Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Terrain Editor => Topic started by: JB73 on September 24, 2002, 10:06:12 PM
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this is the text of what i sent to HTC. We are new to the map making business and are unsure of what's out there being developed (if something similar is in the works let me know). we'd love to hear what all of you think about our idea also.
email to HTC:
I have attached a bmp of the basic plans for a map we the III/Jabostaffel would like to try and make for the MA (possibly).
I was hoping to get some feedback from you regarding the layout and anything else you think is relevant.
I have quite a bit of thoughts about this idea so pleeease bear with me. :)
The layout is designed for optimal equality in countries and gameplay (we hope).. and to be a bit organic in shape.
The legend on the side can help with explaining a lot of what is going on. The base idea was concentric circles, a sea level ocean-type area, a mid-alt desert and farmland, and a high-alt outer rim. Each country will have an equal # of high-alt bases and low-alt bases.
The center was aimed to be something like NDISLES. all islands with medium and small bases scattered throughout. there would be a large field (zone base) on the peninsula by the entrance of the main rivers controlling the strat for each countries islands. There are 2 ports per country in this area, so the TG element should factor in heavily.
The next ring is about 3-6 sectors wide and has 3 rivers about a sector wide running through it. these rivers split each country's homeland about in half. These rivers also travel rather close to HQ. This is so that if 1 country gets down low in bases they have a mobile base to protect HQ... conversely if a country captures the port and corresponding TG near HQ they have the ability to shell HQ. The smaller rivers with the lakes on the end are intended to be too small to get a TG up and down successfully. They are intended to be like fiords with steep (1k possibly) walls. This ring will have varying altitudes (1-4k average) with the intention of mimicking the hills on the MINDANAO map. Zone bases will be spread throughout and there will be vehicle bases similar to the AKDESERT map. there will be a desert type area at the edge of each countrys boundary. The rest of the area will probably be farmland.
The final ring is going to be a high-alt area. All bases will be above 7.5k, and some will be up to 12-15k. the Zone bases in this area will be set back into each countries homeland at least 5 sectors or more. there will hopefully be deep canyons in this area to allow extreme altitude changing fights. part of the reason for this ring is to accommodate the players that like the high altitude fights. Also it is to help protect the mainlands. it will be extremely difficult to keep any of the bases in the lower rings without the corresponding higher elevation bases. Buff (bomber) pilots will also be able to use these bases as a starting point for longer range attacks. Conversely, bomber hunters will get the same high bases to take off from to intercept. Hopefully this will lead to fighter sweeps and an ongoing bomber patrol.
Well that's about it (whew :))!
Remember I'm totally new to this, and this is only a conception of a map. There is a lot to work out yet, but I'd like to get feedback before undertaking a task like this. If there is a map under development that we MA players are not aware of please let me know (I haven't been keeping up on the terrain BBS). Also if this is not the direction you'd like the MA to follow please let me know.
Thank you for your time. I hope this can work out!
<>
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Punt!
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My thoughts were something like the Large Pacific map that was used in Air Warrior. Would be more challenging and CV people would have a field day. Could make for some serious sea battles. I was thinking about dividing up the map into three sections of equal sizes, thus eliminating the mess with the pizza map.
(http://members.cox.net/kc7djr1/LargePacific.jpg)
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wow the PAC map looks really good.
But there is still 1 thing to complain about.
THE SIZE.
IMO a 350 x 350 map would fit perfect. 512 x 512 is way way way to big even at peak times.
Not to speak about off times qith 100 or less players
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Why thank you keegan :)
i was wondering if anyone at all liked the premise about it ?
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Freeze, i agree.
smaller than 512x512, bigger than 256x256.
that's would be nice!
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That'd Be excellent!
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err, that would be nice. :p
btw cage, your map image is good. ;)
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punt punt punt punt the map is great i love it.
Just make it a little bit smaller
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Should be easy to convert the map to a smaller map. I will give it a shot and see how it comes out. Although placeing the fields and stat stuff is going to be a major task.
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Convert your current bitmap to 384x384 then paste it into a new image sized 512x512, then fix the edges of the 3 large land masses.
The original land mass will then be 3/4 size which IMO will be perfect for MA use.
Originally posted by TheCage
Should be easy to convert the map to a smaller map. I will give it a shot and see how it comes out. Although placeing the fields and stat stuff is going to be a major task.
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Ok here is the updated version of the Large Pacific map.
(http://members.cox.net/kc7djr1/LgPac.jpg)
The actual combat area is a 348x348 area on a large 512x512 map. Guess now it would be ideal for CV action :).
BTW thanks Mistu for the kind words. Your work is always been great too.
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Thats it. Really great. I bet this map would bring a lot of fun.
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Cage can you put some country outlines and then just put some dots or icons where you invision fields?
HiTech
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JB73, I like your map layout also. Could you put it in a map form via the Terrain Editor to get a better visual on it. That map would be great for a European style arena :).
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Cage keep working on that map it is great.
Maybe talk to nutzz about terrain textures.
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Hitech this is the general layout of what I envision the layout to be. Trying to keep both sides equal in the number of bases. Putting HQ on the main land masses and strat targets accross the map. Sea ports would be on the main land and larger islands.
