Dark Continent (Colonial Africa) [Quenched]

[The Bison King]

You don't necessarily need the xml to be ready to check 888's At this stage, remember, it's the graphics we're worried about. It's an issue of colors more than anything.

And to make sure the 888's fit properly in each territory, and don't overlap territory names, other numbers etc.

If you are hoping to check positioning, then having the XML is really the right way to go. I have what was a complete XML, but it is dated last August, so I will need to review what has changed since then. The partitioning of Egypt and some recent territory name changes come immediately to mind.

If you can update the XML in the next couple of says I'll just wait to update the test results.

Bison, in the legend it says that all landing territories can be 1 way assaulted by any European power. I assume you mean all landing territories can be "bombarded" not assaulted by any European power!?

No, it means what it says.

[ender516]

I do hope to work on the XML in the next couple of days, or on the weekend at the latest. I didn't get to it tonight as I was working on finishing the alpha version of a script to change the text shadows of the troop numbers, thereby solving the "I can't see blue on Conquer Man" problem. I say alpha version as I have it working for Firefox, but want some tips from others on the Tech Team with regard to making it work in other browsers before I unleash it on the world.

EDIT: Well, the weekend was a bust, as far as the XML goes. I did spend a few hours reviewing this thread from the point on page 15 where I last posted a version of the XML. The significant resizing done since then means the existing positions are just about worthless, but on the bright side, the latest small version has numbers on it which I can point and click on, so it should be straightforward to build this thing up again from scratch. A bit of text editing to merge old borders and continents with new territories and positions, a run through the XML Wizard's auto xy function, and we should be in good shape.

EDIT #2: CC Time: 2011-03-19 01:13:00 The XML is nearly up-to-date. I just need to mark the starting positions, run off some test images via the Mapmaker Tool, and post and upload everything. It's just getting too late to keep at this. (CC Time is my time zone too.) A posted version of the small map without the troop numbers would be useful now.

EDIT #3: CC Time: 2011-03-21 00:39:00 Starting positions added, and neutrals as well, which I had forgotten. Too late again to do test images.

[The Bison King]

[bigimg]http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/5673/darkcontinentupload.jpg[/bigimg]
[bigimg]http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/3790/darkcontinentsmalluploa.jpg[/bigimg]
I went ahead and just did these. I ended up making a number of changes to the borders in the process.

A posted version of the small map without the troop numbers would be useful now.

And so you shall have it!

[bigimg]http://img820.imageshack.us/img820/3790/darkcontinentsmalluploa.jpg[/bigimg]

[The Bison King]

In fact here's just the general update upload:
[bigimg]http://img818.imageshack.us/img818/5673/darkcontinentupload.jpg[/bigimg]
[bigimg]http://img820.imageshack.us/img820/3790/darkcontinentsmalluploa.jpg[/bigimg]

I think that this map is ready to move on. When Ender516 finishes the XML any changes should be minut things related to the coordinates. Stuff we can hammer out in the forge.

[ender516]

Oh, cool. I edited my last post from a cold page, so I didn't see your new posts, TBK. When I get my stuff together, I will summarize the changes since my last version, so everyone can review the overall modifications since last August. (I hope those border changes you refer to are cosmetic only, and do not change gameplay.)

[cairnswk]

Beautiful update, TheBisonKing
one thing i've just noticed which is not that big an issue really and sorry i had not noticed before, but for consistency i guess...
...at the top under Egypt....British or Ottoman empires
...in the mini-map...Ottoman Empire
i would capitalise the top e.

[The Bison King]

Beautiful update, TheBisonKing
one thing i've just noticed which is not that big an issue really and sorry i had not noticed before, but for consistency i guess...
...at the top under Egypt....British or Ottoman empires
...in the mini-map...Ottoman Empire
i would capitalise the top e.

Then so it shall be:

[bigimg]http://img577.imageshack.us/img577/5673/darkcontinentupload.jpg[/bigimg]
[bigimg]http://img39.imageshack.us/img39/3790/darkcontinentsmalluploa.jpg[/bigimg]
I also gave Rhodesia more space so that the Army numbers could fit above the word and not in that awkward corner.

[RedBaron0]

Alright final concerns? Lets hear'um.

[cairnswk]

...
Then so it shall be:
...
I also gave Rhodesia more space so that the Army numbers could fit above the word and not in that awkward corner.

Nice, very well done

[natty dread]

The sea routes overlapping with the territory labels on canaries & morocco makes the labels a bit messy. Maybe you could cut the sea routes under the labels...

[grifftron]

What a beautiful looking map, can't wait to play on this. Good job.

[ender516]

I have been sandbagged at work, and could not keep my eyes open to tweak Rhodesia's position. I hope to do that tonight and post the XML then.

