Japan - 日本 - Quenched

[elfish_lad]

I'm not so sure. I've been following the development of this stunning map (great job by the way) and was caught off guard by the mountain back ground as I saw it today.

My first thought was that it seemed a bit "out of mode" so to speak, not fitting with the over all theme. But the more I look at it, the more I like it, maybe "soften" the background image some more, so that it is more like a watermark?

Just an elf's couple of cents. Nice job.

E.

[RedBaron0]

I'm really just filling in time trying a number of different things, I tried cutting out the wave pattern up to the the end of the wave and filled in with the Mt Fuji background. Not too bad, I could throw it up if you all wanna see it, but the big thing I don't like, and why I'm just not going to go with it most likely is that the 2 background just don't mesh. I know I just can't cut out the mountain and leave it floating on the sea.

Honestly I'm just waiting to see what MrBenn had in mind a few pages ago, I know he's busy-busy, so I'm content to wait and fiddle here and there. I do think I've figured out the smoothness of the borders. I've gotten a trial version of photoshop and redone them there. Although I will say even after trying photoshop a bit I'm probably going to stick to GIMP for my map making projects I'm too used to the interface to switch. At this point my best big version is probably 8.6.

[ender516]

If you are really looking for stuff to monkey with, you could try resurrecting the dragon from some of the early versions. Just a little one, peeking out from behind a wave... I don't know, I'm just spitballin' here.

[lostatlimbo]

this map has improved significantly since I last saw it. very nice! looks like it will be a good play

[cairnswk]

RedBaron0... i'm sorry, but i have to be brutally honest in saying this...and i don't want to offend...
from my design and aesthetic viewpoint your Mt Fuji background would probably work a lot better if you got rid of that stylized wave background on the right and extended Mt Fuji landscape across the entire map. Sorry but i've never been a fan of the wave, to me it does nothing for the map.

[natty dread]

An option you could try... move the fuji mountain a bit higher, then you can let it show on the right side as well, and preserve some of the waves at the lower right corner...

[RedBaron0]

Trying a couple things:

[bigimg]http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc121/RedBaron0/bigjapan-version90-inprogress.jpg[/bigimg]

[bigimg]http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc121/RedBaron0/bigjapan-version91-inprogress.jpg[/bigimg]

Blue of the background muted somewhat on both maps. Taking a couple things just trying to fiddle with. Tried taking out the wave and putting in just a plain color with a bit of wavish texture, the color layer likely needs a lighing effect of some kind to be viable.

RedBaron0... i'm sorry, but i have to be brutally honest in saying this...and i don't want to offend...
from my design and aesthetic viewpoint your Mt Fuji background would probably work a lot better if you got rid of that stylized wave background on the right and extended Mt Fuji landscape across the entire map. Sorry but I've never been a fan of the wave, to me it does nothing for the map.

Don't worry about it, really, it is you opinion, and I thank you for making it. You're not going to hurt my ego by saying it either. I know sometimes folks making maps can get defensive about their maps, and I've probably been guilty of it somewhere along the line, but I -try- not to let it get to me. For Mt. Fuji to work I might have to think about putting together a little more of a collage of images representative of Japan in the modern era.

[isaiah40]

I like the second one better, not as busy or (IMHO) loud.

Can we get this Gr'd soon? Please!?

[natty dread]

I concur.

The first one looks a bit confusing.

Although, the second one looks a bit bland...

Perhaps the first one would be better if you would make the border between the fuji mountain image and the ocean smoother... Right now they kinda clash together, they're in disharmony...

[cairnswk]

....

RedBaron0... i'm sorry, but i have to be brutally honest in saying this...and i don't want to offend...
from my design and aesthetic viewpoint your Mt Fuji background would probably work a lot better if you got rid of that stylized wave background on the right and extended Mt Fuji landscape across the entire map. Sorry but I've never been a fan of the wave, to me it does nothing for the map.

Don't worry about it, really, it is you opinion, and I thank you for making it. You're not going to hurt my ego by saying it either. I know sometimes folks making maps can get defensive about their maps, and I've probably been guilty of it somewhere along the line, but I -try- not to let it get to me....

...indeed i am in that boat also.

I like the second one better, not as busy or (IMHO) loud....

Here, here...

[RedBaron0]

Anybody prefer the old wave?

[ender516]

Anybody prefer the old wave?

I have grown accustomed to the old wave, but the mountain has an impact that the wave never had and likely never will. But let me suggest this: keep the mountain and its shoreline, extending them across the whole map but moved up so the Sea of Japan territory appears on the water. Use the old wave on the lower part of the background, blending into the water at the bottom of the mountain image.

[RedBaron0]

Version 9.4
Small - 601x600
[bigimg]http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc121/RedBaron0/japan-version94-inprogress.jpg[/bigimg]
Large - 800x799
[bigimg]http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc121/RedBaron0/bigjapan-version94-inprogress.jpg[/bigimg]

hehehe

Oh well, I hate to just toss in Mt. Fuji just for the sake of having it back there. I don't think it'll work, mainly because the water on the image is a dark-dark color and will clash with the darker colors of the land mass.

