USA 2.1 [10 Mar 2013] Beta Baby!!

[ironsij0287]

I'm for this project but please, please make the states shapes more geographically accurate. Also a graphical overhaul from the original map pack theme would be nice too.

What is wrong with making the shapes of the states not so accurate? Anyways, I added a few more states and interstates to this version Almost done! Still have to do New England, and place on all the other roads between the other cities

I understand they're not going to be perfect because some states have to be stretched to fit the cities, but Iowa, Illinois look horrible. Alabama looks pretty bad too.

[Victor Sullivan]

Yay! Ohio! Just don't forget 70

-Sully

[natty dread]

Is this version you're posting the small or the large image? Because I don't think it has much room to be shrank... (or is it shrunk? shrinked?)

[isaiah40]

I understand they're not going to be perfect because some states have to be stretched to fit the cities, but Iowa, Illinois look horrible. Alabama looks pretty bad too.

Yes well, I'll get around to them after I get everything on it, like the background picture, all 68 or so bonuses. Good thing this is all vector based, as it will be really easy to change things around.

Is this version you're posting the small or the large image? Because I don't think it has much room to be shrank... (or is it shrunk? shrinked?)

Hmmm .... me thinks me forgot to mention that. This the small version as I am doing it all as a vector image, then when done I will be upscaling to the large. With a map of this magnitude, this is the best way.

Yay! Ohio! Just don't forget 70

-Sully

It'll get in there! But not until next week. I will be home today, so there won't be another update until Tuesday or Wednesday next week.

[Kabanellas]

It's looking great already!!!!!

[ironsij0287]

I'll be curious to see how you connect states that border states from other maps.

[isaiah40]

I'll be curious to see how you connect states that border states from other maps.

The interstate system and back roads as already shown.

[koontz1973]

I'll be curious to see how you connect states that border states from other maps.

The interstate system and back roads as already shown.

Would that not throw out the current bonuses, as you are adding connections to some territs and not others?

[isaiah40]

I'll be curious to see how you connect states that border states from other maps.

The interstate system and back roads as already shown.

Would that not throw out the current bonuses, as you are adding connections to some territs and not others?

Yes and no. I'm going to try and keep the current connections the way they are with the odd exception. Of course the interstate system will have an affect on the bonuses, but I don't believe by much.

[thenobodies80]

Obvious stamp, considering that's impossible to develope this one without going supersize!

Nobodies

[Victor Sullivan]

Yay! First non-let's-all-laugh-at-Sully-because-he-thought-there-was-an-image-when-there-actually-wasn't SuperSize stamp!

-Sully

[Leehar]

This looks like one hell of a map, best of luck getting it done!

[isaiah40]

Okay, so I finished adding in the states, as well as the main interstates.

Still need to do the minor roads and get a background for the background area and for the states.

[bigimg]http://img827.imageshack.us/img827/580/megausasmallv4.png[/bigimg]

[ManBungalow]

Looks like a lot of fun.
However, I fear that trying to list all of the bonuses will make this massively confusing and tedious to play. If you want to have a bonus for each state (normal continent-style), it might be worth considering colour-coding the states in the same manner as bonuses are portrayed on the Hive map. Unless you have a solid "+X for every state held". That makes me think of the bonus structure on 13 Colonies, actually. "+X for A states held", "+Y for B states held".

And so on.

[koontz1973]

Holy F**K, that is massive. This is going to be so much fun. Just hope is does not come up to many times as 1v1 random map. And I am not going to join the Beta tournies for this unless they are more than 4 players.

With the bonuses, I hope you are going to copy over from the smaller maps with the styles, just tweeking the amounts as routes have changed.

Back ground, well for the ultimate USA map, only the flag will do. All other images that come to mind and you will end up with lots of debate on why that over this. You could also add images of some of the more famous presidents.

How does it look covered in 88's?
Will you be doing the same things with the states as in the smaller versions, little images running through them?
Where is D.C. from the great lakes map?
Any luck with Alaska?
Have fun getting this all in.

[isaiah40]

Holy F**K, that is massive. This is going to be so much fun. Just hope is does not come up to many times as 1v1 random map. And I am not going to join the Beta tournies for this unless they are more than 4 players.

With the bonuses, I hope you are going to copy over from the smaller maps with the styles, just tweeking the amounts as routes have changed.

Back ground, well for the ultimate USA map, only the flag will do. All other images that come to mind and you will end up with lots of debate on why that over this. You could also add images of some of the more famous presidents.

How does it look covered in 88's?
Will you be doing the same things with the states as in the smaller versions, little images running through them?
Where is D.C. from the great lakes map?
Any luck with Alaska?
Have fun getting this all in.

And this is just the small! My goal is to try and keep the same general theme and graphical look as possible from WM's map pack. I may need to move some things around to get them to show in some of the states, but it'll get done.

88's will wait until I get things organized a bit more. DC will be in there, just need to get the image from WM. Alaska and Hawaii wil have to wait until I get all the bonuses on to make sure I have the room.

