cairnswk wrote:I don't know that everyone will agree on these suggestions (lengthy as they are), but given the challenges that I've seen arise in each of the subforums over the last 9 months since i have been on board from various maps, i would like also to propose -
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Minimum Stage Requirements
a minimum time limit that each map has to spend in each stage of the Foundry.
To this end, i would propose something like:
New Ideas - 2 weeks (mininum)
Main foundry - 6 weeks (minimum)
Final Forge - 4 weeks (minimum)
I know that most maps spend these amounts of time in these areas anyway. But having something "set in stone" in the guidelines, would explain to newcomers to the foundry, not to get grand ideas that their map is going to be processed throught the various stages at a lightning speed, and that everyone has to meet to the same minimum time requirements. This would also stop over-zealous cartographers assistants (like myself) from moving a map before it's time was due.
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Graphic Expectation Standards
Of course, also what needs to be explained in the "How to Make A Map" guideleines more precisely is that maps are expected to meet very high standards before they will be quenched.
The reason for this, is because (as we have seen) different cartographers have differing ideas about what is acceptable to them, but not about what is acceptable to the foundry.
These items might include (and these are items that are consistly asked for by some and even Andy):
1. borders - expected to be presented with a slight blur applied or some anti-aliasing of feathering so as not to appear jaggered and non-anti-aliased.
2. rivers - need to look like rivers with slightly different coloring and texturing from the oceans
3. oceans - needs to have some small amount (min) of texture applied
4. colors - need to be not too bright not too dull, pastel shades are always very good and acceptable to most players. Colors also need to be acceptable to the colorblind community in that different continent colors need to differ from other continent colors i.e separation of colors (link to colourblind colors site)
5. land mass needs to have a small amount of texturing applied and possibly needs to look as though the land sits out of the water if surrounded on any side by water.
6. fonts must be legible to the entire community; no more than three differing fonts for any one map;
7. any background imagery should have some effect applied to it so that it is not a direct copy of the original image
8. army circles are expected to be min. 22px diam. or 20px w x 16px h rectangular and must be colored enough to provide good contrast to the army numbers.
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Can't think of any more off the top of my head....but i think this would stop of lot of "preferential" type postings and would be a clear indication to all that the maps won't "go anywhere" unless these standars are applied.
I pretty much object 100% to this whole post.
Why create rules and guidelines for people to rub up against when they are not needed. Fact is, different maps enter the forge at different stages in their development, some need lots of work, some just some final touches. It would be unfair to take a map, like say Iraq
which is pretty much done graphically and make it rot in the Forge for a minimum of a month. That just doesn't make sense. Some people have more time to devote to maps and the progression of the map shows, why penalize them, and in turn, discourage them from making maps if they know they have to sit through a minimum
2 months of bureaucracy before it goes on the site. So yeah... a really bad idea.
Graphic standards.... should there be graphic standards? Of course there should be. Should they be set in stone? Hell no!. People are creative, and come up with creative maps, what it texturing doesn't fit with the theme? What if more than 3 fonts are needed for the theme. The only expectation that makes sense is the army circles limits, the rest are just asinine subjetive standards.
And if you disagree, please go tell WindowMakers, the best map maker on this site to go blur,alias, and texturize his ConquerMan map.
There should be standards, but they should remain unwritten and a map that is below them should be berated until the map maker either gives up or raises the map up to the standard, a la civil war.
) I agree 100% with oaktown and my moderation will probably be heading that direction.
