SFR Yugoslavia [Quenched]

[Victor Sullivan]

Check your monitor settings. It's not black, it's blue. Like, the ocean.

Meh, looks more like a very dark grey. The point still stands.

-Sully

[natty dread]

wrt. eblem: I'm a big believer in simplicity on maps. I don't believe in cluttering the map full of every damn thing you can think of that you can possibly associate with the subject of the map, which seems to be popular these days... The flag works, because it's part of the title. Adding another element on the map... not so much.

wrt. the bl corner: compare the sea colour next to the sig to the colour in the corner. When you look at the rest of the sea, you see a steady progression of the sea darkening as it gets closer to the corner. Naturally, the corner is the darkest part of the sea. I think it only seems jarring to you because of the interruption of Italy + Minimap, ie. if the sea were to progress all the way to the corner without interruptions, you wouldn't even notice it.

Besides I already made it lighter than before.

[Victor Sullivan]

But why is it there?

-Sully

[natty dread]

But why is it there?

-Sully

Because there is actually sea in that place, in actual, real world?

[theBastard]

wrt. eblem: I'm a big believer in simplicity on maps. I don't believe in cluttering the map full of every damn thing you can think of that you can possibly associate with the subject of the map, which seems to be popular these days... The flag works, because it's part of the title. Adding another element on the map... not so much.

I did not mean add to map also emblem. I meant kick off flag (the title looks better alone) and add ONLY emblem to the left low corner. it was only my little input...

[Victor Sullivan]

But why is it there?

-Sully

Because there is actually sea in that place, in actual, real world?

Ah! That had not crossed my mind. Perhaps use the Adriatic's blue color.

-Sully

[natty dread]

Refer to the previous post.

[Victor Sullivan]

Refer to the previous post.

*Sigh* I read it. It should still have the same gradient as the Adriatic - why would it be darker? It's not a continuation of the Adriatic, so why continue the gradient into the darker shades?

-Sully

[natty dread]

SIGH...... (let's have a contest, I bet I can sigh louder)

happy now?

Click image to enlarge.

[Victor Sullivan]

Yes...

-Sully

[gimil]

wrt. eblem: I'm a big believer in simplicity on maps. I don't believe in cluttering the map full of every damn thing you can think of that you can possibly associate with the subject of the map, which seems to be popular these days... The flag works, because it's part of the title. Adding another element on the map... not so much.

I did not mean add to map also emblem. I meant kick off flag (the title looks better alone) and add ONLY emblem to the left low corner. it was only my little input...

I think the flag is a really good part of the map where it is, and I think it works better than any emblem could. I would vote for the flag to stay, personally. As for the dark spot in the bottom left corner, I see what victor is getting at but don't really think it is that big a deal. If you were to change it I would probably go for something along the lines of the mid tones of the ocean, rather than the darker tones.

To be honest thou, I can't find any glaring issues with the map now. The last few updates have really pulled the final aspects of the map together and it is looking fantastic. Well done natty.

[natty dread]

Ok then, we'll be going both sizes!

Click image to enlarge.

Click image to enlarge.

[gimil]

The small looks good, except that the army circles might be to small for the army number .

[natty dread]

The small looks good, except that the army circles might be to small for the army number .

I don't know, looks pretty ok to me..

Click image to enlarge.

[Victor Sullivan]

They could stand to be larger IMO. Also, do you suppose you could move the minimap up and to the left a bit, so Macedonia isn't cut off? Just bugs me a bit.

-Sully

[DiM]

i still think the poster was much better.
right now with a simple minimap the whole map is off-balance. you have the top right corner that stands out both in colour and in style with the big red letters from the title, the graphics of the flag and the legend and then you have the bottom left corner that has nothing. well, it has the minimap but that's identical to the whole map so it doesn't stand out at all.
the poster created a balance of colour and artistry. pleas consider tweaking the poster and making it work.

perhaps this could help get an idea or something. it's not that great cause it was a quick job with no psd but still...
*i think i made it too dark...

Click image to enlarge.

[natty dread]

1) I can't really think of a way to make the poster work. At best, it looks like a paper that's sort of hanging on top of the rest of the map. Also, it's hard to make thematically coherent - why would someone plaster a poster of a map on a wall?

2) I disagree that the map is off balance. Just because there is a consistent style accross the map doesn't mean it can't be balanced. Also I believe the sea itself provides enough of an artistic element, with it's pattern that's different from the rest of the map, to counter-balance the title corner. I also plan on making the minimap slightly larger, now that there's enough room for that again, without the poster (another advantage for leaving the poster out, less cramped for space).

I'm afraid we'll just have to agree to disagree on this.

[natty dread]

Click image to enlarge.

Click image to enlarge.

[Bones2484]

First time visiting this thread, but I kind of like the "poster" look more, too...

At this point, the minimap just gives a very weird perspective. Almost like it's part of the bigger map (especially with the lines to the Adriatic coming so close to it) so my brain is looking for army circles there too even though I know it's not part of it... I'm just visually not able to separate the minimap from the rest of it. Currently, it looks like Italy has a tumor.

[gimil]

I am still in the camp that is for the minimap as it is currently. But if there is no agreement on the issue and natty still feels it is difficult to make the minimap work, then how about this. Move the title down to the bottom, move the minimap into the top right corner and move the capitals and ports stuff on top of the flag.

This way the title can better utilise the unused space at the bottom as well as stand out on the darker colours while the minimap will pop more because it is on top of grey. This will also address DiM concerns about the bottom left not standing out. With the title at the bottom and the flag at the top, both areas have something that pops out in there area.

[rdsrds2120]

I agree with natty. The poster doesn't really "fit". It's more thematically pleasing this way, and I think the poster is distracting.

-rd

[Bones2484]

I agree with natty. The poster doesn't really "fit". It's more thematically pleasing this way, and I think the poster is distracting.

-rd

I completely agree that poster is completely distracting. I just like the idea of a "poster" of some sorts to separate the bonus structure from the map itself. Right now, it looks like it's part of the map even though I know full well it isn't.

[cairnswk]

Natty, i agree with the few above that your latest version is the ideal for the mini-map (without the poster which is distracting).
Those white areas that currently look blank could be filled with the names of countries around this former country, placing "italy" on the map would identify what that white area is near the mini-map and wouldn't be out of place. But i would change the colour of the sea in the bottom left corner to that of the Adriactic so there is some easy identification that that area is actually a sea and not a lake or something else.

[natty dread]

Or I could just do this...

Click image to enlarge.

[Victor Sullivan]

Looks good to me.

-Sully