AOS: Orient Express 1883 [quench'd]

[The Bison King]

BTW, it really is looking very good. I think the flat direction was a good way to go

[the.killing.44]

Well the map's caught between being a 19th Century replica and a 2010 representation of it, so it just looks like a wannabe old map.

Which path do you want to pursue?

[natty dread]

Which path do you want to pursue?

Imagine a train mogul from 1883 would somehow travel in time to now and would, for some reason, be asked to design a CC map about orient express. I want the map look like something this hypothetical time-traveling train mogul would come up with.

[Industrial Helix]

Which path do you want to pursue?

Imagine a train mogul from 1883 would somehow travel in time to now and would, for some reason, be asked to design a CC map about orient express. I want the map look like something this hypothetical time-traveling train mogul would come up with.

Wait... seriously?

[natty dread]

I'm not sure.

Anywho,

[bigimg]http://a.imageshack.us/img576/633/orientxv20c.png[/bigimg]

[porkenbeans]

I have no problem with a map that does NOT try to pretend that it is an authentic antique map. While at the same time, uses elements that are in the same style as an antique map.

[Victor Sullivan]

Isn't it Serbia and Montenegro instead of Servia and Monte Negro? Maybe it was like that back then, idk but I thought I'd at least say something.

[natty dread]

Isn't it Serbia and Montenegro instead of Servia and Monte Negro? Maybe it was like that back then, idk but I thought I'd at least say something.

It was commonly spelled Servia at the time.

[Victor Sullivan]

I figured as much but I thought I'd say something just to make sure.

[RedBaron0]

I really don't see the need for the mismatch, the uniqueness is in 1883, not 2010. Remember we've got a LOT of European maps, both modern and historical.

[natty dread]

I really don't see the need for the mismatch, the uniqueness is in 1883, not 2010. Remember we've got a LOT of European maps, both modern and historical.

What exactly is it that seems out of place to you?

What in this map looks like 2010? Give me something to work on, please.

[The Bison King]

When I look at the map I don't see a need to question the time period. It's all working for me.

[RedBaron0]

You're trying to do a historically themed map... by adding any sort of modern anything is only going to muddy the waters. Stick with 1883. The other thing that really bothers me is the fact the map is about trains. This is a need here because, remember there are already several rail type maps, and even one on Continental Europe. Your theme is unique by both being historical and towards a specific rail line, but you need to show more that sets this apart from those other maps. Right now this, honestly, is just another European map, definitely unique in gameplay, but not graphically.

The more 1883ish you can get, the better. The more 19th century railroady you can get the better. The more Victorian you can get, the better.



EDIT: And maybe I'm just getting confused with all this talk about time machines and additional "modern" additions...... my point is still valid, this needs to SCREAM 19th century to be unique. At this point I don't see it.

[porkenbeans]

You're trying to do a historically themed map... by adding any sort of modern anything is only going to muddy the waters. Stick with 1883. The other thing that really bothers me is the fact the map is about trains. This is a need here because, remember there are already several rail type maps, and even one on Continental Europe. Your theme is unique by both being historical and towards a specific rail line, but you need to show more that sets this apart from those other maps. Right now this, honestly, is just another European map, definitely unique in gameplay, but not graphically.

The more 1883ish you can get, the better. The more 19th century railroady you can get the better. The more Victorian you can get, the better.



EDIT: And maybe I'm just getting confused with all this talk about time machines and additional "modern" additions...... my point is still valid, this needs to SCREAM 19th century to be unique. At this point I don't see it.

Nice poster. is that a train schedule in the bottom right ?
It would be cool to model the map legend to that.

edit- I meant bottom "right".

[natty dread]

Let me ask again. What exactly, on this map, currently, does not look like 19th century, and how do I fix it?

[The Bison King]

Right now this, honestly, is just another European map, definitely unique in gameplay, but not graphically.

I don't really agree with this statement. I really think that this map has a developed sense of style, that is unique to the other European maps that are currently on this site. It seems like a bunch of people just want to see you copy paste every detail of that poster onto your map somehow, but you've managed to recreate the style without lifting specific detail. I say bravo

[natty dread]

I say bravo

Thanks

Nice poster. is that a train schedule in the bottom right ?
It would be cool to model the map legend to that.

Somewhat to that effect:

[bigimg]http://a.imageshack.us/img576/1200/orientxv21.png[/bigimg]

[natty dread]

Here's this new type of legend i've been working on - it's not finished yet but it shows the general style:

[RedBaron0]

It's the whole thing as it's put together. The elements are 19th century, but are just arranged in such a way that just does not convey that, at least for me. The way it is, it's just a MAP.

That new legend, in that orientation, would be a vast improvement. I get a sense of someone, traveling, holding their map seeing where they're going, with a ticket laying on top of their map.

[natty dread]

That new legend, in that orientation, would be a vast improvement. I get a sense of someone, traveling, holding their map seeing where they're going, with a ticket laying on top of their map.

Hmm, yes. Too bad I have to shrink it to fit it in the map - I'm a bit worried how it will look in the small version.

It looks great in the large though:

[bigimg]http://a.imageshack.us/img822/4522/orientxv21a.png[/bigimg]

[porkenbeans]

It's the whole thing as it's put together. The elements are 19th century, but are just arranged in such a way that just does not convey that, at least for me. The way it is, it's just a MAP.

That new legend, in that orientation, would be a vast improvement. I get a sense of someone, traveling, holding their map seeing where they're going, with a ticket laying on top of their map.

Or maybe even better, Just make the map a ticket. Something along these lines.
[bigimg]http://i665.photobucket.com/albums/vv12/porkenbeans/orientxv17copy2.png[/bigimg] Besides not only looking unique from every other CC map, It allows you to drop the play area down closer to the action buttons.

[natty dread]

Good news. It took some heavy tweaking but I managed to get everything to fit on the small version.

[bigimg]http://a.imageshack.us/img819/1333/orientxv21asmall.png[/bigimg]

[RedBaron0]

Although porken's example is a bit much, perhaps a bit of legend rearrange is worth it just to see if it yields anything. I am more than liking the land bonus card.

[natty dread]

Although porken's example is a bit much, perhaps a bit of legend rearrange is worth it just to see if it yields anything. I am more than liking the land bonus card.

Glad you like the land bonus card (it does kinda look like an old post card, doesn't it...) I had to settle for a slightly lesser tilt (9 degrees lesser to be exact) for the small version and squeeze things real tight, but I think it is legible, so who's to say legends need to be exactly alike in large/small maps?

As for pork's suggestion... This has been discussed at least twice already in this thread, and I am of the opinion that moving all the legends to the upper edge would seriously disrupt the balance of the image. If you want a more elaborate explanation on my reasons, go back a few pages... the short answer is, I will not do it.

[natty dread]

Sorry for dübbelposting, but one more thing:

Anyone think this map could use a compass rose?