The new map Dawn

[Dedas]

A big golden trophy to the one/ones who made this map - it is beatiful! What I really like is your idea of different domains for the different nations of Dominions 3. This really helps new players like me to get a "feeling" for them; and as you have illustrated where they belong, you have also shown the player what their weaknesses and strengths might be - you have given them a home and an identity. Well done!

Might I add that more maps of this calibre is something that I in the future will dream off day and night?

[JaydedOne]

Jason truly outdid himself with this one.

[Gandalf Parker]

The "Dawn of Dominions" scenario.
I hope Jason doesnt mind but here is a shot of it.
www.dom3minions.com/games/dawn.jpg (http://www.dom3minions.com/games/dawn.jpg)

That is an excellent map. Some very creative matching between the image of the map (what you see) and the coding of the map (whats in the .map file as being the properties of each province).

Everyone should take a look at it (its in the new patch). Especially anyone considering their own maps as it does make use of some of the new features that have been added to the game or are soon to come.

[Meglobob]

Fantastic new map, well done Jason...again.

[reverend]

This is one of the best maps I have seen so far!

Let's hope we get a new map of that quality with every larger patch. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[Agrajag]

:O
Now I'm sad that I spent this day coloring this guy:
http://img476.imageshack.us/img476/4444/seconddragonsiglinecw5.png
Instead of checking out all the new stuff

[Strages Sanctus]

That map is a work of art... great lateral thinking went in to that design.

Edit: Typos

[Shovah32]

I think im going to cry *sniff*. This map was beautifully drawn, thoughfully created and, best of all, a hell of a lot of fun to play (especially with agartha)

[Jason_Lutes]

Hey, thanks everyone -- your comments really mean a lot. Since I just work on these things in my spare time, it's nice that the efoort is noticed. The gold trophy's going on my mantel!

I would like to do more maps in the future, but my time is very limited these days, so no guarantees. I've got a lot of other (paying) work on my plate, so that takes priority.

Thanks again!

[Jack_Trowell]

Thanks for the map Jason, It's beautiful and has an unique flavor.

Now I just need to make or find a variant scenario for both middle Age and late era. ^_^

[Zebion]

Argatha having a whole underground cave system is just beautifal and fun at the same time. I love Ze new cave system just for encouraging darkness monsters

[Saarud]

This map is superb. I have started 3 games so far on it just to test different nations... and I love it as there is even more feelings to the nation in this scenario. I think it is great as well that the setup is not balanced... I like to see more scenarios.

Two thumbs up!

[Stryke11]

Jason,

I consider your maps to be of such high quality that I for one would be willing to pay for a packet of them. I notice you mention you don't have a lot of spare time for non-"paying" work. I'm sure the community here appreciates your work so much that if you considered devoting some time to making multiple maps I think it wouldn't be unreasonable to set up some kind of fee structure.

Just my $0.02 (and potentially much more http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif ).

[Horst F. JENS]

I support this idea. Everyone who spend his free time to make maps or mods get my full admiration.
But to get more maps like the new one from Jason (i understand it is all self-made, not copied from other work) i suggest to club together and make a regular "map of the month" (Year/whatever) voting where the winner(s) get all money collected so far.

[Recruit]

Well done Jason on a great map.

Definately professional quality work. Curious to know what software you use? Do you work digitally or by hand?

[bleach168]

I'm impressed. Great job!

[Gandalf Parker]

If anyone is really interested, there are some easy ways to setup money handling to support projects (thru PayPal is pretty simple or thru SourceForge if you want to be an official project). Or to setup putting a CD online and selling it with a bunch of maps or background screens or mods (thru CafePress is probably easiest).

[Jason_Lutes]

Recruit said:Definately professional quality work. Curious to know what software you use? Do you work digitally or by hand?


Professional quality except for the resolution issue. Still haven't got that part worked out (too chunky). But thanks!

I draw a bunch of terrain by hand, scan it in, clean it up in Photoshop and just copy-paste to build the map. For the older maps the terrain brushes were colored and then applied, but for this one I colored most of it afterwards, so it has more of a custom look.

Usually for the most basic continent/sea outlines I start with a something out of a fractal world generator, but in this case I asked the beta and mapping forums what Early Ages nations poeple would most like to see a scenario for, made a list of the top picks, and came up with this sketch:

http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/8425/mapearlyagesru4.jpg

Then I solicited feedback from Kristoffer and the beta forum regulars about how to improve it, rearranged some of the nations, and tweaked the layout somewhat.

I intended from the beginning to create a scenario that had more flavor than balance, and knew full well that some nations would have a much rougher go of it than others, which is how I like my strategy games in general. But I did make some .map file changes to Arco, Caelum, and C'tis to help them out a little.

In our current MP test game, Ulm and Marverni seem particularly crunched. I'd be curious to hear how other games go, and if people think the difficulty ratings need to be adjusted at all.

[Michaelangelo]

Hi guys, I'm new to both the game and the forums. Is there a good location or link that details how to go about making maps that will work with the game?

Thanks, and congratulations to Jason for what appears to be outstanding work.

[Ragnarok-X]

Great map. I have a suggestion though. The borderlines between territories are sometimes very hard to see. Would you mind releasing a version with "black"-borders ?

[Endoperez]

Michaelangelo said:
Hi guys, I'm new to both the game and the forums. Is there a good location or link that details how to go about making maps that will work with the game?

Thanks, and congratulations to Jason for what appears to be outstanding work.



