Civil War

[DuckofTindalos]

The little troll needs something to whine about...

[Arnir]

The unit icons in the screenshot come across as effective, but that's about it.  They do seem to be out of place on the map.  Probably having to do with it being an Alpha, but the icons look like they are slapped on the map more than being an integral part of the presentation.  I can't quite put my finger on it, however.  I'm also a big supporter of allowing a game option to switch between icons and miniature figures, etc.

[Zap]

I would suggest a deeper blue for the union units(presently they appear to be purple) and a darker grey for the confederates. And not go any blander in the map colors but increase the green of the forestation.

[Sarge]

Being the title is still in the early alpha I am certain we will see numerous graphic improvements down the road, after all alpha is just the first temp plate of what will become the final product.

So that being said I am a little hesitant to critique the graphics at this state in the game.

The one thing that does stand out, or lack of any Location/place text on the map. Sure everyone one here knows the geography of the ACW but I think any map with out text just looks weird.

[pasternakski]

ORIGINAL: Sarge

Being the title is still in the early alpha I am certain we will see numerous graphic improvements down the road, after all alpha is just the first temp plate of what will become the final product.

So that being said I am a little hesitant to critique the graphics at this state in the game.

Please note that this series of posts has been in response to Joel's kind solicitation for constructive criticism.

[Sarge]

ORIGINAL: pasternakski


Please note that this series of posts has been in response to Joel's kind solicitation for constructive criticism.

I realize that, I am just posting my opinions. [;)]

[Cap Mandrake]

I like the period look. Its an ACW battle map..it should be a bit subdued. Perhaps there could be a button to light up turnpikes or rail lines if so desired.

Cool detail work in the water areas [:)]


The viewer does need to know if the movement zone boundaries end at the rivers. For eg., the western Maryland border disappears at the Potomac. Also the rail lines often parallel the movement zone borders which is very confusing..even if historically accurate.

See below

[pasternakski]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

I like the period look.

Me, too, and I think it ought to be retained and refined.

But, something needs to be done about making visual - and game-playing sense - out of this kind of mess:

[Sarge]

Actually ACW period maps were quite artistic.

[Cap Mandrake]

Period color map showing woods (different scale of course..but the artist got the oliee color right).

Of course, its not for everybody.

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: pasternakski

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

I like the period look.

Me, too, and I think it ought to be retained and refined.

But, something needs to be done about making visual - and game-playing sense - out of this kind of mess:

Agreed..it makes your head hurt after a short while [:)]

Perhaps retain the period look for background..then toggle on "backbacklighted neon-yellow or green movement area borders

[Cap Mandrake]

ORIGINAL: Sarge

Actually ACW period maps were quite artistic.

Agreed..I didn't mean they had to be sepia tone only...but it shouldnt look like a Rose Bowl Parade float either. [:)]



PS..the Library of Congress Map Catalogue is amazing

Here is the Civil War collection:

http://rs6.loc.gov/ammem/collections/civil_war_maps/

[Sarge]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

{SNIP}but it shouldnt look like a Rose Bowl Parade float either. [:)]{SNIP}

Agreed,


[:D]

[Capitaine]

I like the look and style of the map pretty much. I think more work is needed with the icons and symbology though, since as noted by others it just doesn't work. I realize too that it's "alpha" stuff, but I'd be disappointed if masted ships were used to depict naval forces on rivers and on sea. Need to have riverines for the former. Likewise, I'd be upset if leaders were represented by an "HQ" symbol... just not Civil War stuff.

[Marc von Martial]

I'd be upset if leaders were represented by an "HQ" symbol... just not Civil War stuff.

Just a page earlier in this thread there is the screenshot with the 3D icons, many people did not realize this screenshot as it seems [;)]

[Vyshka]

What about Decision Games "War Between the States" ? [:D]

I am looking forward to the ACW game Richard Berg, and Mark Herman are collaborating on. Mark talked about it a bit during his talk at ConsimWorld Expo this year.

Richard is also working on a company level ACW game system called Crucible of Courage. It is based on his BSO Games dtp game called "Louisiana Tigers", which won a Charles S Roberts award the other year.

It appears to be shaping up to be a good time for ACW gaming on the table and on the screen.

[Joel Billings]

Thanks for all the comments. As for the names of Generals, they are in the pop-ups (see screenshot on page 1 of this thread). General names will not be on the map. As for area names, I noticed that I liked the FoF map's putting the text in every area when I saw it at Origins. However, they zoom way in. We prefer to have a map that is much more zoomed out, especially since units in this game can move via rail and/or sea a long way. That makes it much harder to have names in each area. In World at War, we have text on the map only in limited key areas (in AWD we added city names in all areas that contain strategic victory points on top of the capitals and ocean and sea names). We have 3 zoom levels in CW, and the screenshot is from the middle zoom. We planned on having some text on the map, but not every area. We may be able to do it in a screened back way that allows us to add it everywhere at least for the zoomed in map (with maybe an on/off toggle). A year ago when we saw COG at Origins, we liked the map enough to hire their main map artist to do our CW map. Jason did most of the map, with Jorgen (the map artist from World at War and AWD) contributing to it. We think the map itself is far along, but the items that go on the map are much more likely to change (both artistically and functionally) during future development. Thanks again. I'll be sure to pass along all of the comments to the artists.