Looks like a lot of fun.
However, I fear that trying to list all of the bonuses will make this massively confusing and tedious to play. If you want to have a bonus for each state (normal continent-style), it might be worth considering colour-coding the states in the same manner as bonuses are portrayed on the Hive map. Unless you have a solid "+X for every state held". That makes me think of the bonus structure on 13 Colonies, actually. "+X for A states held", "+Y for B states held".

And so on.

As mentioned above, I'm going to have the bonuses the same as the original map pack with the exception of a few where there are extra connections due to the interstates running through them.

[gimil]

Sorry isaiah40. But I don't think it is going to work, now that I have seen the full map. Once you start putting army numbers on areas New England this map is going to be more difficult to follow than quantum mechanics while on LSD.

The idea has my support but in its current state it simply can't be done, as far as I can see. you have 1000+ pixel wide on the small. Is it justifiable to push that supersize any further?

[isaiah40]

Sorry isaiah40. But I don't think it is going to work, now that I have seen the full map. Once you start putting army numbers on areas New England this map is going to be more difficult to follow than quantum mechanics while on LSD.

The idea has my support but in its current state it simply can't be done, as far as I can see. you have 1000+ pixel wide on the small. Is it justifiable to push that supersize any further?

It's sitting at 1077 wide right now, which is 77 over the max. I'm still playing around with it to make it work.

[Victor Sullivan]

Sorry isaiah40. But I don't think it is going to work, now that I have seen the full map. Once you start putting army numbers on areas New England this map is going to be more difficult to follow than quantum mechanics while on LSD.

The idea has my support but in its current state it simply can't be done, as far as I can see. you have 1000+ pixel wide on the small. Is it justifiable to push that supersize any further?

It's sitting at 1077 wide right now, which is 77 over the max. I'm still playing around with it to make it work.

Well, you could adjust the New England "tail" to more upward than outward, if that makes sense.

-Sully

[The Bison King]

This is a great idea and I love it. My request is simple. Can we please use the actual shapes of the states rather that these strange illustrator objects that slightly resemble the geographic forms?

other than that A+

[isaiah40]

This is a great idea and I love it. My request is simple. Can we please use the actual shapes of the states rather that these strange illustrator objects that slightly resemble the geographic forms?

other than that A+

It will be done as soon as I can get the territory spacing worked out to fit the 888's. I have to twist, move and twist some more to get this to work. It will take me a few days to make sure this is within the supersize restrictions.

[ironsij0287]

Sorry isaiah40. But I don't think it is going to work, now that I have seen the full map. Once you start putting army numbers on areas New England this map is going to be more difficult to follow than quantum mechanics while on LSD.

The idea has my support but in its current state it simply can't be done, as far as I can see. you have 1000+ pixel wide on the small. Is it justifiable to push that supersize any further?

I think I'm leaning more toward this side now. The concept is great but I feel like trying to keep everything from the original 6 maps is causing map elements to be forced in when they don't quite fit.

While it wouldn't be a true representation of the original 6 I think a complete re-working of the USA map with modified cities and connections could be great. This would also allow for keeping the shape/size of the states a little truer to their form.

[koontz1973]

Sorry isaiah40. But I don't think it is going to work, now that I have seen the full map. Once you start putting army numbers on areas New England this map is going to be more difficult to follow than quantum mechanics while on LSD.

The idea has my support but in its current state it simply can't be done, as far as I can see. you have 1000+ pixel wide on the small. Is it justifiable to push that supersize any further?

I think I'm leaning more toward this side now. The concept is great but I feel like trying to keep everything from the original 6 maps is causing map elements to be forced in when they don't quite fit.

While it wouldn't be a true representation of the original 6 I think a complete re-working of the USA map with modified cities and connections could be great. This would also allow for keeping the shape/size of the states a little truer to their form.

If the map needs to be simplified, why not take out the highways. One less headache over the bonus system and more room is then achieved by have normal connection lines.

[isaiah40]

Okay, this is how things are going to work. The first and most important thing is to make sure that everything will fit on the small to include the army numbers. So I will be moving the states around, expanding where necessary etc. I will not worry about the shape of the states until graphics as they do not affect gameplay in any way. The object is to make sure that the numbers fit without any overlapping of other numbers and territory names. This is a map that it is imperative that I do the small first, no sense in getting all the way to graphics only to find out that it won't work, so I will be staying here in the Drafting Room for a bit. I should have an update towards Saturday this week.

[The Bison King]

Okay, this is how things are going to work. The first and most important thing is to make sure that everything will fit on the small to include the army numbers. So I will be moving the states around, expanding where necessary etc. I will not worry about the shape of the states until graphics as they do not affect gameplay in any way. The object is to make sure that the numbers fit without any overlapping of other numbers and territory names. This is a map that it is imperative that I do the small first, no sense in getting all the way to graphics only to find out that it won't work, so I will be staying here in the Drafting Room for a bit. I should have an update towards Saturday this week.

Cool I look forward to seeing the update!