Did you recruit the guy who did Jison map mod?

[Technopiper]

If you did, that's a smart move. If not, it's still a nice looking map!

[RedLancer]

As the map is so different to that in WitE (which Jison modded) I worked with the overkill01 who did the WitW map mod:

https://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=4369252&mpage=1&key=

I was inspired by all the comments about WitW asking why Jison hadn't done that map.

I posted this on the WitE site but worth re-posting here...

The map has been completely redone including all the coding, topographic projection and artwork.

The new WitE2 map is a mosaic - each hex has its own art which is built from several separate elements with embedded alpha channels. WitE uses tableaus just like a traditional painting. Artistically the WitE2 map is significantly harder to create because you don't see the finished product until you load the game and you have to have pixel accuracy between hexes as the game builds the picture. Tableaus are so much easier to draw to a much higher standard.

The reason the WitE2 now uses a mosaic (with its inherent artistic challenges) is because it is so much less computer resource hungry: resource that we can re-invest into other improvements like a more realistic logistic system. Another big advantage is that as we have gone along we have been able to change hex types, move rivers, rails and roads and add new locations in moments making the map much more accurate. Finally having a map built as a mosaic allows us to show more dynamically what is happening in each hex - this can be the ground conditions like mud, rail usage or the freezing of rivers. My particular favourite is that the woods and forest art now change with the seasons.

[Technopiper]

WitE2 uses mosaic hex tiles? But I couldn't tell, that's amazing! You must have really worked hard to make it a seamless whole. I imagine the map files would be much smaller and we'll get a big performance boost.

[Simon Edmonds]

Speaking of maps. Are there any new terrain types in the new game?

[RedLancer]

ORIGINAL: Simon Edmonds

Speaking of maps. Are there any new terrain types in the new game?

There are no new hex types but you may get to fight over tundra. Double rail lines and roads are new and have a big effect on gameplay. We have Regions too, which we use to control the progress in the Theatre Boxes.

[Erik Rutins]

It's also worth noting that some of the terrain _effects_ have changed.

[CJM]

My particular favourite is that the woods and forest art now change with the seasons.

Now THAT really shows love!!!!

[terry1040]

What are the possibilities to adjust the map color scheme?
I understand that there a lot of in hex seasonal effects, but I would love to highlight certain aspects differently.
For example on some screenshots mud vs. enemy hexes vs. another similar brownish is for my eyes hard to differentiate. Please let me for example highlight enemy hexes in bright green (or some other ugly coulour that I like choose)

[RedLancer]

I'm afraid the overlay colours are hardcoded and are the one bit you cannot change. Unfortunately jpg screenshots are not great at showing the true effect of the map both in colour and dynamism. The real thing is honestly much easier to distinguish. I wear glasses and my map work was all done on a five year old 17inch laptop and not some huge, Gucci 4K widescreen monitor with no problems.

[MAS]

I am really impressed with the new map - great job! I believe I read somewhere that Sevastopol is a clear terrain hex? I'm not sure what characteristics define the hex type but I sure would have assumed it to be rough terrain from the pictures I've seen / reading I've done on the siege. Lots of hills, steep ravines, etc.