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I got distracted from the unit mod by the request for a change to the Steppe graphic. I tried several things but at the end of the day, I started to feel that the map is too busy and distracts me from the focus of the game - units and combat.

Also, the towns seem way too big and most of the surrounding 'town' hexes actually only have field and plains values, so the vanilla graphics are misleading.

Anyway, I ended up making an experimental Board Game map mod. At the moment it's Zoom 2 only ('Normal') and I need to hear whether people will use it and what they suggest for Zooms 1 and 3 - mod all three levels or not?

One option for Zoom 1 is to keep most of the DC vanilla graphics and primarily focus on the new Steppe color. I would still want to mod the villages though, restricting them to 1 hex.

I kept the mountain/forest graphics as I really like them and I think they work even with a Board Game format. Also, I expect we'll only see limited combat forces operating in this terrain.

I like that look! One change I would recommend would be to make the rivers bluer.

OK - will look at that next.

This is how the map currently looks at Zoom 3.

Good Lord redmarkus you are a very busy individual! Your graphics mods are such excellent work and much appreciated. I do agree with Cleveland about the rivers. Also maybe some sort of texture on the Steppe hexes so it doesn't look so much like North Africa. Maybe some sort of Field texture.

ORIGINAL: CLEVELAND

I like that look! One change I would recommend would be to make the rivers bluer.

Like this?

ORIGINAL: Arinvald

Good Lord redmarkus you are a very busy individual! Your graphics mods are such excellent work and much appreciated. I do agree with Cleveland about the rivers. Also maybe some sort of texture on the Steppe hexes so it doesn't look so much like North Africa. Maybe some sort of Field texture.

I was influenced by the PanzerKrieg board game map. Textures are tough to do and they hide many of the more important map features (like rivers and streams), IMHO.

Outstanding work! I'm looking forward to installing this.

As always amazing work. I want it yesterday.

yes! nice rivers

Now, when I click the supply overlay, I can clearly see the hexes I have taken...

Totally agree with redmarkus as this is, after all, a boardgame in essence. I like the simplicity of the mapmod and the last iteration (with the blue rivers) is a keeper once it becomes available. Great work!

ORIGINAL: redmarkus4

ORIGINAL: Arinvald

Good Lord redmarkus you are a very busy individual! Your graphics mods are such excellent work and much appreciated. I do agree with Cleveland about the rivers. Also maybe some sort of texture on the Steppe hexes so it doesn't look so much like North Africa. Maybe some sort of Field texture.

I was influenced by the PanzerKrieg board game map. Textures are tough to do and they hide many of the more important map features (like rivers and streams), IMHO.

I was influenced by the PanzerKrieg board game map. Textures are tough to do and they hide many of the more important map features (like rivers and streams), IMHO.

Great rivers! I will defer to your wisdom on the texture issue since I know absolutely nothing about modding.

I dunno, it looks a little too North Africa for me. YMMV.

Very much like this!

ORIGINAL: Flaviusx

I dunno, it looks a little too North Africa for me. YMMV.

It's consistent with the Panzerkrieg color scheme (image below). FitE simply used white for open hexes, IIRC...

There are two development options and Vic has chosen the second:

- Draw dedicated bitmaps for each map section, as in WitE, which allows for differentiation on a hex-by-hex basis and a more attractive (but very hard to mod) map, or;
- Provide a hex template as with DC, allowing extensive modding but with the downside being that each hex of the same type has a repeating pattern.

In the mod, I have gone for visibility and contrast over artistic value. I Chose Panzerkrieg tan for summer and FitE white for winter. Obviously, I can't please everyone, so this version of the mod is for those with fond table-top memories. Anyone who downloads the mod can change the open hex color or pattern to suit their tastes - it takes about 10 minutes and I'll post a simple 'how to' here later.

As said in another thread, it helps a lot if you can post images of other maps or units pics that you like. I can take a steer from those.

I am happy that you are modding the map...I am having a blast playing the game, and modding it seems too much like work.

Winter map...