What maps do people want? Advice?
 

Hi all. I'm interested in trying out mapmaking for awhile, and I'm curious what people want? I'm also soliciting any advice from people who have already made maps. For example, what programs do people use to make graphical maps (the .tga)?

As far as what people want, I guess I wonder what people care most about:

-average number of neighbors (and how many)
-visual appeal of map
-perfect balance (usually comes with symmetry)
-creative layout/connectivity
-ideal number of players/range of number?
-something else?

Thanks!

p.s. I posted this here, because it's the mapmaking forum... but it could be of interest to people who dont normally read the mapmaker forum? Should it be moved?

Re: What maps do people want? Advice?
 

I would like to see maps of the real world. Russia, China, Africa. Europe has been overdone.

avg # neighbors:4
Visual: almost any works for me, I am not picky
Ideal #players: 8-12
-something else?-- Be careful with the size (actual screen size) of the provinces to big or to small can really ruin a map.

Re: What maps do people want? Advice?
 

Agreed... one of the world maps is seriously unbalanced.

Re: What maps do people want? Advice?
 

4 land-neighbours is a good average.

I think conections are interesting, when they create good border-situations and good expand-sittuations at the same time. Therefor it's interesting to add connections to diffrent regions of the map. Or in other words: A province can have a lot of neigbours, if those neigbours have only few connections among each other.

Re: What maps do people want? Advice?
 

Small unwrapped maps are easy enough for people to generate for themselves. So any combination of...
A) large or more (the game defines large as 20 prov per player)
B) satellite photo
C) fantasy maps (not my cup of tea to use known maps from other sources but some like it)
D) hex or other "fair grids"
E) balanced for multiplay
F) wrapped
G) themed scenarios
H) Creative (multiple layers, etc)

As to programs....
Using map generators from other games seems like a good idea. Dig up any X4 games you have from the last decade and see if they have a map editor.

And you might look at this directory
http://www.dom3minions.com/RandomMaps/projects/GIMP/
Those were created using a random generation script in the free GIMP paint program. GIMP is powerful, but not the funnest to learn

And here is a link to a Dom2 generator that is still running. Feel free to use any of these as a base for a new map. There is a new batch of maps generated every day.
http://tinyurl.com/2ofqzy
I hope to finish something like that for Dom3 one day.

Re: What maps do people want? Advice?
 

idea: Map covered with movement restricted provinces, except a road system of plains (with a graphical representation of a road.)

Similar idea: A full wasteland/swamp map with a series of fat farms spread about. Start, waste, waste, farms, waste, waste, farm, frontline (or middle). Make few enough that holding onto the good provinces is worthwhile. No chokepoints, but a large army would have difficulty crossing vast wasteland. Think desert/oasis.

I'd like to see a smaller verion of one of the maps that has the cavern/dungeon system. A few provinces that have a long connection to a subset of provinces to the side and off the map.

Re: What maps do people want? Advice?
 

I'd like warparound maps that are relatively balanced and have a good number of provinces that are just 'normal' - not forest, swamp, farm, mountain etc.

Re: What maps do people want? Advice?
 

Yes, because in dominions 3 we are all looking for normal things :p kidding

I like small maps!!!!

Re: What maps do people want? Advice?
 

I'd like maps which are both artistic (unusual looking, pretty to look at, etc.) as well as reasonably balanced or at least balanceable, and *wrap around*.

Given that we're going to spend many, many hours staring thoughtfully at this thing as we play the game, I don't want ounderstate the importance of a map that looks good.

But wrap around (more than symmetry) is key to making a big map well balanced. Smaller maps you can just place players around the rim by hand, it's not a big deal.

Re: What maps do people want? Advice?
 

I think there is a need for wrap around maps in the MP community. Starting position along one edge of the map is often more unbalancing than a position with rich or poor provinces.

Re: What maps do people want? Advice?
 