Making the graphics is pretty easy. You can use any picture, with very very slight editing (adding the tiniest bit of hue so that there are no pure white pixels, and then adding one white pixel into every area that you want to be a province). Making the .map file that defines the neighbours, terrains, non-good starting sites, etc is quite a bit more complicated.

[Gandalf Parker]

Ragnarok-X said:
Great map. I have a suggestion though. The borderlines between territories are sometimes very hard to see. Would you mind releasing a version with "black"-borders ?


You could bring up the tga in any paint program and change the borders. It wouldnt affect any game play (as long as you dont use pure white when making changes)

[WraithLord]

I join the chorus chanting what a great map this is.
It does leave one with a taste for more http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Recruit]

Jason_Lutes said:
I draw a bunch of terrain by hand, scan it in, clean it up in Photoshop and just copy-paste to build the map. For the older maps the terrain brushes were colored and then applied, but for this one I colored most of it afterwards, so it has more of a custom look.




The end result is great. I'm a graphic designer by trade and am interested in making some maps for this game to support it, but it's hard to find the time..

If you could get your hands on a graphics tablet I'd say you could produce some pretty awesome stuff.

[Dedas]

More, more, more! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Agrajag]

Gandalf Parker said:

Ragnarok-X said:
Great map. I have a suggestion though. The borderlines between territories are sometimes very hard to see. Would you mind releasing a version with "black"-borders ?


You could bring up the tga in any paint program and change the borders. It wouldnt affect any game play (as long as you dont use pure white when making changes)


Well, it would be 200 times easier for Jason Lutes to change it, because he probably has the original map saved with different layers, so all he has to do is click on one layer and do a quick brush-over or many other similar easy things, and come up with an improved version.
Editing the .tga would mean hand-coloring each an every border piece and trying not to go out of lines.

Though I like the map the way it is http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Wauthan]

Damn that's a sweet map. I promtly made two new scenarios (for middle and late age versions of the nations) and it remains nifty and balanced. Great work!

[AStott]

Jason_Lutes said:
Professional quality except for the resolution issue. Still haven't got that part worked out (too chunky). But thanks!



I assume from this comment that you don't have a higher resolution version of the map on your harddrive somewhere that we could convince someone to host for those of us who want to take the time to download it... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Bummer. That really is the ONLY negative to this map. Very well done. I've been enjoying a game on this map as Kailasa, and there are some very interesting features to the layout of this map that are not immediately apparent (and I'm not just talking about the province connections that aren't noticeable at first glance).

[PhilD]

AStott said:(and I'm not just talking about the province connections that aren't noticeable at first glance).



Am I the only one who systematically turns on the "Show neighbours" option? There are so many maps with non-obvious connections (or non-obvious non-connections) that I find it necessary most of the time...

[PDF]

PhilD we are two with neighbors arrows always visible ! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif
I also love this map, I've started a solo game (with Helheim hehe) and the map beauty plus the setup are very enthralling.
I'm about to take Vanheim's fortress, chaaaarge !!! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

[AStott]

I always turn on show neighbors. If you don't, there's at least one, possibly two connections up top that you never notice...

I don't know how you could function without show neighbors on.

I wish Dominions would remember when you started a new game that I always turn on show neighbors... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Agrajag]

PhilD said:
Am I the only one who systematically turns on the "Show neighbours" option? There are so many maps with non-obvious connections (or non-obvious non-connections) that I find it necessary most of the time...


You are not the only one.

[Jack_Trowell]

I also always activate the "show neighbours" (and the info box).

It would be useful to have the game remember what your last settings were and use them when creating a new game.

[Gandalf Parker]

You can edit your icon that starts the game to the settings you prefer. I have it set to windowed, music off, no fades, Hall of Heroes set to 15, renaming on, and some others I cant remember right now.

I dont remember if the neighbors thing is on the list but if it isnt then Im sure we could ask Johan for it.

Gandalf Parker

[Jack_Trowell]

Thanks, I had forgotten about the command line options. If you can indeed configure starting settings, it will be perfect ! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[BigJMoney]

Jason, this map is totally sweet. I appreciate scenarios, but I don't like it when people use scenarios to alter the game too much. I very much enjoy having a map with a set starting location for each nation that suits the flavor of the nation.

=$=

[Ballbarian]

Once again, great job Jason. Beautiful map!

[Psientist]

Where *is* this map?

[Denisius]

Why did you feel the need to resurrect such an old thread, why not just start a new one?

And to answer your question, it came with a patch, and is now available natively in every up to date Dominions installation. Just check the default maps.

[cleveland]

It's a good thing...he's inspired me to make a new map with the same type of fantastic stylization and fantasy regions.

It's going to be called "Dusk of Civilization as we Know It"

Here a sneak preview screenshot. (http://www.intercotwest.com/common/imgs/resortGuide/disneylandMapLarge.jpg)

Cheers,
cleveland

[Tichy]

No, for that real end-of-days flavor, I'd go with EuroDisney.

[vfb]

Thanks Cleveland, that gave me a good laugh! Wow, separated at birth or something.

[Lingchih]

Is it just me, or would that actually make a pretty cool map? You'd have to photoshop the numbers and stuff out. hehe.

[HoneyBadger]

"Dawn" is the kind of map I'd want to draw, if I drew maps for Dominions.

Cleveland-that reminds me of the novel, "Down and out in the Magic Kingdom", which I just started reading. Free on the internet, by the way. http://craphound.com/down/download.php