[Abandoned] - Iron Curtain

[the.killing.44]

Mod Note:Abandoned - If resurrected, this one must be checked again.


CURRENT MAP
[bigimg]http://i449.photobucket.com/albums/qq219/the-killing/Iron%20Curtain/IronCurtainA-2.jpg[/bigimg]

July 9th Updates

• New Bonus Set-up
• Some starting neutrals

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[LINK] Rev. 12
[LINK] Rev. 11
[LINK] Rev. 10
[LINK] Rev. 9
[LINK] Rev. 8
[LINK] Rev. 7
[LINK] Rev. 6
[LINK] Rev. 5
[LINK] Rev. 4
[LINK] Rev. 3
[LINK] Rev. 2
[LINK] Rev. 1
[LINK] Original
KEY:
RjBeals drafts
the.killing.44 drafts

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[spoiler=original post]Well.. here's the first draft. This is a concept that Ruben Cassar and myself came up with a few months ago. We are answering the peoples request for some more larger geographic maps, as the recent trend has been the smaller maps. It may look polished, but there's a lot more to do (including changing the hideous title).

This is going to prove rather difficult. The size restrictions on this site really do hold us back from so many possibilities. At first I was going to include all of USSR during the cold-war (Soviet Union), including Western Europe. Qwert's WW2 Europe map made me nervous, but I think ours is different enough to continue with, as most of ours is Russian Republic. I couldn't fit all of Russia. So I zoomed in enough to include Western Europe, and at least half of Russia. Soviet Union Administrative Divisions (1989)

Territories
I started with the Large map. I really feel that I will be able to fit the territories onto the small map, so don't worry about that. My problem will be the legend in the small map. I also had to combine some regions that were just simply too small, as well as split up some regions that were just to large. I split them up by large cities. (Ex. KORI in the top right. That's all just 1 territ, which was too large, so I split it into 5, and made it a bonus region.

This is how I was able to come up with 96 territories on this map. A good round numbers. (48x2) - only 5 player and 7 player games will start with some neutral armies.

Per recent update, I now have 99 Territories.

Bonus Regions.
I really didn't know how to divide them up. I prefer many smaller bonus regions - it seems like those games a little more fun for me. But like West Germany as +1 for 2 territs? I'm sure that's not gonna fly. In Russia, I just selected borders to make bonus region borders, and that was that. The colors I just picked at random. I'm sure this will be a topic of conversation. This is also where Ruben's massive geography and history knowledge will come into play.

Impassable Borders.
There needs to be some for sure. I haven't gone down that road yet.

Theme.
I for sure don't want army circles - as there are way too many territories. I don't want a map of circles. So again, in my style I choose soft pastel colors with a decreased saturation. This should keep all army digits easily identifiable. For a map this cramped, I do not want a lot of "grunge" or geographical features. (id. mountains, bridges, patterns...) I want to keep it simple, especially when I get to the small map creation.

So there you have it.
Keep in mind that I'm from the USA, and don't have that much more than general knowledge of Western Europe or the Cold War. Ruben on the other hand knows more than the average European on the subject. He appears to be busy with his new job recently - but he's still involved in the map.[/spoiler]

(.44)

[wcaclimbing]

first comment!

first look tells me that the colors are a bit too light for me to like. Could you make them a bit more saturated?
it'd make it easier to see everything, I think.

other than that, it looks great. Definitely a high quality first draft.

[ZeakCytho]

Very nice! The only thing I don't like is the style used for the oceans near the coasts. The transition from light to dark should be more gradual, I think.

[mibi]

very nice... though it is a bit too pastel for the 'iron curtain'.

[Mr. Squirrel]

I am really looking forward to the creation of this map. I agree with you that we need more large classic style maps and not just small gimmicky ones.

I know you said that you used pastel colors because you don't want to be using army circles, but I really don't think pastel matches the area and era you are trying to capture here. When I think of the cold war and the Soviet Union, I see more bold reds and darker colors than pastel ones. That is the only major concern I have at the moment.

[RjBeals]

colors are being updated now. I agree with you all. Darker colors are on the way

[RjBeals]

Hows this for darker colors (I removed the legend temporarily)

[bigimg]http://www.rjbeals.com/ironcurtain/IronCurtain_Rev-01.jpg[/bigimg]
[bigimg]http://www.rjbeals.com/ironcurtain/IronCurtain_Rev-00.jpg[/bigimg]

[ZeakCytho]

Colors are better, but I don't like how the playable area is floating. Could you put in the borders between unplayable nations, like you had in version 1? And get rid of the drop shadow?

[Incandenza]

Wow, that's a hell of a nice-looking map RJ. Love the idea of having some more classic-style big maps, should be fun for 8p and team games (tho I have an absolutely appalling record on your maps )

Couple things:
Lithuania has an extra 'n' appended to the end... there's prolly a couple of other naming issues in there, but that jumped out at me.
The title seems... well, not quite precise enough. When I saw "Iron Curtain", I figured that it would emphasize the demarcation between eastern and western europe. Perhaps "Warsaw Pact" would be a better title.

[pamoa]

How about a new point of view

...Some maps with different perspectives put a whole new twist on the game.

[RjBeals]

Thanks for the comments guys. I'll sweep through the mis-spellings eventually - and the title is negotiable. I like the Warsaw Pact as well - unless I can get an "Iron Curtain" to fall on the map somewhere?

[daydream]

wouldnt it be east germany??

[whitestazn88]

i'm still not sold on the colors. they still seem pastel-y. maybe if the whole thing were like... metal looking, or rusty.

[LB Ninja]

a very good looking map too me

[InkL0sed]

How about a new point of view

...Some maps with different perspectives put a whole new twist on the game.

I like it...

[tubaman]

How about a new point of view

...Some maps with different perspectives put a whole new twist on the game.

I like it...

Me too. I don't think you should use that for this map...you already got a good theme goin. But that would be good for another one.

[RjBeals]

That was a reference map that Ruben found and PM'd me about a month ago. It will not work with 96 territories, but it is a very cool idea.

[AndyDufresne]

Was this the ultra super secret cool idea you were working on a while ago? I like it. I love maps that are Standard/Classic play.

Will you be able to harness this banana down into a working..and somewhat beautiful small map?


--Andy

[RjBeals]

Was this the ultra super secret cool idea you were working on a while ago? I like it. I love maps that are Standard/Classic play.

Will you be able to harness this banana down into a working..and somewhat beautiful small map?


--Andy

Yes and Yes.

[gimil]

I very much perfer the version with the stronger coloured dead land. Although im not sure if the shade of red does it as much justice as it could. Fancy playing with a few other shades to see if there could be something a little me fitting?

I like the use of "colder","pastle" colours. Sort of makes the maps cold war theme work for me!

[RjBeals]

Okay - how about these colors? Is this more in the direction that you (all) like?

[bigimg]http://www.rjbeals.com/ironcurtain/IronCurtain_Rev-02.jpg[/bigimg]

[ZeakCytho]

I like the colors on Rev-1 better than on Rev-2.

[RjBeals]

Hmm... I may have overdid it. I kind of like Rev-1 better also.

[Androidz]

Could you make the background Snowy our icey? Dont get the Cold War touch even tough its has nothing to do with snow...

[cairnswk]

Okay - how about these colors? Is this more in the direction that you (all) like?

[bigimg]http://www.rjbeals.com/ironcurtain/IronCurtain_Rev-02.jpg[/bigimg]

Assignment - Graphic Stamping.

I'm very much for these colours - quite irontastic i'd say.
Great start RjBeals, i'll follow this closely.