Do you like the game Risk? Do you like making maps?

[WidowMakers]

Hello again everyone.

Yes these maps are used to play a risk style game online.

One thing that is different that most of the maps here is the size.
Many of the maps here are over 2000x2000 pixels.

The real challenge at conquer club is that there are 2 maps sizes. Small (630x600) and large (840x800). These are needed so that virtually all monitor resolutions can see all of the map with scrolling.

Now this makes the design that much more difficult because every detail needs to be able to fit into the smallest map. Each territory has a name (so a player can determine which one they control) and each territory has to be able to display the number of armies a player has to attack or defend. This can easily bee seen by the Rail USA map I posted.

Like I said there are some rules about size which makes the development that much more difficult.

Again if anyone here joins drop me a PM and I will try to show you around if you have any questions.

WM

[The Cartographist]

WidowMakers - Really nice maps. When I was younger, a group of us would actually hand-draw alternate Risk maps, based on all sorts of things. What software do you use to create your maps?

[WidowMakers]

WidowMakers - Really nice maps. When I was younger, a group of us would actually hand-draw alternate Risk maps, based on all sorts of things. What software do you use to create your maps?

Mostly Photoshop CS2

For the Indochina/Great Lakes/Rail USA I used Illustrator 10 then final touchups in photoshop

I also setup Circus Maximus/King of the Mountains in Maya for the perspective and shadows then adjusted the colors and textures in Photoshop.

For the Canada map I downloaded both Celestia and a NASA program called world wind. I got soem high rez images for several other sites and put those all together. I then added those to Adobe After effects so I could further wrap the textures over a sphere. Then by combining both the World Wind and AE files I made my base image to then edit in photoshop.

FUN STUFF!!!!

WM

[torstan]

Have you seen the tool maptool? It's a virtual tabletop for playing RPGs online, however it can be used for boardgames with really good results. There's an example of a game of Axis and Allies posted here. It's free software and it looks like it would work really well with the great maps you have here.

[NeonKnight]

Some truly astounding maps there.
Truly.

[Midgardsormr]

That's really slick! I like the notion of laying new themes onto a classic game like Risk. Everyone already knows the rules, but new thematic elements and changing up the geography makes for a new and fresh-feeling game.

Your artwork is gorgeous, as well, though that resolution limit's gotta be frustrating at times, given the wide range of tools and capabilities you have.

[WidowMakers]

That's really slick! I like the notion of laying new themes onto a classic game like Risk. Everyone already knows the rules, but new thematic elements and changing up the geography makes for a new and fresh-feeling game.

Your artwork is gorgeous, as well, though that resolution limit's gotta be frustrating at times, given the wide range of tools and capabilities you have.

Thanks for the comments everyone.

Yes the size limits are a pain but it has helped me explor and generate new abilities to try and get a good looking image with limited pixels.

You guys might want to try to have a contest like that. Best looking map under 800x800 pixels.
I say you need to have a map making contest for a Risk styled map say on the counrty of Canada or the Great lakes region. I might be interested in joining those.


WM

P.S. Just to let everyone know. My basement flooded yesterday and my computer is dead. I hope that my hardrives are OK. They were not under water but the computer was plugged in.

Just wanted to let anyone who might have joined conquer club and PMed me. I can't log into that site at work. I am not ignoring your posts or anything. I will just get to them when the new comuter arrives.