Another question. When I uploaded the map to test if I built everything right I noticed this as I started building the bonus links. The territory borders dont show all the way around (see screen shot). Is there a way to fix this, or would it be eaiser in the long run to just re-draw it?

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t21/M1dn1ghtR1der2/Untitled2-11.png

You dont have space between your borders of bonuses. The way to fix this is to select all the territories in a bonus together, duplicate them (ctrl+D), outset them (ctrl+"zero"), and then union them (ctrl++). Then, duplicate this path multiple times, select one of the duplicates, and one of the territories in an adjacent bonus and use the difference tool (ctrl+-). Repeat until you have gone all the way around the entire bonus. Make sure that you are only using the difference tool on the duplicates of the outset path. If you accidentally use the original path, undo (ctrl+z) and then duplicate it again, so you don't lose the original path, because each time you use the difference tool, the path is removed.

This might not make sense, so if it doesn't, let me know and I'll try to explain it a different way.

Good luck!

Thanks for your answer BBBG, have not had time to play lately. I will try what you suggest later and see if I understand it right. Thanks for all your answers to my many ignorant questions.

Ok a quick example. I want to make Minn, Ill. Iowa, and Wis all one bonus. I follow your above instructions to the point where I union them (ctrl & +) At that point I lose all the inner boundaries and the all 4 states become one big territory. Prior to the ctrl & + function I get the double border. Perhaps I miss drew the map to start with as I drew out each state as an individual rather than as a bonus group. The reason for that was I wanted to make as in this example the 4 states mention before as one bonus, and also a part of another bonus involving the entire Northern states as a whole. To further complicate the matter I added cities to the mix, however I will correct those once I have the basic state trouble worked out.

Should I have started out as drawing the map with the 4 states mentioned before as a single bonus rather and a whole (and so on with the other bonuses), rather than each state by itself? Sorry if I seem dense or am not getting it right.

BBBG just a quick note on the tut you gave me before. Between the 5th and 6th image you forgot to mention using the outset tool (ctrl+zero), I think that is where I feel into trouble. }; )>

Midnight, you group territories into bonuses after you upload the map to Warlight. Draw each state by itself, then which bonus you want the states to be in on the Map Development page on Warlight.

Thanks Swords, I even got that far, but when I drew the states out the first time I didnt have the states divided correctly so once the bonuses were made up the borders did not show properly. I have now after a bit of trial and error, worked out what I was doing wrong. Unfortunately that means a re-draw, but such is how one learns.

Thanks again to all of you for answering my noobich questions.

Ok so here it is, at least my first real run at it. Note that the bonuses are still set to defalt 4 and will change. Comments, ideas, flaws?

http://WarLight.net/SinglePlayer.aspx?PreviewMap=14719

The water ones are a bit odd to me. You have North Atlantic connected to Maryland, then New Jersey coast south of it (NJ is north of Maryland). Why does western gulf not connect to mainland? I am not sure the intent on the water ones, but I think you might want to rework that some.

Visually, I would add the surrounding areas as out of bounds (OK/rest of plains). The black hole looks a bit odd to me, but doesn't effect game play. Use this map as an example (might not want to use gray since you have gray territories): http://warlight.net/SinglePlayer.aspx?PreviewMap=9427

DC as part of both Central USA and Central Cities seems odd. Also, you may want DC to border Virginia since you really wouldn't have to capture Maryland before attacking it.

I'd almost like to see some 'border state' between Maryland and Virginia for play-ability. Not sure how that would fit in historic context though.

Western/Eastern CSA bonus links are reversed (cities are fine).

Kansas has union color but is in border states and western USA and USA bonuses also. Cities in KS are also in conflicting bonuses.

That sounds like a lot, but I like the idea and the map. I look forward to playing it when finished. You should make distribution modes to reflect the North vs South of course (that way borders can be not picked in some modes and could make them more armies if you wanted).

