Hey everybody! This is an idea im kicking around. I call it presteige maps.
basically, we take a gameplay style or feature (lets say, one way attacks) and we make a map COMPLETELY based on that feature...
so, lets run through i hypothetical development of the Presteige: One way attacks map...
basically, we have a think tank of people who love and who are successful at maps the feature one way attacking. Lets say we come to a general concensus that Draknor level one is probably the map with the biggest base on one way attacking.
the map designer cleans out all of the non- one way attack features (bonuses, bombardment, etc) and has a diagram of the territories and the places they may attack. The think tank then develops the map, and adds many more territories that may one way attack.
once there are a reasonable amount of territories (lets say, sixty five) that may only one way attack eachother. we then draw in bonuses, and fix any gameplay notches....
now onto the visual aspect:
we should have all of the presteige maps have a similar style, looking proffesional and modern. I propose a stainless steal backround.
we then use photoshop or gimp's "bevel and emboss" feature to "engrave" the territories (which will be simple circles) onto the metal. we then use color overlays to signify the continents. we then engrave the territory names (which can be simple, like letters and numbers on classic shapes) we can then engrave black arrows to show directions of attacks... we then engrave the bonuses at the bottom, and a title at the top...
here are some possible gameplay elements i can think of:
one way attack
bombardment
large maps
small maps
path maps (one way attacks that go in laps (like circus maximus)
anybody may claim these ideas. if this whole thing gets started, i believe this thread should be stickied for easy reference!
