Matrix and Australian Design Group To Bring Empires in Arms to the Computer

[EarlPembroke]

I would agree with not spending TOO much scarce resource time on looks, but I think it is important to have crisp, nice-looking units (they don't have to be too fancy, but quality is good). It will help to make the game more appealing to the less-hard core players. And if that happens, it allows more money for add-ons or whatever.

Comments on the map - yes, Austria does stick out too much, but I think that is a function of its contrast with the background color. If you made the background some sort of parchment-color that is neutral and blends well with others ... For me, ,the way to create the right map is to imagine a map unrolled on a table in from of l'Empereur - what would it look like? Add in something he might use to distinguish the armies, the territories of where he wanted armies to move, and I think you pretty much have it.

And I agree with other posters that it will be important to distinguish minor countries and their current state (free or conquered). Coloring borders or provinces will be great as long as that changes with control. And speaking of borders, I think the colors right now being used for the province borders, the sub-province (territory?) borders, and the national borders are all a little too similar.

Hope that's helpful from another point of view.

[Reknoy]

Not to repeatedly refer to another game from a different company (but since I love EiA so much I just want to offer this up if it's of any help).

Europa Universalis II does a nice job of presenting the map overall. The change in borders, the ownership. Overall it looks and plays very nicely.

Likewise their units are very well done.

Just some comments on an existing model.

Reknoy

[oleb]

Originally posted by Reknoy

Europa Universalis II does a nice job of presenting the map overall. The change in borders, the ownership. Overall it looks and plays very nicely.

One bad thing in EUII is that you have to change map mode to see province ownership color. The EiA screenshots with colored borders look much better. But it still leaves the question of conq and free states to be decided.

Likewise their units are very well done.

Only if you prefer sprites of marching soldiers all over Europe. I do hope that EiA will use corps counters that wont be too far from the original, or atleast have a choice (kinda like HoI).

[Reknoy]

To Ktarn -- hear hear!!!! 100% agree!

I mention EUII simply because their sprites looked better than the stuff in the screenshots for EiA.

I would personally LOVE it if they stuck with counters. Same with the map. It's not like you can't have a textual marker in the corner (like the days when you have the map laminated and can change FC, or "French Conquered" to PC, "Prussian Conquered" with the stroke of a pen).

Reknoy

[EarlPembroke]

Yes, though I really like how EU2 has the capability to display different types of information on the map, the thing that bothered me is I want to see the political map (colors) with all the units, etc. showing on it.

Combining political and topographical would be the best (as it was in these screenshots) if it's done right. I think some kind of province shading (or at least the borders of the nation's color) with some depiction of mountains/forest ...

Just grabbing the first site that came up in a search, here are a couple of links to actual maps from Napoleon's time: http://www.antiquemapgallery.com/didlain18ann1.html
http://www.antiquemapgallery.com/didlain18ann.html

Those are something along the lines of what I was thinking would be good.

[Capitaine]

Frankly, I really like the look of the map and units in the screenshots MUCH BETTER than the original boardgame, and much better than EU2. I like the aesthetics of the green "realistic" map and think that the soldier art for the units (aside from the mixed up Prussian/Austrian uniforms) looks really sharp as long as the information will be conveyed clearly in the play of the game.