(http://members.cox.net/kc7djr1/LgPac2.jpg)
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Your close, but start looking at current map distance between fields, now look at yours. Also don't forget about makeing a few strat zones per country.
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Cage, love your concept. One comment from me though. You know how most of the smaller MA maps have a 'winner corner' and a 'reset corner'?
From your last image It looks like NW has the advantage with a more compact home island, making defence of the whole land mass easier while the other 2 home islands are slightly longer and thinner. Makes defence more spead out.
Also look at the distances between all of the main land masses. The NW has quiet a lot of water between it and the other two islands. The NE and S island have only around 4-5 sectors at their closest point.
It's really hard to fit 3 sides equally onto a map which is square. I just feel the balance is slightly too much in favour of NW at the moment. Sort of like the West side on Mindinoa or the North side on NDisles which very very rarely get reset. Gut feeling is that S would end up as 'reset corner' and NW as 'winner corner'.
I like everything else. Good luck :)
Gatso
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thecage ... sry bud i know so little about the editor...
i put my idea out there as a starting point for HTC to review.... then if he said go ahead i would learn it LOL (secretly we JB's were hoping somone would help out with it ... tiles and all :) )
+ i have so little precious time that starting to learn it from scratch just to put an idea out there is kinda low on my priorities :(
oh well <> and ty for liking it !
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HiTech, I sent this map over 2 years ago...
(http://www.graphiXOne.net/images/COFFEE.jpg)
NUTTZ
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hmm.......
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Nuttz. Wow.
Really really :cool: Wow.
Yes please.
Gatso
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Now that's what I call a great map Nutz. Much better then mine :).
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Hitech what is about the posibility to use some of Nutzz Terrains textures in the MA ??? Any chance about that coming with new Maps.
Nutzz awesome map really great.
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Was planing on it in the next terrain freeze, but nuttz back out of working with NB.
HiTech
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Hell No! I Like NB, even met him IRL in '97. NB can E-mail me or Call me anytime, we have spoken on the phone, he has my home phone number....... Whoops! my bad i had it changed. tell NB to email me and I'll give him my new number and be glad to help him in anyway i can.
Sorry for any missunderstandings.
NUTTZ
BTW that pic is the "COFFEE" map.
Originally posted by hitech
Was planing on it in the next terrain freeze, but nuttz back out of working with NB.
HiTech
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Sorry nuttz, is to late.
HiTech
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Originally posted by hitech
Sorry nuttz, is to late.
HiTech
Very sad really really sad :(
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Maybe Freeze, but it could also mean. 'Tough poop Nuttz, NB went ahead and did all the tiles himself.'
Still means we get a new terrain :D (keeping fingers crossed)
HT needs to phone Nuttz or Nuttz needs to phone HT and get that damn Coffee map done ASAP IMHO. The more maps for MA play the better and that one looks better than any of the current ones, (again IMHO).
Gatso
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Crossing everything i can. The terrain is just to good looking to let it collecting dust in the dark regions of a harddrive.
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Originally posted by hitech
Was planing on it in the next terrain freeze, but nuttz back out of working with NB.
HiTech
Nuttz didn't actually back out. He just didn't deliver and I couldn't wait any longer. Actually, the terrain is probably won't be completed until sometime next week. Nuttz, if you want to shoot me those terrain tiles, I will see if we can't get them in. FYI, the tiles I am currently using were created by Nuttz :D .
(BTW, Nuttz..I knew you had real life issues at the time and didn't see the sense in bothering you more :) .)
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LOL real life issues isn't the words... still in the process of selling my house and buying a new one, plus renovating my apts. APts and my house is COMPLETE! Just need to get over all these showings and find a new house. BTW my Email addy is down for tonight, so no incoming or outgoing ( switching servers or something) soon as it's up, fire me off an email and i'll reply with my home phone number and we'll talk what type of tiles you want.
NUTTZ
Originally posted by NoBaddy
Nuttz didn't actually back out. He just didn't deliver and I couldn't wait any longer. Actually, the terrain is probably won't be completed until sometime next week. Nuttz, if you want to shoot me those terrain tiles, I will see if we can't get them in. FYI, the tiles I am currently using were created by Nuttz :D .
(BTW, Nuttz..I knew you had real life issues at the time and didn't see the sense in bothering you more :) .)
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I'm not really sure how well this is going to work. What I have attached is an MA map. It uses a slightly modified version of the terrain tiles from Nuttz's Perdonia CT terrain. With luck, it will be up for the Xmas holidays....
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looks great. Sorry my ISP is still down:(
NUTTZ
Originally posted by NoBaddy
I'm not really sure how well this is going to work. What I have attached is an MA map. It uses a slightly modified version of the terrain tiles from Nuttz's Perdonia CT terrain. With luck, it will be up for the Xmas holidays....
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Also great. By far better then what we have right now.
How much work would it be to give Pizza a new background ?
Or maybe divide it in desert, snow and green backrounds. ?
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Originally posted by fffreeze220
How much work would it be to give Pizza a new background ?
Or maybe divide it in desert, snow and green backrounds. ?
Freeze...
A new background wouldn't be a problem, however, there aren't enough tiles to mix desert, snow and greenery in the same terrain. Perhaps someday.....:D
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What i mean is to give pizza different zones with different backround.
Not all mixed together.