[Official] Middle East REVAMP [Quenched]

KEYOGI · Post by **KEYOGI** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 3:36 am

How about an Arabic style font? I'm not sure it's the way to go and it might prove too hard to read, but it is another option. I realise the text is probably the least fitting with the theme, but we have to consider playability here. I think any territory should be easy to identify quickly, so that's key. I'll see what I can come up with though.

As for the edges, I was originally doing exactly that... having the border that seems to be on so many old maps. I really needed the extra map space though and wanted the territories to be as big as possilbe. If you look at the current Middle East map and Mr. K's version, you'll see I've zoomed in quite a bit as it is. I will look into this though, even if it is just to roughen them up to add that aged look.

Wisse · Post by **Wisse** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 5:17 am

can you make the sea a bit darker and than put the sea shade on it for a better look? if you look to my china map you see that i have also a shade there

Teya · Post by **Teya** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 5:27 am

I dont think the blue goes with the rest of the map. And I prefer Keyogi's original.

Wisse · Post by **Wisse** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 5:30 am

bt try it with shadow mayby it looks better

Enigma · Post by **Enigma** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 7:20 pm

version 2 because i really dont like the text shadows. however i still think that is the wrong font XP. i think something a little more script oriented, instead of block type, would be better. the trick is to keep it readable.

edit- heres the link to one of the font pics since the image html doesnt seem to be working
http://bp1.blogger.com/_xgIDWrAOAkU/RdnCnnKEjrI/AAAAAAAAAAU/-1Eq7NDJkaA/s1600-h/df_temple.JPG

Phobia · Post by **Phobia** » Sat Feb 24, 2007 7:33 am

you spelt Afghanistan wrong, you have missed the 'h'

all of them look good, i dont know which one to choose!

KEYOGI · Post by **KEYOGI** » Sat Feb 24, 2007 4:23 pm

I'm in the process of a major update. I've got a new font picked out which I think works well. I might have something for you guys by the end of next week. I'm currently working on mountains, a legend and making small adjustments to improve the map. Keep the suggestions coming.

Spiegelprime · Post by **Spiegelprime** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 11:10 pm

I love the way this is coming out! The original version you (Keyogi) made or version two look great, and I love Lake Nasser fixing that weird corner issue. The colors are great and the look is what I hoped for in the old-school parchment style. The only things I could say is that you could push the Baghdad border further north (as that's where the city is) and not change the internal Iranian connections (Azerbaijan, Central Plateau, Khuzestan, Tehran area). But other than me being picky, I'm very happy to see how well this is going and look forward to seeing the mountains and having this be put up!

Guiscard · Post by **Guiscard** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 11:21 pm

Looking very nice Keyogi. Shaping up to be one of my favorite maps visually I think. Looking forward to a new font, as the current options aren't brilliant.

Its annoying that the name's can't be changed at all, as the continent of Bactria is woefully inaccurate (only refers to the north-east portion of Afghanistan.

it is sort of like in the Classic map calling Europe 'Scotland'...

Any chance the original creator could be petitioned to change this???

AndyDufresne · Post by **AndyDufresne** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 11:34 pm

Ask him, he posted above you.

--Andy

Spiegelprime · Post by **Spiegelprime** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 11:57 pm

gimme an idea, Bactria was sort of the first thing that popped into my head at the time other than the less that stimulating "Stan-a-stans"....As far as the name change issues it was mostly relating to the Israel-Palestine issue and places of contention like that in an effort to keep the endless debate to a minimum.

Guiscard · Post by **Guiscard** » Tue Feb 27, 2007 12:47 am

Spiegelprime wrote:gimme an idea, Bactria was sort of the first thing that popped into my head at the time other than the less that stimulating "Stan-a-stans"....As far as the name change issues it was mostly relating to the Israel-Palestine issue and places of contention like that in an effort to keep the endless debate to a minimum.

Oh, sorry, didn't realise you were the original creator

As for the name,

UNESCO defines most of that area (bar the very south of Pakistan) as Central Asia, but this doesn't fit overly well with the map...

