[Abandoned] - Galactic Conquest

[Aerial Attack]

Wow, really really good.

Only 3 comments (2 minor, 1 major).

1) The red shadows on Devi 1 and Junas 3 are nice and crisp. Could you sharpen the ones on Cylan 1 and Invey 2

2) I really don't like the arrow [since it's the only 1 on the entire map]. I think you should move Ranara system up a few pixels [but not too close to Devi] AND move Asomin and Cylan systems down several pixels. This would open up enough space to move Suibor down and to the left - then you could properly center the star gate text next to the Suibor 2 gate [maybe even move Suibor 2 a bit left in relation to its star]

3) The 1 for Kilam 1 could be moved up a few pixels [crowds the Star path]

I just noticed that you no longer have any asteroids in the Star paths - woo hoo!

As for the Star Gates looking 2-D, they effectively are 2-D in relation to the depth of a 3-D planet. Their width is maybe 2 feet (probably closer to 6-8 inches based on the show). Seen against a backdrop with a width in 1000s of miles; it's going to appear 2-D.

[unriggable]

Okay, with the new bonus system, I suggest you make all earth-likes and gas giants neutral so it gives an even starting position. OR you could make all players start only on gas giants or only on earth-likes. Just make sure you make the teams even.

[Optimus Prime]

I agree with Aerial Attack and officially withdraw my request for the arrow pointing to the stargate. I think if you adjust the positioning a bit the problem will be solved.

Thanks for switching back to the curved lines, it looks worlds better now.

[Optimus Prime]

After looking over the map and at the system bonuses, I am a bit confused.

Did I miss the portion of the thread where there are now going to be system and planet bonuses? If so, having the bonus for the system next to the system name works nicely, but it isn't really representative of the bonus you will have for the system.

For example: the Secunda system is tagged as a bonus of +2, but in actuality if you hold that system you are getting a bonus of +7. That is a little bit confusing. I'm thinking some work needs to be done on making the differences between the bonuses clear.

[ApophisNL]

Did I miss the portion of the thread where there are now going to be system and planet bonuses? If so, having the bonus for the system next to the system name works nicely, but it isn't really representative of the bonus you will have for the system.

For example: the Secunda system is tagged as a bonus of +2, but in actuality if you hold that system you are getting a bonus of +7. That is a little bit confusing. I'm thinking some work needs to be done on making the differences between the bonuses clear.

I'm still undeciced. My original idea was ONLY planet bonuses. Then a separate bonus for holding the whole system was introduced.

So holding secunda gives +2 for earth-like, +3 for the 3 mars-like, and an extra +2 if you hold all planets and the sun.

[Aerial Attack]

Without a system bonus, there's no real incentive to hold the stars. This could be a good thing. It could be a bad thing. You're the map maker - it's your call.

To handle Optimus's conufsion, perhaps you could do the following:

1) Move the planet legend up one line
2) Add in the following line at the Bottom:
"System Bonus for Star + Surrounding Planets (+n)"

Looks like we are almost there.

OPie,

The system bonus was discussed on page 1 of the thread (jako), and was introduced in Version 3 of the map. Even the best of us miss things.

[jako]

havent commented in a while, but still keeping watch. looks great

as for teh system bonus, im not sure if i was teh original person to come up with the idea, but its ur call like arial said.

one thing i keep seeing and no one1 else seems to notice is that teh moons in cylan look much the same size as the planet used in the "+1 all other planets", could u maybe reduce them by a pixel or 2?

as well the planet used in "+0 red gas giants" is not up to par with the rest of the quality of the map, perhaps making a new one?

and i think u deserve the prize for fastest quality updates i have seen yet.

[ApophisNL]

Here we go:



Moved some things around, adjusted the glows
Added some backgrounds to the text for flavour.
Did some other things but I can't remember what...

Whew...

[ApophisNL]

Small Map Test:



I did a straight shrink of the graphics, but tried to keep the explanation text larger.

When I go to make the small map, I'm going to try cramming larger graphics together rather than shrinking everything evenly. So planets will look bigger than they are now, etc etc...

The only problem I noticed was that the 888's cover up the planet numbers, so I need to bring those down.

[Gnome]

don't worry to much about those 3 digit numbers, first make your map as finished as possible...
keep up the good work!

[Aerial Attack]

Fantastic job on the large and small maps.

L1) The star gate text actually crowds the gate - move it left 1 or 2 pixels

LS2) The Ranara asteroids need to be moved slightly more between Ranara 1 and Ranara 2. Move asteroids down and right slightly. Rotate left side down a little.

L3) Asomin 4 could be confused for Suibor 4. Move it down 2 pixels, maybe right 1?

LS4) "Star System" or "Starsystem" bonus

LS5a) This is the big one. Verify that planet numbers [especially on the right side] aren't overlapped by 888 army numbers, remember that's the same as colorblind r88

LS5b) Planets I think should be checked: Junas 2, Fikwi 3, Asomin 3, Cylan 2, and Bylaris 2. Ranara 3 label is a pixel or 2 too far from the planet.

LS5c) I like the look of Secunda 4 [on left side], but it breaks consistency - either have planets on right numbered on right and left on left OR try and keep the numbers closest to the Star.

LS6) Switch Invey 2 and Invey 1 [planet types] because the gas giant now overlaps the Invey Star

LS7) Give me an update or two to get used to the new text backgrounds.

L means Large Map, S means Small Map - so LS1 means Large and Small maps

5(a, b, and c) is really important for the Small Map.

