Seeking map or need advice on making it

[Targa]

See my post below for some answers, I edited it. Something else I wanted to mention though. One of the difficulties I've been having is placement of fertile lands. Using Orania as an example, the majority is by the water's edge and along the rivers, while inland is barren. While this looks realistic, it creates a problem for anyone unlucky enough to start the game somewhere in the middle, and those people starting by the water have a cash advantage right off the bat. So would you say that it's better to go with an "evenly distributed" look? Should I make all the fertile lands #nostart, as well as all the provinces bordering the edges of the map?

Originally posted by Targa:
See my post below for some answers, I edited it. Something else I wanted to mention though. One of the difficulties I've been having is placement of fertile lands. Using Orania as an example, the majority is by the water's edge and along the rivers, while inland is barren. While this looks realistic, it creates a problem for anyone unlucky enough to start the game somewhere in the middle, and those people starting by the water have a cash advantage right off the bat.

That is in part of the game, position plays alot of how the game is played by any particular nation. You have enough rivers that you can place a fertile province pretty much where you'd like. If you happen to get an area that seems lacking in both mountain, forest and riverland areas, make it a high chokepoint area so there is some benefit for it. (You could also place already visible sites in these provinces to try to make up for the discrepency)

So would you say that it's better to go with an "evenly distributed" look? Should I make all the fertile lands #nostart, as well as all the provinces bordering the edges of the map?

You should place all the borders as #nostart, with the exception of the water provinces near the edge (this will allow water nations have some space to not get invaded instantly by a land province to their capital).

I would prefer the semi-realistic look while being balanced as far as if an area doesn't have fertile provinces they have something else that could make up for it.

[ February 05, 2004, 01:57: Message edited by: Zen ]

[Gandalf Parker]

There is no real good "average number of players". It would be simpler to talk in provinces per player. Its a lesson I learned in trying to get feedback from players about what maps sizes they wanted.

If a map will support every nation gaining only 5 provinces before having no choice but to go to war, then you are looking at 75 land and 10 water provinces. See where this is going? Saying a map will support 6 players doesnt mean much unless you add whether this means you idea of support is 5, 10, 25 provinces each before forcing a war.

As to terrains, Im kindof bugged if the terrain is grouped so "logically" that that there are large rambling areas of forest, desert, swamp, mountain. OK visually that makes sense but it creates maps where one persons start is surrounded by desert provinces and another surrounded by farmland. I would rather see smaller scatterings so that everyone is next to a few different types of terrain.

[Targa]

As to Zen's "waving wheat field" to make up for the barren look, does this look any better, or is it too "busy" now?
http://www.techno-mage.com/~targa/wheat.jpg

[Arryn]

Originally posted by Targa:
As to Zen's "waving wheat field" to make up for the barren look, does this look any better, or is it too "busy" now?
http://www.techno-mage.com/~targa/wheat.jpg

It would look better if the "wheat" icon placements conformed to the darker shadings within those provinces. Alternatively, if you shaded the area beneath the wheat in the same color/tone as the wheat and then smoothed/blended that into the rest of the province's barren tone. A lot more work, of course.

[Targa]

Like so?
http://www.techno-mage.com/~targa/wheat2.jpg

Maybe you can bunch them together a little more and add a green background to take a look at it? Or at least some portions. I don't know whether or not it would work but it's at least a thought.

[Arryn]

Originally posted by Targa:
Like so?
http://www.techno-mage.com/~targa/wheat2.jpg

Better. But can you extend the area of shading beneath the wheat so that the "pockets" of them merge together?

With regards to Zen's suggestion, it might look better if you shrank the size of the wheat icons and, as Zen said, bunch more of them together. I think my biggest gripe is that the wheat icons are slightly largish.

[ February 05, 2004, 02:45: Message edited by: Arryn ]

Also Targa, if it's too much work don't worry about it It was just an idea to create the image of 'fertility'.

[Targa]

Just out of curiosity, does this "texturized" Version appeal to anyone? Or would you rather have the original "flat cloth" look?
http://www.techno-mage.com/~targa/wheat3.jpg