[AndyDufresne]

Looking good. I might give this map some play. Here are my thumbs for upping.


--Andy

[isaiah40]

Looking good. I might give this map some play. Here are my thumbs for upping.


--Andy

Haven't you run out of thumbs yet Andy??

[AndyDufresne]

Looking good. I might give this map some play. Here are my thumbs for upping.


--Andy

Haven't you run out of thumbs yet Andy??

When that day comes, I'll just use my toes.

Or, I'll harvest more thumbs from my fields. (I really wished I could find an image on the internets with rows of thumbs like stalks of corn, by alas, you'll have to use your imagination.)


--Andy

[ender516]

Okay, here it is, the moment we have all been waiting for -- the revised XML:

Colonial_Africa_2.3.xml

and some test images, large and small, with 88s for centering:

[bigimg]http://www.fileden.com/files/2009/11/9/2644838/Colonial_Africa/Colonial_Africa_2.3_large_test_image.png[/bigimg]
[bigimg]http://www.fileden.com/files/2009/11/9/2644838/Colonial_Africa/Colonial_Africa_2.3_small_test_image.png[/bigimg]

The only change I recommend for the graphics is adopting the more common spelling of Djibouti (with the "o"). (That's the way I went ahead and spelled it in the XML. )

I intended to put the rest of this in one big spoiler, but that seems to surpass some limit, so I have divided it into these spoilers which describe all the changes since the last posted version (1.19, last August!)

Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!

[spoiler=Territory name changes and minor spelling changes]

• Bagamayo => Bagamoyo
• Bertoua => Tibati
• Kalahari => Kavango
• Loanda => Luanda
• Mesopotamia => Baghdad
• North Kalahari => Kalahari
• Ottoman Somaliland => Djibouti
• Rio De Oro => Rio de Oro
• South Africa => Cape Region
• South Rhodesia => Botswana

[/spoiler]
[spoiler=Territories deleted]

• Kivu
• Persia(Iran)
• Russia
• Egypt

[/spoiler]
[spoiler=Territories added]

• Benguela
• Cairo
• Luxor
• Suez Canal
• Transvaal

[/spoiler]
[spoiler=Border changes]These are all two-way attacks.

• Added Austria-Hungary <-> Ottoman
• Added all new borders for Benguela, Luxor, Suez Canal, and Transvaal
• Modified borders of territories near those same territories
• Added Portugal <-> Canary Islands
• Deleted Congo <-> Central Africa
• Added Germany <-> Italy
• Deleted Italy <-> Tripoli
• Added Italy <-> Cyrene
• Changed the borders around the deleted Kivu
• Added Zululand <-> Lourenço Marques

[/spoiler]
[spoiler=Continent updates]

• Eight continents giving +1 bonus for holding a landing territory with its European
  power have been deleted.

Below are listed the continents that have been modified in some way. Existing continent names are shown in italic text, while new continent names are shown in bold text, with components listed in [square brackets], and overrides in {curly braces}. Bonus values, either new or changed, appear in (parentheses).

• 3 European Powers [Belgium, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Ottoman, Portugal, Spain: requires 3] (-2)
• 5 European Powers [Belgium, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Ottoman, Portugal, Spain: requires 5] {3 European Powers} (-3)
• 7 European Powers [Belgium, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Ottoman, Portugal, Spain: requires 7] {3 European Powers, 5 European Powers} (-4)
• 8 European Powers [Belgium, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Ottoman, Portugal, Spain: requires 8] {3 European Powers, 5 European Powers, 7 European Powers} (-5)
• Angola: added Benguela (+2 to +3)
• Angola w/ Portugal (+3 to +4)
• Belgian Congo (+4 to +3)
• Belgian Congo w/ Belgium (+7 to +5)
• British East Africa: deleted Egypt (no change)
• Cameroon: deleted Congo (no change)
• Cameroon w/ Germany (+4 to +3)
• Egypt [Cairo, Luxor, Suez Canal] (+3)
• Great Britain or Ottoman [Great Britain, Ottoman: requires only 1 of these] (0)
• Egypt w/ Great Britain or Ottoman [Egypt, Great Britain or Ottoman] (4)
• French Congo [Congo] (0)
• French Congo w/ France [French Congo, France] (+1)
• French Sahara: deleted Congo (+5 to +7)
• French Sahara w/ France (+9 to +10)
• Libya (+2 to +3)
• Libya w/ Italy (+3 to +4)
• Ottoman Empire (+4 to +3)
• Ottoman Empire w/ Ottoman (+6 to +4)
• South Africa: added Transvaal (+2 to +3)
• South Africa w/ Great Britain (+3 to +4)

[/spoiler]
[spoiler=Neutrals and starting positions]

• Eight starting positions each consisting of one "European power" territory with starting value of 5 and underlying neutral of 5
  