It could be East(ern) Persia I suppose, that would be reasonably accurate...

luckiekevin · Post by **luckiekevin** » Tue Feb 27, 2007 1:34 am

this is looking damn good

KEYOGI · Post by **KEYOGI** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 11:57 am

Update - March 3

- New font
- Added mountains
- Changed colours of continents to bring everything into the same tone/shade
- Made continent labels darker
- Fixed border connections within Iran

I was hoping to have the legend done by this point, but I've had a busy week and the Conquer 4 map distracting me. There are a few major overhauls though. I like this new font, I think it sits well and I've adjusted the effects to try and remove the floating issue.

I find the mountains the most challenging part of any map, but I think I came up with something that looks ok and suits the map. I'm not 100% happy with them, but they should do unless there's any objections.

In keeping with the old parchment feel, I really wanted to have similar colours for each continent from the start. I've made this more obvious now with the whole map basically being different shades of the same colour. It might be too much for some though, opinions?

Things I still need to look at doing are:
- Blue sea again
- Do something with the edges of the map
- Add key/legend

RjBeals · Post by **RjBeals** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 12:01 pm

Looks really good & middle eastern.

The colors would be a problem if you didn't put the names on them, but they are fine as is.

Your mountains kick ass. Did you draw those by hand (or by mouse :wink:

)?

Keyogi - you are a born cartographer.

KEYOGI · Post by **KEYOGI** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 12:11 pm

Thanks RJ.

Yes, the mountains were hand/mouse drawn. Four layers for them, but I could've gotten away with two.

SkyCaptain · Post by **SkyCaptain** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 12:30 pm

Well, if you want a parchment look, you could make the edges look like the ragged edges of a manuscript, you know? That would look cool.

sully800 · Post by **sully800** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 12:30 pm

I LOVE those mountains. Everything about this is looking really awesome. It's exactly how revamp maps should work!

I nominate KEYOGI to go and revamp every map on conquer club

Really though, the foundry constantly has tons of new maps being produced but many are not high quality and never go any where. We have a LOT of maps that have already been produced, some with very good playability but poor aesthetics. It only makes sense for a graphic wizz to fix up some of the old maps and breathe new life into them.

I would love to see what you could do with montreal :wink:

sully800 · Post by **sully800** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 12:39 pm

One note though- I think your dead territories may be a bit confusing, because they are so similar in color to the live territories. The only way you can really tell them apart is the lack of name and army shadow. I don't really know how you could fix that, but I noticed a few country sized dead spaces up top that I initially thought were countries just missing labels.

Enigma · Post by **Enigma** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 12:45 pm

those mountains are gorgeous....

-is there any way to make the "near east" label a little bit smaller? that area looks slightly cluttered
-i like the font, it's readable and flowing. however i am still of the opinion that the shadows take away from the parchment look. if you decide otherwise, i wont mention it again. i have noticed, though, that other cartographers have worked wonders with a slight "glow" around the edges of the words, instead of the shadows. the italian map is an example. it looks as if you may already have that glow, so why also include the shadow?
also, could the font be made a little smaller, or less bold? it seems heavy in comparison with your delicate mountain graphics.
-i agree that ragged or burned edges would enhance the map

this map looks unbelievably better- ur amazing keyogi

Enigma · Post by **Enigma** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 12:46 pm

sully800 wrote:One note though- I think your dead territories may be a bit confusing, because they are so similar in color to the live territories. The only way you can really tell them apart is the lack of name and army shadow. I don't really know how you could fix that, but I noticed a few country sized dead spaces up top that I initially thought were countries just missing labels.

good point sully- perhaps make the dead territories darker? that would also serve to make the playing area "pop," or stand out more.

AndyDufresne · Post by **AndyDufresne** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 12:52 pm

I agree with Sully and Engima...I was just about to suggest the same thing. Differentiate a little more between gameboard and non.

--Andy

unriggable · Post by **unriggable** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 5:04 pm

I honestly love the map but hate the continent labels.

spinwizard · Post by **spinwizard** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 5:33 pm

i love the mountains, but the names look crowded

Wisse · Post by **Wisse** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 5:44 pm

the color fo egypt and arabia looks pretty much the same