Fractured China - [Quenched]

[AndyDufresne]

I perused some literature I have on Du Fu, one of the more prolific Tang Dyansty poets, known for his incorporation of history into his works. I couldn't find many lines that were completely relevant, but here are some ideas:

...battle flags blocked a cold and empty sky,
where slopes and valleys were worn smooth by the tramp of armies.

Sorrow's source is a huge as South Mountain,
a formless, whirling chaos that the hand cannot grasp.

Weeping in wilderness, how many families hear of attack and battle,
Barbarian songs in several places rise

My brothers are spread all throughout the land,
No home to ask if they are living or dead.
The letters we send always go astray,
And still the fighting does not cease.

The whore empire is a military camp;
Beacon fires have spread to each ridge and peak.
Corpses in piles foul fields and woods,
Blood reddens streams and plains.

Best of luck! I'm excited to see this map in play.


--Andy

[isaiah40]

Okay, a major update here!

Changes made:
1. Changed the font on the title, territory names and the legend.
2. Redrew some of the borders to fit the names in better with the new font.
3. Changed the legend background.
4. Added in a Chinese saying/proverb.

Still need to do;
1. The mountains.

Anyways, without further ado, here are both large and small!

[bigimg]http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/1087/fracturedchinav3.png[/bigimg]

[Victor Sullivan]

I think the territory names are alright, but I much preferred the old legend and logo (I miss the barbed wire graphic - I thought that was cool )

*Yay for my proverb*

-Sully

EDIT: Actually, looking at the small version, the territory names are hard to make out. Is there a way you could make the font less bold?

[RedBaron0]

yeah agree with Sully on the font on the small map, almost unreadable. I like the proverb, but that's more about bringing nations together instead of splitting them apart.

And forgive me if this was mentioned already, but wouldn't the stars be a shade more theme appropriate if they were a shade of yellow, like on the Chinese flag?

[isaiah40]

I think the territory names are alright, but I much preferred the old legend and logo (I miss the barbed wire graphic - I thought that was cool )

*Yay for my proverb*

-Sully

EDIT: Actually, looking at the small version, the territory names are hard to make out. Is there a way you could make the font less bold?

I could increase the size on the small. I think I have room to get it done. Now that I think of it I was going to do it before I uploaded it. Oh well, next update.

yeah agree with Sully on the font on the small map, almost unreadable. I like the proverb, but that's more about bringing nations together instead of splitting them apart.

Look at Fractured America "A house divided ..." quote. The other quotes, verses are a little long to put in so I used this one.

And forgive me if this was mentioned already, but wouldn't the stars be a shade more theme appropriate if they were a shade of yellow, like on the Chinese flag?

No I don't think it was mentioned. I could try it and see what happens.

[Victor Sullivan]

I like the proverb, but that's more about bringing nations together instead of splitting them apart.

It's the irony factor that makes it good

-Sully

[isaiah40]

Here's the small with the updated font size. Hope this is a little easier to read. Still working on the mountains.

[RedBaron0]

Some, but could be a little clearer. It's those Asian fonts that are tricky, I ran into the same problems with Japan. They can be really thick and bold, or thin and scripty, and even both in the same font! The quote is arbitrary, an I have no qualms with what you like there.

The stars are one thing too, as long as the numbers get on there without issue it should be ok too. The brownish tan there now is decent enough imo, the Chinese yellow is pretty bright, up to you to give it a try. Another thought that might be cool and theme appropriate would be to try instead of stars, ying/yang symbols, maybe?

[natty dread]

How about a chinese character for "city"

全市

[gimil]

I can't comfortably read the the text on the small map. Although I think I am on above average screen resolution. Which doesn't help. But I would like see the terr names become much clearer, but if I am honest I am not sure you can achieve this with the font you are using in the space available.

[isaiah40]

I would rather have honesty than fluffing it up gimil, thank you! I am currently working on the fonts, I have a version that I was able to go to a size 14, but there are still a couple of letters that look way too similar. I have a couple of other fonts I'm trying out, if they don't work I just may have to go back to my original font.

As for the background in the legend area, I am working on a couple of ideas, one of which may be the answer. Hopefully I can get a new update up later this evening.

[isaiah40]

New update!

[bigimg]http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/1517/fracturedchinav3b.png[/bigimg]

[Victor Sullivan]

Thanks for the PM, isaiah I like the effect you put on the legend, as well as the reappearance of the barbed wire, though now it's more difficult to read, particularly on the small. Maybe have more of an outer glow on the text and add it for the bonus areas text? I'd also be interested in seeing the classic Chinese yellow stars as I think gimil suggested for the capitals.