I play single play exclusively. I'd like to see a 20-player, 400+ (land) province map of the Warhammer Fantasy world. If you need reference maps or background material for magic sites just ask.

Re: What maps do people want? Advice?
 

Ditto - I have just begun to scratch the surface of the many possibilities that SP offers.

I'd also request that a map based on the Exalted Creation be made. I particularly like the fact that Creation's Water-based factions have a great deal of flexibility, particularly in the West, aptly called the Elemental Pole of Water.

Unfortunately, I don't have access to a lot of material, else I would have pestered someone for help on an Exalted mod. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif

Re: What maps do people want? Advice?
 

Seconded. Map of the Old World would be just so freaking awesome. Sylvania could be a wasteland with lots of death sites and protected by some independent Vampire Lords. Chaos Wastes could be heavily defended by freaky independent forces, have almost 0 population but amazing magic sites. Athel Loren could be defended by a mixture of Treelords and elf dudes from the Sylvania mod. Bretonnia would of course be full of independent Knights..

There is just so much awesome stuff in warhammer world.

Re: What maps do people want? Advice?
 

Thanks for the feedback folks. I am currently done with 1 1/2 maps that are wrapped, balance multiplayer. I'll post when I finish and I'd love feedback. Next I'll work on an unbalanced, SP or MP map. Balancing rigorously takes some of the fun out of map making, and my impression is that the MP nature can help even out some of hte imbalances in a map. I've got more ideas than time now, so it might take a while...

Re: What maps do people want? Advice?
 

A map like Orania ( my favorite for the moment), which is wraparound and as VP on it with special magic sites for the VPs. I love VP 'cause it mean you wont have to besiege each capital to win.

Re: What maps do people want? Advice?
 

I love Orania from a balance point of view, but I find the art on that map
way too bland. If someone would just pretty up the graphics, I would
be very happy.

I also like smaller games - 6-8 players, 20 provinces per player, and would
love to see a wrap around map with a lot of terrain features, and chokepoints.

Re: What maps do people want? Advice?
 

Hmmmmm I wonder what ever happened to the "Orania Wars" version from Dom2? That was a nice little scenario game.
#description "With the disappearence of the Pantocrator from Orania his servants
and other demigods has started the Ascension Wars of Orania. In order to attain
godhood and become the One God of Orania the pretenders must conquer the incarn
ation sites of six other pretenders.

All seventeen nations have fixed starting positions and begin with five province
s. The first player to own seven capitals have won the game."

I wonder if its still playable in Dom3? I guess it would be early age only with it only using the first 17 nations on the list. unless someone wants to update it.

Re: What maps do people want? Advice?
 

Oh ancient alzimered one from the dawn of the game why don't you make a list of all of those.
But not in this thread since I do not think it has a place with the new maps discussion.

Let me start you out.
fgrep -A 5 \#description *.map

Re: What maps do people want? Advice?
 

I'm busy with a 2nd map and I need to know what is more wanted a OPEN map with loads of provinces all inter connected and no barricades OR more choke-points & semi-choke-points (passages 1-2 provs wide?)

Re: What maps do people want? Advice?
 

You will tend to get both answers. From what Ive seen the serious MPers tend to like open maps where the winner is based on whose strategy is better, not spur-of-the-moment tactics or who lucked on getting a chokepoint near them. The SPers tend to like chokepoints. Alot of people do both types of play. In general I think that the wish for chokepoints tends to win out in the numbers. IMHO

Re: What maps do people want? Advice?
 

I like some chokepoints. Not all.

And I don't much like start positions in the middle of the map, unless it wraps.

Re: What maps do people want? Advice?
 

NO choke points tend to advantage factions with a maneuvrable army, whereas too many advantage factions with shock troops and/or mages.At least it's my point of view.
I would prefer a varied map, offering the two options.
I could say I want chocolate with sugar...

Re: What maps do people want? Advice?
 

Hmm since it's a mostly water map I couldn't make a lot of real chokepoints anyway. On some places it's a bit more barriered than others though.