  1. Belgium
  2. France
  3. Germany
  4. Great Britain
  5. Italy
  6. Ottoman
  7. Portugal
  8. Spain
• Eight landing territories each now a neutral 3
  
  1. Djibouti [European power: Ottoman]
  2. Eritrea [European power: Italy]
  3. Guinea-Bissau [European power: Portugal]
  4. Ivory Coast [European power: France]
  5. Leopoldville [European power: Belgium]
  6. Spanish Guinea [European power: Spain]
  7. Togoland [European power: Germany]
  8. Zululand [European power: Great Britain]
• Territories made neutral to prevent drops of small bonus zones:
  
  • Bagamoyo
  • Canary Islands
  • Kano
  • Luxor
  • Mogadishu
  • Murzag
  • Niassa
  • Skeleton Coast
  • South Madagascar
  • Tibati

[/spoiler]
[spoiler=Autodeploys]

• unchanged (+1 on each "European power" territory)
  
  1. Belgium
  2. France
  3. Germany
  4. Great Britain
  5. Italy
  6. Ottoman
  7. Portugal
  8. Spain

[/spoiler]

[The Bison King]

Awesome the test results look great! however it looks like you used an old version of the small here's an up to date coordinate test:

[bigimg]http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/6270/picture13xx.png[/bigimg]
[bigimg]http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/8968/picture14yg.png[/bigimg]
The only things I might suggest are moving Yaounde a hair to the left and Benguela a hair to the right.

[AndyDufresne]

I have a question, which may have been answered earlier. In the legend area regarding the imperial powers, regarding the -2, -3, -4, -5, are those dashes working like bullet points, or are they minus signs?

Great looking map.


--Andy

[Victor Sullivan]

Minus signs. The idea behind them was to inhibit one who tries to take a bunch of European powers from the get-go, I believe.

-Sully

[AndyDufresne]

Minus signs. The idea behind them was to inhibit one who tries to take a bunch of European powers from the get-go, I believe.

-Sully

Gotcha, makes sense from a gameplay stand point, but wasn't sure about symbol representation. Bison, you could always add (minus) above the left number list in small-ish wording, but it may not be needed.


--Andy

[RedBaron0]

The sea routes overlapping with the territory labels on canaries & morocco makes the labels a bit messy. Maybe you could cut the sea routes under the labels...

Don't forget this either.

[The Bison King]

Then I shant!

-sea lines
-(-minus)
-Djibouti

[bigimg]http://img696.imageshack.us/img696/5673/darkcontinentupload.jpg[/bigimg]
[bigimg]http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/3790/darkcontinentsmalluploa.jpg[/bigimg]

[natty dread]

Nice!

[ender516]

Moved Benguela and Yaoundé as requested. New XML and test images in spoiler below.

The word "minus" as shown is better than nothing, but it doesn't read well to me, imagining that I am seeing this for the first time. It begs the question, "minus what?" I think it would be better if it appeared on each line, like:

minus 2 for 3
minus 3 for 5
minus 4 for 7
minus 5 for 8

I'm afraid you don't have room, though.

An alternative you do have room for would be the word "Penalties", like this:

Penalties
-2 for 3
-3 for 5
-4 for 7
-5 for 8

Also, since the landing territories and the European powers use white text for their labels, and "Landing territories" in the legend is white, should the words "European power" in the legend also be white? This might forestall questions and complaints about Austria-Hungary and Balkan not being able to assault the landing territories.

[spoiler= New XML and test images]Colonial_Africa_2.4.xml

[bigimg]http://www.fileden.com/files/2009/11/9/2644838/Colonial_Africa/Colonial_Africa_2.4_large_test_image.png[/bigimg]
[bigimg]http://www.fileden.com/files/2009/11/9/2644838/Colonial_Africa/Colonial_Africa_2.4_small_test_image.png[/bigimg][/spoiler]

[The Bison King]

New Update:
[bigimg]http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/5673/darkcontinentupload.jpg[/bigimg]
[bigimg]http://img705.imageshack.us/img705/3790/darkcontinentsmalluploa.jpg[/bigimg]

An alternative you do have room for would be the word "Penalties", like this:

Penalties
-2 for 3
-3 for 5
-4 for 7
-5 for 8

Yeah that works

Also, since the landing territories and the European powers use white text for their labels, and "Landing territories" in the legend is white, should the words "European power" in the legend also be white? This might forestall questions and complaints about Austria-Hungary and Balkan not being able to assault the landing territories.

No since the actual territories themselves are depicted with the white font. Also there haven't been any complaints or confusion about whether or not Austria-Hungary or Balkan can attack landing territories. They don't have flags, and the European powers are clearly depicted and labled in the mini-map. I think it's as clear as clear can be.