Sorry, every time I look I nit pick.

[ApophisNL]

Here we go:



There's no need to make specific fixes to the small map as that was just a test. The real one will be a lot different.

I fixed most of the stuff for the large one.

[Coleman]

It wasn't that bad for a test. I am in the camp of not caring if the small version sucks really bad compared to the large because of the size constraints unless something can be done about it.

cairnswk probably feels differently to help balance us out though, Andy knew I was a bit extreme on that when he asked me to try the CA role out.

If you feel you can do much better for the small map then by all means. I'm not going to pressure you though.

[ApophisNL]

I'll be happy to get the large one finalized.

The small one would just be another editing session to shrink & move stuff around.

[Aerial Attack]

Looking very good.

No nit picks here. Other opinions?



P.S. Don't forget to update the first post with the new version. Might want to include the small map too.

[unriggable]

Okay, with the new bonus system, I suggest you make all earth-likes and gas giants neutral so it gives an even starting position. OR you could make all players start only on gas giants or only on earth-likes. Just make sure you make the teams even.

Just a reminder to consider neutrals.

[ApophisNL]

Here's the last large one one:



Here's the new small one:



I tried to make the text as readable with the small space.

[ApophisNL]

Whoops missed planet 1 & asteroids on fikwi. Needs to go down and left.

[Aerial Attack]

Nice job with the large and small maps.

LS1) Erase asteroid tag off Haig/Worius. Too cluttered. Change Asomin asteroid tag to "Asteroids between planet/sun or planet/planet block travel" - there is plenty of room for a 3rd line of text.

L2) Move all four systems on the right [Haig, Worius, Invey, and Bylaris] up 1 pixel so Bylaris system tag isn't crowding bottom of map - nice to have, not required.

S2) Stargate text appears to be part of Ranara. Move Ranara 3 right 1 pixel, then move entire Ranara system up 1 pixel and right 1 pixel.

S3) Move Cylan system up 1 pixel, possibly right 1 pixel

LS4) Change Tear text to "Space-Time tears connected" or "Space-Time tears self-connected" - changing this might alleviate the need for S5.

S5) Move Kilam system right 3 pixels, move Eallah system right 1 pixel and down 1 pixel

S6) Fix Fikwi 1 and Fikwi asteroid problems

L - means Large Map (L comments are optional/nice to have, but maintain consistency between maps)
S - means Small Map

[ApophisNL]

New Versions:




LS Merged asteroid tags
S Moved Devi down to allow space-tear text to be 2 lines
S Moved Ranara up
S Moved Cylan up
S Fixed Fikwi system

[Aerial Attack]

Looking very good.

Don't forget to update the first post with the newest versions (you may want to update the image in your signature file too). Also, update the text from terr/system counts to include info about Earth and Gas giant planets starting neutral.

[ApophisNL]

Thanks,

I've updated the first post.

[cairnswk]

ApophisNL...hi...just a couple of things.....

1. i notice you had done some show of placement for triple digit army numbers. These are centered on the middle of the first two digits being in the center of the planet, not on the middle digit being in the center. the third digit always "overflows" to the right and in your image would probably sit over the right curve of a planet.

2. i am not entirely sure about the new blue weave type background you've got in the new version for some instructions. IMHO it isn't syncapo with what's happening in the rest of the map. Any chance of trying some other background there?

[Aerial Attack]

1) I had already mentioned that I needed to get used to the text background (wasn't my favorite thing).

2) I have noticed a potential exploit in the game play. Every system or combination of system has at least 2 defense points, except for the combination of Secunda and Bylaris. If you manage to capture both, you effectively have 1 defense point (Secunda Star) to hold a 12 bonus. Not only that, but only one place can attack that defense point. Contrast that with the weakest combinations (Devi/Invey for 7 bonus or Cylan/Junas for 8 bonus) requiring two defense points for two attack locations.

Whilst Ranara and Suibor might seem to have potential problems too - 2 defense points (Suibor Star and Suibor 2) for a 13 bonus. The star gate creates 4 extra (6 total) locations that can attack those 2 defense points. This is also valid for Cylan and Asomin (12 bonus, 2 defense points, 6 attack locations).

I think the best thing to do would be to add a star gate to Secunda 1 (plenty of space). Actually, I'd prefer Bylaris 3 (alas, there's no space - and all the other gates are only 1 system away).

3) We know that we'll be starting with neutrals on the +0 and +2 planets. I think we need to discuss army counts. I would suggest one or two for the gas giants and 4+ for the earth planets.

[Gnome]

2) I have noticed a potential exploit in the game play. Every system or combination of system has at least 2 defense points, except for the combination of Secunda and Bylaris. If you manage to capture both, you effectively have 1 defense point (Secunda Star) to hold a 12 bonus. Not only that, but only one place can attack that defense point. Contrast that with the weakest combinations (Devi/Invey for 7 bonus or Cylan/Junas for 8 bonus) requiring two defense points for two attack locations.

Whilst Ranara and Suibor might seem to have potential problems too - 2 defense points (Suibor Star and Suibor 2) for a 13 bonus. The star gate creates 4 extra (6 total) locations that can attack those 2 defense points. This is also valid for Cylan and Asomin (12 bonus, 2 defense points, 6 attack locations).

I think the best thing to do would be to add a star gate to Secunda 1 (plenty of space). Actually, I'd prefer Bylaris 3 (no space - and all the other gates are only 1 system away).

I already mentioned that gameplay exploit before but no one seemed to care to much...