South Africa 1885

[Industrial Helix]

Still having trouble with the forts

But I made a few cosmetic changes and added the small map.

Click image to enlarge.

Click image to enlarge.

[natty dread]

What's that piece of line jutting from Amatonga... seems a bit out of place.

Also, the upper edge of Marabastad bothers me slightly... it would be neat to align it with the upper edge of the map (ie. make it straight.)

[danryan]

Wow, this is awesome graphically. Amazing work really.

[Industrial Helix]

What's that piece of line jutting from Amatonga... seems a bit out of place.

Also, the upper edge of Marabastad bothers me slightly... it would be neat to align it with the upper edge of the map (ie. make it straight.)

The amatonga piece is the rest of the continent of Africa in the nonplayable region... I will extend it to the end of the map.

And the top edge of Marabastad is like that because... uh... the circumference of the earth... maybe. I'll see what I can do.

@Danryan - Thanks!

[The Bison King]

And the top edge of Marabastad is like that because... uh... the circumference of the earth... maybe.

Nice!

[Victor Sullivan]

I'm still having difficulties with the stars. They don't match the water color feel of the rest of the map. Like I said before it looks "cut and pasted". If the stars were to match the map graphically I would be completely fine with them, but as it stands, they really don't.

-Sully

[Industrial Helix]

I'm still having difficulties with the stars. They don't match the water color feel of the rest of the map. Like I said before it looks "cut and pasted". If the stars were to match the map graphically I would be completely fine with them, but as it stands, they really don't.

-Sully

Yeah, I think you hit the nail on the head... I like the stars and the Vauban fort style, but they are certainly too cut and pasty. I'll try a watercolor vauban fort and see where it takes us.

[Industrial Helix]

I'm kind of curious to know what people are thinking about the graphical style of the map. Personally, I think its quite good and captures the sort of handmade feel that maps had during the period. I think this whole handmade map thing might be it, really. There's so much conveyed in a paint brush that photoshop doesn't compare to.

But then again, I'm biased. So thoughts please.

[army of nobunaga]

well i just looked, I was wrong... small little bitty islands and the one larger one i was thinking of is really far away.

Madagascar?

na, there are some that whalers and such use... and I thought there were french ones near the ivory coast... sorry took so long to reply to this, i left now back a litttle.

[army of nobunaga]

as far as the graphical style. I think its your best work graphically yet.

I like this sort of style... The napolean europe map would have looked like this but they put so much stuff on it, it kind of overrid the nice base style. jimo


I like this a lot anyway man.. good job.


I dont know why more people dont get out and try different looks and styles. I guess because its harder to do? I dunno.

[The Bison King]

There's so much conveyed in a paint brush that photoshop doesn't compare to.
But then again, I'm biased.

My thought's exactly

[jefjef]

It would seem to make more sense putting the bonus value listings with the regions map...

As for the graphics style. Very much improved from the original concept.

[ender516]

The only reason I didn't vote "Perfect" is that I'm still waiting to see your watercolour fort. Even the star as it is now with some lines inked on it would be an improvement.

Oh, and just to remind me, and for those just tuning in, each fort is a distinct interior territory/region entirely surrounded by the land territory/region in which it lies, correct?

[Victor Sullivan]

The only reason I didn't vote "Perfect" is that I'm still waiting to see your watercolour fort. Even the star as it is now with some lines inked on it would be an improvement.

Yes, this is exactly why I didn't vote "Perfect", too. Good point, ender.

Oh, and just to remind me, and for those just tuning in, each fort is a distinct interior territory/region entirely surrounded by the land territory/region in which it lies, correct?

Oh. Ok...? I don't remember anyone bringing this point up before, but I suppose that doesn't matter now. Will the forts then be required for the continent bonus?

-Sully516

[Industrial Helix]

Bah, Even I didn't vote perfect but I'm flattered that some did.

1) The numbers on the minimap.... yes this would make sense but Stellaland and Basutoland are trouble. I'll see what I can do.
2) Forts are not part of regional bonuses and sit "on top" of the territory they occupy... hmm, gonna need to write that somewhere.
3) Watercolor fort... Yes, I need to get it together and scan it in.

[theBastard]

maybe its just my opinion, but ships looks as from 20th century... also stars as symbols for forts could be replaced with something more historical... they are not main problems of map, but everything else I like.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:1885_ships

[Industrial Helix]

Click image to enlarge.

Not bad, eh?

[ender516]

Not bad, indeed.

[porkenbeans]

I would like to see the coastal outline of Africa included. You have a little piece of it on the east coast, and none of it on the west.

[Victor Sullivan]

Maybe this is just me being nit-picky, but the perfectly shaped circles used in the fort symbol still make them look more "cut-and-pasty" and less "man-made-water-color-painting", if you know what I mean.

-Sul

[Industrial Helix]

Maybe this is just me being nit-picky, but the perfectly shaped circles used in the fort symbol still make them look more "cut-and-pasty" and less "man-made-water-color-painting", if you know what I mean.

-Sul

Lol, they are man made watercolor painting. I did it and scanned it in. And to think, I was worried the fort symbols would be too uneven and jagged and their imperfections would look sloppy. Glad you think they're 'perfect.'

@Pork - yes, will do.

[the.killing.44]

See, this is unbelievably more sexy now that you chose a distinct route to follow. Bravo.

So I assume you're still working on the legend, yes?

[Victor Sullivan]

Maybe this is just me being nit-picky, but the perfectly shaped circles used in the fort symbol still make them look more "cut-and-pasty" and less "man-made-water-color-painting", if you know what I mean.

-Sul

Lol, they are man made watercolor painting. I did it and scanned it in. And to think, I was worried the fort symbols would be too uneven and jagged and their imperfections would look sloppy. Glad you think they're 'perfect.'

Wow. I guess that makes us both happy then, right?

[Industrial Helix]

Alright, we got some updated images with some numbers.

Click image to enlarge.

Click image to enlarge.

[porkenbeans]

Yeah, it looks much better with those coast lines added. it looks more like the tip of Africa. Maybe try darkening the non-playable area to help on this front ?