DiM wrote:antjo, you have to understand that all map makers do these maps for the whole community. in order for the map to be accepted the whole community must like it and accept it. it seems you have lots of ideas some good some bad and you're starting to learn fireworks. this is a good thing, but you must understand that if the community says the map is not good you must start a new one or try to improve the current one, listen to advices and do the requested modifications. communicate with everyone, describe your map, be open to suggestions, etc.
for example i have no idea what this map is about. the gfx are better than the last maps you've done but they are still bad. but the main problem is that the map has no appeal. what's the theme? what should i think about when i'm playing this map, what's that land? what am i in that map?
in other maps is simple, i'm a chinese checkers player and in play on a chinese checkers board, nice theme nice feeling.
or i'm trying to be king of the mountains and i must defeat the other contenders in widowmakers map.
here i have no idea what i'm supposed to do, i'm not motivated at all to attack sky 7 or vis.
I am going to agree with DiM here. A map needs to make the player understand why they are fighting. With abstract maps this is much harder to do because there might not be a good frame of reference for the player.
When I am starting a new map or evaluating a new map I think of 3 things. How would I play it (deployment, fortification securing territories), does it look good (visuals, army readability, border distinction, no confusing) and can I relate to it ( is it a map of a real place, a board game, or just a made up idea.)
I have to admit the maps I have worked on in the foundry currently are all abstract. The KOTM is not a map of any place you or I can go. That was really a hard sell to many of the other people in the foundry. I worked on the graphics per their suggestions. I adjusted the bonus system. I allowed the foundry to work , like the foundry is supposed to work. TO BETTER THE MAP FOR EVERYONE!
But even thought my KOTM map was abstract, I did not just start a thread and say "Hey what if I make a King of the Mountain Map?" Then when people asked what does it look like put in a sketch that took me 5 minutes to draw. I spend hours before hand thinking through the game play and territory layout. I think this is the most important step. Before you suggest your idea to the foundry spend some time thinking thought how the map will play, what the routes and borders are and the bonus system.
If you do this you might find that the map is not really good or does not make sense. Or you might find that it is good and then when you present your ideas the frest of use have a better understanding of what it is you are trying to achieve.
PLAN AHEAD then PRESENT YOUR IDEA.