See what this version does for you before I tinker further... and really if the artistic wave which is probably best in version 8.6 with all the other elements at their best can also be considered.

This version(9.4) has compacted the mountain impassibles in the region of Fukushima, as suggested by jefjef via wall post. Other than that the large and small maps have come together for a full update with wave background, updated compass rose, and lightened blue color.

[natty dread]

It looks neat enough... I for one prefer the old waves.

Then maybe you could change the mountains a bit? They look a bit out of place IMO... There's just something about them, that looks unnatural.

I'd say either get rid of the snow or make the lower part a lighter gray.

[ender516]

It looks neat enough... I for one prefer the old waves.

Then maybe you could change the mountains a bit? They look a bit out of place IMO... There's just something about them, that looks unnatural.

I'd say either get rid of the snow or make the lower part a lighter gray.

Maybe the problem with the mountains is the lighting: The map in general is lit from the upper left, but the mountains seem lit from the right.

[natty dread]

Could be, but personally I think the bigger problem is the high contrast between the white snow and almost black mountain...

[jefjef]

It looks neat enough... I for one prefer the old waves.

Then maybe you could change the mountains a bit? They look a bit out of place IMO... There's just something about them, that looks unnatural.

I'd say either get rid of the snow or make the lower part a lighter gray.

Maybe the problem with the mountains is the lighting: The map in general is lit from the upper left, but the mountains seem lit from the right.

Nice catch You are correct. Wrong side of the mountains are shaded. Might as well make both sides the same shade. No real need to have a shadow effect.

[MrBenn]

Hi redbaron - sorry for the delay in popping in and giving some proper feedback.

I was trying to work on smoothing up the borders, but my attempts didn;t look any better than you're adjusted versions. I was also hoping to get enough time to play around with the background a little to see if I could get everything to feel a little bit more compatible.

I think the map looks easier on the eye with your latest update, but it still feels like it's not quite got that je nais cest quoi.

I'm not fully convinced by the shadow effect on the land - I think I'd rather see a subtle dark outer glow around the whole thing... Either that, or you need to add a shadow onto your ocean paths too.

[RedBaron0]

I think the map looks easier on the eye with your latest update, but it still feels like it's not quite got that je nais cest quoi.

Of course not... that's French, not Japanese.

I'm still fiddling, I doubt I'll get much do tonight, the game is on and I'll be ocupado.

GO PHILLIES!

[ender516]

I think the map looks easier on the eye with your latest update, but it still feels like it's not quite got that je nais cest quoi.

Of course not... that's French, not Japanese.

I'm still fiddling, I doubt I'll get much do tonight, the game is on and I'll be ocupado.

GO PHILLIES!

That's barely French: he meant "je ne sais quoi". And "occupado" with two C's is Spanish. (I love being pedantic. My family hates me for it.)

[RedBaron0]

That's barely French: he meant "je ne sais quoi". And "occupado" with two C's is Spanish. (I love being pedantic. My family hates me for it.)

I can see why.

[porkenbeans]

8.5 is clearly the best when it comes to the land.
8.1 is the best when it comes to the text.
I can dig the new water, but the original stylized water was not bad either.
Mt. Fuji had a nice feel, but did not mesh with the water. Although maybe a drop shadow on those waves could have helped to separate it in a layered effect.
I think that if you combine the land of 8.5, with the text of 8.1, with the Fugi and water (with drop shadow added). also scale down the compass and move it over above the title. and also fade it out some so it is more in the background. Also with this layered effect it may work better if you cranked up the opacity on Fuji a bit.

[jpcloet]

Trying to catch up.

I find the background land text very busy to the eyes.

The one blue island is hard to see with the number circle, it's almost completely hidden. The island itself kind of looks like a circle.

Overall this map looks very close to ready. I do like the anime type colors combined with the current naming text.

[RedBaron0]

I actually increased the size of the island, Oki-shoto to fit an army circle in it, it's out of proportion with the real island compared to the main island of Japan, the island just off to the southwest was also omitted to prevent confusion.



If you look at the image you'll see the island is basically round. I defiantly don't want to make the island bigger, perhaps I could re-add the Nishinoshima island back to the map shrink the circular island and place the army circle between the 2 islands, and still name the territory "Oki-shoto" I'll make sure the connecting line goes to the circle, not to either of the islands.

With the mountains I'll reverse their orientation so the light side is facing the maps light source in the top corner of the map. See how that works.

And I'll try adding the shadow effect to the territory connections and see where that is.

[RedBaron0]

Bad news... My computer has totally crapped out. After a system recovery I was able to recover some map files enough to continue production without having to start over from scratch, but until my computer is repaired. (or tossed out in favor of a spiffy new one ) There won't be any updates. Hopefully this delay won't be more than a week or so. For now I can still access CC via my Wii. Not the easiest thing to do, but at least I've got something...

With any luck there'll be an update no later than Thanksgiving, and thats worst case scenario.