AOS: Transsib 1914 <v16>

[Victor Sullivan]

I vote against the minimap, I much prefer what you already have.

[natty dread]

I don't think it's possible to do the minimap without covering the train.

I think I'm deciding against it.

[natty dread]

v12

Click image to enlarge.

[theBastard]

for what minimap? legend is clear and in Orient Express works fine. no minimap here!

[ender516]

I recognize the Russian tricolour, but what is the flag with five stripes, natty?

[Arama86n]

earlier in this thread there were a few people that suggested the cities look great, and the stations not as much so. Although I wouldn't presume to tell an artist his work, I'd almost have to agree with them. The stations look somehow in contrast with the map. Perhaps it's their size though, a little big. Could you try and 20% reduction in station size perhaps?

Just my 2 cents.

[natty dread]

I recognize the Russian tricolour, but what is the flag with five stripes, natty?

That's the flag of Republic of China up until 1928. In 1928 it changed to the current flag of Taiwan which is actually the current Republic of China. But in 1914 Republic of China was China. Then afterwards it separated to People's Republic of China (current China) which adopted the red commie flag and Republic of China (current Taiwan) which kept the ROC flag. Which is not this flag, as it changed in 1928.

All clear now?

Could you try and 20% reduction in station size perhaps?

Thing is, the stations need to accommodate army numbers. And even though I could probably reduce the size and still fit the numbers, they probably wouldn't fit well on the small map, so the small map would have to have proportionally larger stations, which would create a sort of mismatch between the versions.

But I'll see what I can do.

[natty dread]

Click image to enlarge.

[theBastard]

looks better. could you add a little more light to industrial centres icons? the stations are light, so ind. centries could have also a little more light...

[natty dread]

See, this is an example of priorization. The stations will have numbers, so the priority for them is to make them so that the numbers will be as clear as possible, so they need to be light. The cities won't be housing army numbers, so the priority for them is to make them good looking, and they look more industrial when they are dark and gritty.

Also the different lightness levels provide visual cues for the purpose and function of the icons: the darker cities fall more to the background, since they are only modifiers to the existing territories, while the lighter cities pop out more, showing that they are separate territories.

[natty dread]

slight adjustments with colours & legend

Click image to enlarge.

[natty dread]

Ok if no one has any more complaints about the graphics, I'm starting the small map.

[The Bison King]

I think you should slap some variation of this bad boy behind the title.

[RedBaron0]

The stations can be tons better, the map itself is very-very good, but the stations and cities just don't come up to par by comparison. Be a little creative, or go simpler.

[grifftron]

natty i agree with Red.. those buildings look awesome for the tone of the map but i am not feeling the stations... maybe something darker and a little less block looking IMO. But the map it self looks great, my fav graphic wise of your maps so far.

-griff

[natty dread]

I think you should slap some variation of this bad boy behind the title.

Sure.. I can try that.

The stations can be tons better, the map itself is very-very good, but the stations and cities just don't come up to par by comparison. Be a little creative, or go simpler.

natty i agree with Red.. those buildings look awesome for the tone of the map but i am not feeling the stations...

These days, it seems like everyone has an opinion about the stations ....

The thing you have to remember with the stations is, that they are going to be covered by army numbers. So trying to make them too elaborate is a wasted effort. They also need to be clear enough, they need some "smooth surface" so the numbers will show properly.

So, people are still not happy with them. I have no idea what more I could do to them. Seriously, I'm out of ideas.

[Arama86n]

Natty could you post a screenshot with armies added to the map? It's hard to speculate on for example the stations when there is going to be armies on them when we actually see the map in play. Perhaps all the suggestions/complaints will evaporate when the rest of us realize something that you already know in conjunction with armies littering the map.

The zise and colour of the stations for example might be needed, even perfect as they aye, but it will take armies on them to illuminate this fact to the rest of us.

/regards

[natty dread]

I'll do that, but first, another attempt at stations. For these I used the moscow train station for inspiration, but they turned out looking sort of like castles...

[grifftron]

I'll do that, but first, another attempt at stations. For these I used the moscow train station for inspiration, but they turned out looking sort of like castles...

those are cool, i like the, and actually taking a look at the ones you have on the map already once again, and after reading what you wrote... i really don't think its the actual station, but just the colors... maybe if it was just a little darker, they just seem to bright to me to match the map... but thats just IMO. btw you are right about making them easy looking instead of complex.

-griff

[Industrial Helix]

Yeah, I'm still unhappy with the stations/cities. They just clash with the feel of the map. The map has a more dyed linen, older styling feel and the stations are obviously photoshop creations complete with that weird, plasticy, unrealistic lighting. Why not try drawing up some stations and cities in various styles other than the style you've used already? Like three or four different styles just to get the creative juices flowing?

[theBastard]

natty, thos yours looks good. here is my attempt - the base is the centre of main building of old train station in my town (Bratislava).

[natty dread]

Thanks bastard but I've already made new ones.

v13 with new stations, new cities, and some touch-up here+there.

Click image to enlarge.

[theBastard]

not at all.

they have everything what was noticed here... now I like them. and all map. great work, natty.

[isaiah40]

I have to agree with theBastard, the stations looks 1000% better and fit the style and theme. Now maybe we can get this thing stickied!

[natty dread]

One more change, to the title.

Click image to enlarge.

Now if everyone is happy, I'm starting the small map.