November 2007 Entry: Superstition Valley

[Gamerprinter]

Ravs, about the zoom in issues, that's really because it was 16 color GIF that I uploaded. I thought I created a 256 GIF. The gradations were lost, the feathered edges were lost, the transitions between map objects were lost - all due to lack of color.

So, I've uploaded a JPEG of the same map, to show, that you should be able to zoom in more with better quality.

WIP in JPG format...

Notice how the roads, are areas that lack the ground cover vegetation - I really like this for this kind of map, afterall, these aren't brick streets, just exposed ground with plants and rocks moved out of the way, so this is how it should look at this distance.

[Gamerprinter]

As far as the map I originally intended - Superstition Valley, its complete.

I have yet to create all the required symbols and yet to create all versions to be posted on a webpage for challenge viewing and download. So the challenge isn't complete, just the map portion of it.

I started to hand-draw all my text - what am I kidding, that's way too much work, so I resorted to several fonts and placed the text in with white shadowing and creative placement.

I rescaled the structures to more "accurate" though still its too big - again this is supposed to be a map, not an aerial photo. I placed the last structures that weren't in the last WIP.

I'll probably create a black and white version before the end as well.

WIP so far... (Whoops, Tucson got bumped before I saved it - its floating above the horizon)

[Torq]

I think this is incredible work GP. Well done. You have clearly got some great skill with the pen. I'm envious.

Torq

[ravells]

Absolutely beautiful - and with the modular symbols I'll be able to draw one like it?

Just one observation though - the black river banks might be too overstated, I find my eye constantly drawn to the river banks because they are so dominant.

[Gamerprinter]

That thought has occurred to me, as well. Perhaps I should take away that solid fill and make the river just unfilled line art - then place a softer blue watercolor fill behind it.

Yes, Ravs!
Except for the river and the cliff banks - which I created specifically for this river, and the river was never intended to be a map object. It is specific to this map only. All other mountain module elements are setup, so that yes, Ravs, you could easily create an old west map such as this in no time at all.

Perhaps I should make the river a map object too, just its not configurable like the mountain modules, the river only goes one way.

I should have all the map objects completed in their various formats and uploaded into a webpage, sometime this weekend.

[Gamerprinter]

Is this an improvement?

### Winner ###

[ravells]

Much better!

I really like the cacti as well. What a great piece of work and all the more so because it's modular and you can't see the joins.

[Gamerprinter]

Although I will wait until after this challenge is over, I've been thinking about creating bonus packs that fit themes other than Old West, using the same mountain modules.

Because of the flat top nature of these mountains indicative with American desert southwest, a mapper might reserve the use of these mountains to creating old west only maps. I think they have more value than that.

Keeping the desert southwest theme, I might create an Azteca pack containing ziggurat pyramids, rectangular sun temples, pueblo type communities, cliff-dwelling sites, additional slot canyon modules too.

Medieval fantasy with a few castles and towers, temples, paved road mods, and walled desert communities, even a small colleseum arena.

Finally, a Sci-Fi themed pack with Starports and flat-top landing zones, outpost mining communities, tunnel entrances to place into the face of a vertical slope mountain module for underground bunker/prison/military outpost. Also planetary defense guns, field generators, etc.

How about a Stargate?

I think adding additional packs in different themes would expand the use of mountain modules in designing any artistic style map requirement.

Thoughts?

[Midgardsormr]

YES!

Er... pardon my enthusiasm. Really, though, this is jaw-dropping work. It makes me want to write a Western campaign just so I can use all the bits you've made. Come to think of it, I think I know somebody's who has a Sidewinder rulebook...

Ooh! This would be perfect for a Firefly game! That's an even better idea!

[ravells]

Definitely make more symbols for it, this is too good for the Western RPG'ers to have all to themselves!