Also, the new (old?) font is now easily readable on both versions, which is nice, but I'm not quite diggin' the new title design. I preferred the old ones. The effect and color just looks strange to me.

-Sully

[isaiah40]

Thanks for the PM, isaiah I like the effect you put on the legend, as well as the reappearance of the barbed wire, though now it's more difficult to read, particularly on the small. Maybe have more of an outer glow on the text and add it for the bonus areas text? I'd also be interested in seeing the classic Chinese yellow stars as I think gimil suggested for the capitals.

Also, the new (old?) font is now easily readable on both versions, which is nice, but I'm not quite diggin' the new title design. I preferred the old ones. The effect and color just looks strange to me.

-Sully

Thanks! The legend area can be fixed easily enough. I tried the yellow stars but they stood too much so I scrapped them. As for the title, I was just trying something new (something new learned as well) and was just throwing at the wall to see if it sticks.

[isaiah40]

Changes made:

1. Title font
2. remove the outer glow from just about all the text and the sea attack routes.
3. Readjusted the legend area
4. increased the size of the map to 840x840 on the large and 630x630 on the small to help make the legend a little clearer with permission from thenobodies80

Believe it or not those are the changes that I can remember.

[bigimg]http://img718.imageshack.us/img718/5206/fracturedchinav3c.png[/bigimg]

[Bruceswar]

Those trees do not seem to fit the map... Maybe another try another tree?

[natty dread]

Maybe you should try looking for a font that looks chinese but is easy to read... You know, something like the fonts I have on the Korea map?

If you leave the map with the proverb being the only chinese looking thing, I'm afraid it will end up looking like a cheap sequel to FA... I think the map needs that chinese flavour in order to separate itself from the previous fractured map, to stand on it's own...

[isaiah40]

Maybe you should try looking for a font that looks chinese but is easy to read... You know, something like the fonts I have on the Korea map?

What font did you use? All the Chinese type fonts I looked at weren't showing up clearly. The ones I had just a couple of versions ago was the best ones I thought looked good and were easy to read.

As for the trees, they are staying as they are.

[natty dread]

I used this for the legend in Korea http://www.dafont.com/taibaijan.font
and this for territories http://www.dafont.com/korean-calligraphy.font

Here's another good one http://www.fontspace.com/fontmaker/domoaregato

This... might work http://www.fontspace.com/gemfonts/wewak

[RedBaron0]

I used domoaregato on Japan... The current territory font is veryvery plain, and really doesn't work :/

I should have jumped in earlier, I liked the title and legend fonts before, readable and fits the map.

[isaiah40]

Thanks guys! So Red, ya want me to go back to the previous fonts?

[RedBaron0]

For the legend and title at least!

[natty dread]

Yes, I support what Rb0 says. Go to the previous font for the legend & title, and try one of the fonts I suggested (or a similar one) for the territory fonts.

Also, I'd suggest making the sea a bit darker.

[cairnswk]

isaiah40...i've wondered into this thread a couple of times since being back to read etc...
overall i like the colour scheme of the map, its together, even though very dark in places 'coz of colours used.
I struggled with the previous font to read some areas, and even though with the new font it is more legible, it doesn't look right for the theme. part of this i think might be the horizontal line background you've got on the legend -> it kinda draws my eye to that pattern and not the text on it.
the trees to me are a little "mushroomy" although i can live with that.
can you check the shadows on trees etc, they look strange in places but this may just be optical illusion.
also, have you done a graphical check on the coloured numbers sitting on the map to see what it all looks like?
overall though i am liking it.

[isaiah40]

isaiah40...i've wondered into this thread a couple of times since being back to read etc...
overall i like the colour scheme of the map, its together, even though very dark in places 'coz of colours used.
I struggled with the previous font to read some areas, and even though with the new font it is more legible, it doesn't look right for the theme. part of this i think might be the horizontal line background you've got on the legend -> it kinda draws my eye to that pattern and not the text on it.
the trees to me are a little "mushroomy" although i can live with that.
can you check the shadows on trees etc, they look strange in places but this may just be optical illusion.
also, have you done a graphical check on the coloured numbers sitting on the map to see what it all looks like?
overall though i am liking it.

Thank you cairns! I'll try another slightly less "lined" background. I believe the shadows from the trees are an optical illusion, though I've been looking at this thing forever! Yes I've done the check on the colored numbers, but I'll do it again.