Nordic Countries [Quenched]

[40kguy]

These, I think, are the best mountains so far.

[bigimg]http://img696.imageshack.us/img696/3889/nordic07.jpg[/bigimg]

meh. I like the other ones better.

[koontz1973]

But what of the new sea routes? Better/worse?

I am leaning towards better but when I look at them, I expect to see a little ship somewhere on the map. Different, and I can see you starting to get a distinct style working for you.

[Gillipig]

These, I think, are the best mountains so far.

[bigimg]http://img696.imageshack.us/img696/3889/nordic07.jpg[/bigimg]

Mountains look better but it makes the Glacier look worse! It certainly needs some work!
Also I don't like the fjords! They look awful at the moment! They need to be smoother now it looks like something I could've drawn !

[natty dread]

Ok I'm also trying a bit different sea routes again. More ornamental style...

Made the glacier texture stronger too.

[bigimg]http://img820.imageshack.us/img820/3889/nordic07.jpg[/bigimg]

Also, here's an alternative for the minimap...

[bigimg]http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/34/nordic07b.jpg[/bigimg]

[koontz1973]

I like the new ones. Can you make the smaller circles slightly lighter. Between what you have now and the larger brighter ones as I keep taking double looks to make sure they are there.

[natty dread]

[bigimg]http://img832.imageshack.us/img832/6641/nordic07c.jpg[/bigimg]

[jigger1986]

I think the new graphics looks tight! Nicely done, I cant wait till I get to play a game on it (I personally have always loved this map)

[koontz1973]

[bigimg]http://img832.imageshack.us/img832/6641/nordic07c.jpg[/bigimg]

Perfect.

[natty dread]

I'm not really convinced though... those routes might look a bit too ornate, for the simplistic style of the map...

Maybe I should just create some entirely new brush for the routes.

[natty dread]

I decided to go for simpler routes.

[bigimg]http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/3889/nordic07.jpg[/bigimg]

[koontz1973]

I'm not really convinced though... those routes might look a bit too ornate, for the simplistic style of the map...

Maybe I should just create some entirely new brush for the routes.

But the map is not that simple though. The news ones on the old style map would be out of place but in this map you have gone for a far more stylistic version. Just look at your mountains, they are pretty nice looking mountains but again they have this level of detail that the playing map does not.

The ornate sea routes work better...

It looks like your river runs on your mountain at the top, not down it or around it but on top of it.

[natty dread]

I'm not talking about level of detail when I say the map is simplistic. I'm talking about the style. The visual elements are all very simple, in style.

Look at the outlines of the land. They're simple and stylized, sacrificing accuracy to gain smoothness and flow. I want the sea routes to exemplify these same design principles.

Anyway, if no one has any objections, I'm starting the small map today.

[Gillipig]

The fjords don't look good natty! Needs to look smother! And what's with the lake in lofoten? There's no big lake there in reality!!

[natty dread]

It's the way the land outline is drawn. It's a stylized representation, which goes in line with the style of the map. I'm not changing it at this point.

Just chalk it up to artistic license.

[Coleman]

If someone doesn't think this looks better than the currently playable map... then I don't know what to say, they should get new eyes I guess...

No, it does now. I would still love new eyes though if you know a good surgen and have some for sale.

[natty dread]

Glad to hear Coleman. Also, I heard cow eyes work pretty well.

We're going two sizes now. XML coordinates are next.

[bigimg]http://img580.imageshack.us/img580/3889/nordic07.jpg[/bigimg]

[bigimg]http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/3364/nordic07s.jpg[/bigimg]

[ManBungalow]

I, for one, am glad that you're updating these graphics. The current image is alright, but this looks a lot nicer.

However, both Svalbard and Iceland look quite out of place. Perhaps they could be in an inset-type thing?

Otherwise, I like the texture, the mountains, and how the landmass all juts out of the water a little. And though that sounds ridiculous, shut up.

[koontz1973]

Can you smooth out the ice in Iceland. The edge that goes up at the angle is blocky.

[Victor Sullivan]

Nice! One very subjective nitpick is I'm not a fan of how close Denmark's color is to Sweden's...

-Sully

[RjBeals]

this does look better - even the mountains. I just notice your sig and think it could be more fitting. Looks sort of digital now

Nice quick revamp

[natty dread]

Thanks everyone for comments.

ManB, I don't think I want to go for insets for this version. I don't think they would really bring anything more to the map, and they would be likely to clutter the map needlessly...

Victor, I think Denmark & Sweden are different enough. DK is green while SWE is cyan.

Things I did do:

- Smoothed out the angle on the glacier
- Changed sig
- Minor tweaks to the sea and land textures
- Made the sea routes etc. follow the contours of the outer bevel of the land

[bigimg]http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/3889/nordic07.jpg[/bigimg]

[bigimg]http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/3364/nordic07s.jpg[/bigimg]

[Seamus76]

I am really liking the colors, it very much reminds me of the Aurora Borealis, which, correct me if I'm wrong, is a big part of this area. I think it's a very nice update, natty.

One issue I do have, and it may just be my eyes again, but the star icon under the title (more so on the large image), seems a little bright. Almost distracting from the map itself. Could be just me though.

[natty dread]

It's not a star, it's a compass. The N of the compass doubles as the N in Nordic, which is good since the N in the compass means North while Nordic basically means "northern".

I don't think it's too bright, myself. Does anyone else think it's too bright?

[jigger1986]

It's not a star, it's a compass. The N of the compass doubles as the N in Nordic, which is good since the N in the compass means North while Nordic basically means "northern".

I don't think it's too bright, myself. Does anyone else think it's too bright?

I dont think its too bright either. It seems as bright as the glacier in Iceland and the mountains.

[natty dread]

XML coords done:

http://www.fileden.com/files/2010/2/7/2 ... nordic.xml

[spoiler=test results][/spoiler]