Hi .44 - this has been my first real chance to take a good look at this map, so let me lay it on you...
For starters, I'm glad to see somebody working on a Korea map. It's a good region for a CC map, and your basic layout looks pretty good. There are plenty of good places to start (or hide), the use of impassable borders looks good, and the DMZ in the center of the map is a nice twist which could set up some interesting North-South stand-offs. I even dig the color choice.
Right now the map suffers from a few very correctable flaws which I think are really holding you back from that next level... and i know of which I speak because they are all flaws I have been guilty of. For example, you've got to keep an eye on the game engine when drawing your territories - some territories, especially the DMZ, won't hold army counts, and when you size this image down for the small map you'll have both territory size and font legibility issues. In fact, the font is tough to read already - I can't make out the name of the island.
Next, I think you should really determine what role you think the DMZ territory should play on this board, and make changes to map accordingly. As I see it now, it will be a nuisance which can be avoided by taking the sea route from north to south. If you remove the sea route, the DMZ becomes a key passage between north and south, the taking of which involves some risk.
Personally I'd like to see you play up the north-south war theme on this one... instead of the easy north-south sea route, how about an airport in the south which can bombard - but not invade - the south, and a missile installation in the north which can likewise bombard southern territories. And if you're going to set up north-south gameplay, I'd suggest you lower some of the region bonuses (+3 for Honggang-Do seems high anyway) and instead give additional bonuses for united all of South Korea and all of North Korea. This would encourage a player to focus on one half of the map, thus setting up a war across the DMZ.
And i hate to mention mountains, since that's what I always get flack for on my maps, so I won't do it and will just say that I'm certain the graphics will continue to improve.
). The mountains are more of a placeholder right now because I can't find anything that suits the map. Also, I'll keep experimenting with new fonts. v7 with the bombardments should be up tonight.
