and should be left unchanged unless there is an issue with region outlines etc. the globes and the flags are just that, part of the world cities theme.. Now my only issue is that South America has Only One way in/out.. Clearly a strong hold for a map with a few bonus regions..

[ustus]

Sultan - i have a friend who says what you say about the Papyrus family of fonts. doesn't make me love 'em any less. They're a really cool type of font that can be used for a lot of things. Admittedly, there are many types of graphics that don't fit with them (anything mechanical or super-precise, for instance, and that's certainly not everything) but i believe the reason this font is "overused" is that it's a really cool font that a lot of people like. As long as it doesn't clash with the theme of the rest of whatever it's used in, there is nothing wrong with using it. Personally, i think it especially fits the older cities on this map, since it has an old middle eastern feel to it (even if it is in a completely diff alphabet than they would have used). Perhaps you should pick a font with a different feel to it for each area? maybe a roman feel for Eur/Med, a papyrus feel for Asia and/or SA, a sharp technological feel for NA (they're all newer cities, so giving the font a really computery feel should make them feel that way). On the other hand, this may make the map less readable, so don't just do it, decide if you like the idea.

[ender516]

Now my only issue is that South America has Only One way in/out.. Clearly a strong hold for a map with a few bonus regions..

This situation is no better or worse than the Orange Octagons on the Classic Shapes map. Similarly, Sub-Saharan Africa here is quite similar to the Purple Diamonds there. Like it says on page one here, 42 territories, 6 bonus regions, no unique gameplay: just a prettier map that plays the way I like it.

[iancanton]

Sub-Saharan Africa here is quite similar to the Purple Diamonds there.

this is a stroke of genius. the sahara desert is much more of a barrier to trade and movement of people than the mediterranean sea.

ian.