Version 11.6 FRANCE 2.1

[Bruceswar]

What is the actual % of color blind players we have?

CC's policy is even 1 player is enough to warrant a change. I do not know the actual numbers

[Aleena]

oh, then we should start doing map in different languages and maps with text written backwards for those whom are dyslexia - for we do not want to leave those players out either...

sometimes policies are not all ways practical and as a community we should weigh the advantages and disadvantages...
I think right now we are leaving out more players due to language then we would ever leave out for color blindness - Also we need to know our limitations and our audience, and sometimes we might need to bend a few policies for the best...

I have nothing wrong with making maps that work around the issue of color blindness and I think it is a good policy that we have, it shows that we are trying to accommodate a wider field of players - but as we do not have a policy for spanish, germen, russian, or even player with other visual handicaps like dyslexia - then we need to be willing to know and recognize when to enforce policies like this and when policies like these could be bent a bit...

[RjBeals]

you're a fire-cracker Aleena. We need the likes of you around her - stir the pot a little... kinda like Qwert used to do

[Lancelot du Lac]

Here is my latest work :

1. I reduced the opacity. (preference to keep the troops on the autodeploy)
2. I removed the shadows of the mountains.
3. I increased the size of text's bonus ALS.



Thank you for your comments

[RedBaron0]

How about a little something more like this for the mountains?

Click image to enlarge.

[Aleena]

To keep the mountains from looking like clipart, try adding a shadow to the land. There's already a light direction on the mountains themselves, just add some dark areas to the ground beside them - see graphic. Also - nice map

I still think this will help and satisfy everyone. Keep the current mountains but work on the cast shadow.

Okay I have studied the mountains some and have come to conclusion that what is making the mountains "float" on the map is the shadow. To make it easier for you and to not delay this much longer, remove the shadows. The right side of the mountains look good, it's just that left side just looks blah.

hummm....
they say add shadows, then they say remove shadows, now it sounds like they want the shadows back....

Still they do not clearly express what is wrong with the mountains except they claim it looks like clip/art which we all know they are not...

Yet they have approved other maps with simpler (clip art like) mountains on them....

Criticism is great when it's constructive and gives a clear point of view and possible solutions - but empty criticism is useless and is like hitting our heads against a wall...

I personally think he did a great job on the mountains - though I did like them better with the shadows.... Only other thing I can suggest is to change the color of the sides of the mountains to match the regions that are next to it... Maybe if you blend the mountains in to the ground with patterned colors - people might start to back off this subject - that seems to be the only really difference in the example of the other map that they have cleared...


Just noticed Redbaron0 suggested same thing... And gave a visual example..

[Lancelot du Lac]

Yes, i don't understand the criticism when it's not constructive. But Redbaron made a nice proposal, in my opinion.

May be Redbaron, you can continue this work on the others mountains. Just a suggestion, if you want to continue, try to make highest.

- Pyrennes (south France) are big moutains.
- Alpes (East South) are big moutains too.
- The others are smaller.

Then we can compare the two mountains (your proposal and mine) and this will allow us to make a vote.

My work stops here for the mountains. May I will add the shadows as suggested Aleena. But I wait before we ask me to remove the shadows ...

[RjBeals]

You do what you want. Personally, I think a good shadow on a 3-dimensional mountain looks best. And what could be more constructive than an actual screen shot example. All of us have different opinions and as long as this map is in development, people would pop in from time to time and give you their opinion / advice. You can't please everyone, but you should get a good feel of what is needed. In the end it's your map. If you're satisfied with those mountains, then leave them. Next week, when someone new looks at your draft and tells you to change the color of the mountains, you don't have to do it. Just reply you've already experimented with many variations on the mountains and you're happy with them as they are now. Done deal.

I still don't like the texture - but you do, so leave it.

[Aleena]

RjBeals - like your advice... Good advice....

[Lancelot du Lac]

My final proposal (with shadows)

Now I think we can validate the design. This has gone on too long.

Thank you all.

[iAmCaffeine]

I agree with using shadows in general. However, they seem obtrusive here and make the mountains appear separate from the map.

[Lancelot du Lac]

Thanks for your first post.

There are two categories of people. Those who love the shadows and those who do not like shadows.

You don't like shadows. It's your opinion, but not the choice of mapmakers.

[iAmCaffeine]

That's not what I was saying, but considering your tone I'll change mine to suit.

I like having shadows of mountains on this map, but in this latest update they have been done badly.

[Lancelot du Lac]

Shadows of which version you talk? (all versions are in the first topic)

I think this has always been the same shadows.

Thanks for your answer.

[iAmCaffeine]

I believe it's the first time I've taken a proper look at them as I didn't want to get involved in the back-and-forth debate, but I mean in reference to the most recent upload.

[cairnswk]

I have been watching the mountain discussion...re not looking part of the map
a suggestion in two parts:
1. use a paintbrush with the colour of the region and extend it up the mountain a little at the base so that the region colour blends in with the mountain
2. use the same technique, and use the shadow colour on the base of the mountains on the sahdow side.
...try different opacities to obtain the best result
only a suggestion to try

[RedBaron0]

Are you just using the shadow filter/enhancement on the mountain layer? That's what it looks like to me. You gotta add another layer, blank, just beneath the mountains, and above the rest of the map. Then use the suggestions from cairns and Rj to draw in the shadows, and you should have a much better look, instead of the separated/floating mountains you have currently.

[Seamus76]

Are you just using the shadow filter/enhancement on the mountain layer? That's what it looks like to me. You gotta add another layer, blank, just beneath the mountains, and above the rest of the map. Then use the suggestions from cairns and Rj to draw in the shadows, and you should have a much better look, instead of the separated/floating mountains you have currently.

I agree. The shadows are a must, but just need a little touching up using cairns' and the above advice.

Also, it does look like the light blue border around the land comes and goes around the map.

[RjBeals]

looks like it's time to work on some mountain shadows.

[RedBaron0]

my email is in my profile, send me the source file, I can try some more on the mountains. Honestly, I'm really of the opinion that mountains, in their current form, no matter how well you spiffy them up are just never going to pass.

[pamoa]

he already told you
the map is done in ILLUSTRATOR
and shadow are not as easy as in photoshop

[cairnswk]

he already told you
the map is done in ILLUSTRATOR
and shadow are not as easy as in photoshop

NZ was done in Illustrator also, but the mountains were done in another package that was more useful for drawing.
I don't see what the issue is. Matter of trying different things and importing images into illustrator so that it works.

[pamoa]

As I understood the skills are the issue

[cairnswk]

As I understood the skills are the issue

Like i have had to do...they have to be learned to achieve something worthwhile

[Aleena]

a lot of this is subjective...
What one of you might think looks better - used more of a so called skillful touch - might be "trash" in my opinion - where a more simple approach might actually give some maps a little more class - what is currently happening is a few of you have decided how ALL maps should look - now instead of having a beautiful selection of different types of artistic views on a map style - slowly they are all starting to look alike...

I can point out 4 or 5 maps that are either in BETA right now or recently just got out of BETA which have worst mountains or art work - in my opinion then this map does.....

In fact we even have one where troop counts are invisible because the background color selected matches a color of one sides troops... Yet no one seems to nick pick that out....

These are screen shots of maps recently accepted and currently in BETA

Click image to enlarge.

It's obvious you guys are not using the same standard to judge all these maps... What are some your friends from past games, that is why their art work passes and this guys does not? Or did they slide ya something under the table?? If so how much, I want to know... I might need to do the same...