The Third Crusade [Quenched] Revamping

[the.killing.44]

Keep it as is I only have one minor quarrel right now, and it's that the glow h's, AD, and / in the title overlap onto the black line—disconcerting to the eye. Great job though Kab

[00iCon]

Congrats Final forge!
Porkenbeas' dark map actually looks better, if it hadn't been for the really dark bits in the sea (like the top left and far right).
the shading makes the countries look not below sea level, and therefore not prone to flooding XD.

[porkenbeans]

Congrats Final forge!
Porkenbeas' dark map actually looks better, if it hadn't been for the really dark bits in the sea (like the top left and far right).
the shading makes the countries look not below sea level, and therefore not prone to flooding XD.

Yes, But Kab has the full file and can easily make it perfect. My examples are very ruff, and only for the purpose of showing a couple of different ways to achieve the contrast that I am suggesting.
Also be aware that I only changed the water. the land can be lightened or darkened as well, so each one would not have to be as drastic as the examples. If you follow me. So in other words if Kab was to go for the darker water example, he would only need to darken it a little. Then lighten the land to get the desired contrast between them.

[Kabanellas]

Thanks very much Porken, Icon and Killing!

I might try that darker look in the sea. Also, I'm aware of that glow in the tittle covering part the inset map - is just that the other options don't go that well for me, but I'll try to put the title's layer beneath the inset.

[ender516]

Thanks very much Porken, Icon and Killing!

I might try that darker look in the sea. Also, I'm aware of that glow in the tittle covering part the inset map - is just that the other options don't go that well for me, but I'll try to put the title's layer beneath the inset.

I must admit that when I saw porkenbeans show up at this stage with a graphics suggestion, my first reaction was uh-oh, here we go, where was he earlier, blah-blah-blah,... But it looks like it went over well. I agree that the darker look helps the map. It gives the Atlantic the stormy feel it deserves, and I suppose the Mediterranean has its nasty days too. Besides, it was the Dark Ages, n'est-ce pas? I'm not sure the bevel is necessary, though. Not every map has to have a 3D look, does it?

As far as the title goes, I don't think you want the glow masked behind the inset either. Perhaps you can shift it north a smidgen without bumping into Fez or Algiers. (There might be room to move them as well if need be.) Or you could put the text on a gold background box, so it doesn't need a glow for contrast.

[Kabanellas]

Thanks Ender, actually I tried to put the title's layer behind the inset and its not looking bad at all... as for the darker sea, I've tried it too, like I said I would but..... it's not working good for me, partially because the land colours are already on dark tones and I don't want to change those colours, and also because all that info like the sea lines and names hanging around by the sea parts would become quite hard to read.

[ender516]

Thanks Ender, actually I tried to put the title's layer behind the inset and its not looking bad at all... as for the darker sea, I've tried it too, like I said I would but..... it's not working good for me, partially because the land colours are already on dark tones and I don't want to change those colours, and also because all that info like the sea lines and names hanging around by the sea parts would become quite hard to read.

Okay regarding the title, looking forward to an update.
And yes, you're right, on a second look at the dark sea example, a lot of those details do get lost. I guess I was lured by the overall impression of improved contrast and forgot that there are important details in the sea (it's not just decorative). I suppose using white (or at least light) text and lines on the sea might work, but then they might jump out too much. Something to think about if you still want to fiddle with it, but I was happy with what you had before.

[porkenbeans]

[bigimg]http://i665.photobucket.com/albums/vv12/porkenbeans/Third_Crusade_V18_26.jpg[/bigimg][bigimg]http://i665.photobucket.com/albums/vv12/porkenbeans/Third_Crusade_CC2copypng3.png[/bigimg]
Just messin around while I had my morning coffee.
1.) painted a black on the frames, and gave them a drop shadow to produce a relief effect.
2.) Darkened the +1s
3.) painted a white over the water, and then overlayed a dark blue-green to produce a little drama.
4.) painted a black over the square in the top right, and overlayed a red to darken it up a bit.

[Kabanellas]

hummm definitely not going along with it

[AndrewB]

Version 5 of the XML is created:

http://bolonniy.com/CC/Third_Crusade_v5.xml

Following changes were made:

1. Circles moved,

Large map:
Rakka
Sirt
Trebizond

Small map:
Angora
Konya
Sirt
Rakka

2. Jerusalem is part of the Muslim bonus too.

[ender516]

Version 5 of the XML is created:

http://bolonniy.com/CC/Third_Crusade_v5.xml

Following changes were made:

1. Circles moved,

Large map:
Rakka
Sirt
Trebizond

Small map:
Angora
Konya
Sirt
Rakka

2. Jerusalem is part of the Muslim bonus too.

Since you mention the position of the Sirt circle, I notice that the name of that region is quite separated from the circle. Perhaps the box explaining the Muslim bonus should be moved to the right, so that the name can be moved to be just below the circle.

[Kabanellas]

I really think its working great there plus it makes a perfect diagonal with the other 2 boxes

[Kabanellas]

what do we need to go Beta?

[thenobodies80]

small version:

E.C. move coords 1px right
Crete move coords 1px down

Everything else is ok for me
Maybe navarra-toulouse and Jaffa-Kerac with 888 ?

Nobodies

[AndrewB]

Fixed:

http://bolonniy.com/CC/Third_Crusade_v6.xml

[Kabanellas]

Updated the first post with Andrew's XML V6

...yes, those 888 do appear quite near to each other in those regions you've mentioned, but that first number will hardly go upper that 1... so if you try with 188 it will look good. I wouldn't like to mess up the map for a number that will happen in remote cases

[thenobodies80]

Updated the first post with Andrew's XML V6

...yes, those 888 do appear quite near to each other in those regions you've mentioned, but that first number will hardly go upper that 1... so if you try with 188 it will look good. I wouldn't like to mess up the map for a number that will happen in remote cases

Yes it's a minor thing, but the test is done with 888 becuase is the maxiumum number of pixels required (many players use color codes )

[Kabanellas]

yes, you're right

if you really feel that's necessary, Andrew and me will slide them a bit.

[thenobodies80]

If possible

Small version:
Toulouse (1px up/right ?)
Kerac 1 px right
Metilene and trebizond are on the map screen but with 888 the numbers go on the frame of your map, i think you have the space to move trebizond 4/5 px to left and metilene 3px to left

Everything else is ok and ready for the XML stamp

[Kabanellas]

OK!

I'll fix it all, and hopefully Andrew will take care of the changes in the XML

[Kabanellas]

I've changed those circles in the small map, just waiting for Andrew to fix it in the XML

Navarra 1px left
Toulouse 2 px right
Trebizond 4 px left
Melitene 3 px left
Kerac 1 px right

[slowreactor]

You're almost at beta kabanellas! you can do it!

[Kabanellas]

Thanks!!

Andrew finished those changes in the XML:

http://www.bolonniy.com/CC/Third_Crusade_v7.xml

[thenobodies80]

Well done guys!

Kabanellas, can you post all the current files in a single post ?

Thank you
Have a nice day

Nobodies

[Kabanellas]

Thanks nobodies!

all files posted here:

http://www.bolonniy.com/CC/Third_Crusade_v7.xml XML

http://i998.photobucket.com/albums/af105/Kabanellas/The_Third_Crusade.png Large Version
http://i998.photobucket.com/albums/af105/Kabanellas/The_Third_Crusade_Small.png Small Version