The water territories are intended to be a blockade, and I set it up as it is to prevent an all out obliteration from either side via route of the blockade. For example I can not see in 1861 a ship sailing from Texas to the Northern US and decimating the Northern Army from the rear, or vice verse. Those territories are only ment to be a bonus exactly as a blockade would in actual combat. Blockades are more or less passive in that they dont allow import or export, but dont contribute to any real combat action. Thats my theory anyway, but this is far from the final map so suggestions on how to rework it are welcome.

Visually, I would add the surrounding areas as out of bounds (OK/rest of plains). The black hole looks a bit odd to me, but doesn't effect game play. Use this map as an example (might not want to use gray since you have gray territories): http://warlight.net/SinglePlayer.aspx?PreviewMap=9427

This will be fixed once the mechanics are worked out.

DC as part of both Central USA and Central Cities seems odd. Also, you may want DC to border Virginia since you really wouldn't have to capture Maryland before attacking it.

I did this, as well as with Kansas, to place some importance on these territories DC being the US Capital and Kansas being a Free State in the Union but still filled with bitter fighting with Missouri, the way they are now grants a bigger advantage to getting both bonuses without creating a landslide in armies. I hope ...

Western/Eastern CSA bonus links are reversed (cities are fine).

I know, to lazy to fix it right now, but it will be corrected }; )>

I'd almost like to see some 'border state' between Maryland and Virginia for play-ability. Not sure how that would fit in historic context though.

I would also like that, and while Maryland was "technically" a Union State it was also a hot spot for fighting, and still have plans for that state, as well as Virginia.

Thanks for your input Chris, if you have any other suggestions please post!

Looks beautiful!

Looks beautiful!

Thanks BBBG, and thanks for all your great help, you had a big hand in making it happen.

Here is the updated version, not all bonuses are set yet, but I did a little revamping and moving things around.

http://WarLight.net/SinglePlayer.aspx?PreviewMap=14729

Maybe you should expand the map westward to California(which was a state by 1861). The remaining territories in the west were aligned with the union, minus Indian Territory and the lower half of New Mexico Territory.

Kansas should be Yellow. Now it is Blue, Yellow would be better :)

Maybe you should expand the map westward to California(which was a state by 1861). The remaining territories in the west were aligned with the union, minus Indian Territory and the lower half of New Mexico Territory.

Perhaps in a later version.

Kansas should be Yellow. Now it is Blue, Yellow would be better :)

In 1861 Kansas was a Union state. For simplicity sake and game play I may just add it into the Border States

Ok I think I have it worked out well enough. I removed Kansas from the Union bonus and added it to the Boarder States. I also divided up Maryland and Virginia and added a bonus for Richmond and DC. I think the bonuses are pretty even, I think total US comes out to 56 and total CSA comes out to 50. The single player AI tests seem pretty good, Anyone care to do some real people testing for me?

http://WarLight.net/SinglePlayer.aspx?PreviewMap=14729

I'm really glad you got this off the ground. Sorry I couldn't help with the map making, but I'll happily sign up for play testing.

Good Job :)

I'm really glad you got this off the ground. Sorry I couldn't help with the map making, but I'll happily sign up for play testing.

Good Job :)

Thanks Ska2D2 so am I, and your imput is useful even if you couldnt give tips on how to build.

Would be thankful for anyone that would like to test (umm someone instruct me on how to open the map for you all to test ...?) I also played through a few games with the AI and it seems a bit lopsided for the South as both myself and the AI could have almost the entire South in the first turn while the North was struggling with getting one or 2 bonuses. I expect I will divide some of the Southern states like Texas and FL up so that it wont be so easy to capture the South.

If you keep an uptodate link for the map on here I can run your testing games - I can invite more people and use slightly different settings than you can. So I'm happy to host them. I can invite the volunteers from their profiles if they say they are interested here. (Or on another thread if you would rather)

I will keep an up to date link here, just keep an eye on this thread. Would be great if I could get some real people tests rather than the AI.