Hi guys!

I have been observing the map-development thread for some time now, and have decided that once I get around to it , maybe within the next six months, I will begin to dabble with mapmaking. I don't know what it will turn out to be, but I plan on being careful and aesthetic in my design. I do not want to make a crappy map, and will spend several weeks, if not months, on a map with only 100 territories or less in order to make sure that it its high quality.

I have yet to download inkscape even, but know that at some point in the future, sooner if not later, there will be a new mapmaker among your ranks...

-Takeshi (The matter)

EDIT- If there is any tips you would like to suggest to a rookie mapmaker, like what would be a good project to start with or tricks when making a map, please let me know. I would really appreciate it.

Edited 3/26/2015 20:15:55

don't make beziers
never draw freehand lines
read the inkscape tips on the wiki

See https://www.warlight.net/wiki/Category:Map_Making to make maps to a very good standard.

Hey! I just started on my first map too. I'm pretty much in the same boat. I'm planning on 120ish territories on a map the should take weeks or months to get right. So I'd be appreciative of any tips people have as well!

I agree with Sephiroth that the tips on the wiki are REALLY helpful. I also read through some of the Inkscape tutorials, but unfortunately, they only helped me getting started. They don't seem to be a really good reference for advanced stuff, but I haven't gotten through them all yet.

I suggest tiny iterations just to get a map up and running. It's not the most efficient way to make a map, but it's helped me with a few gotchas during map validation and upload. If you're going for efficiency, I think more experienced mapmakers draw the frame and artwork of their map before ever even worrying about actually dividing it into territories (although it's good to keep in mind where they're going to go). Please someone correct me if I'm wrong.

Sephiroth - I'm wondering if might clarify about beziers? Do you use the same bezier tool but use it for straight lines only? I initially used freehand lines and simplified, but I'll probably kick that habit too since it does create curves. I do agree that curves are difficult - if not impossible - to manage when you need territory borders to align exactly. I guess I'm just asking if there's another reason for doing so, such as map download size considerations?

Beziers are essential if you're making a large map.

Make. Your. F*cking. Borders. Clean.

What are Beziers? And why are they controversial?

I would suggest that you may start with a ten territories map. which you finally dont publish, to get an inside in the warlight editor mechanics. you could try out some ideas and features, as well.

Takeshi, let me explain. There are two ways to make the outline for territories, Bezier Curves and Draw Freehand Lines.

Draw Freehand Lines

Using this method, you create a path, and Inkscape makes the nodes for you. Generally speaking, it makes more tidy borders, but it can look messy if you don't simplify them using Ctrl+L. You can end up using a lot more memory with this method, so if you're making a big map, then you'll want to avoid drawing free hand.

Example of Draw Freehand Curves: https://www.warlight.net/Play?PreviewMap=33722

Bezier Curves

This method is the opposite; you create the nodes and then Inkscape joins them up into a path. Borders normally end up looking more jagged* using Bezier Curves unless you make a lot of of nodes. However, this means that a territory made using Bezier Curves will normally use less memory, and will therefore allow to have more, so it's better for maps with about 1 500 territories or more.

Example of Bezier Curves: https://www.warlight.net/Play?PreviewMap=38883

*= This is why Bane doesn't like them - he thinks they don't look as neat.

This is what the symbols look like so you know where to find them:


Edited 3/27/2015 17:55:01

no i like bezier, but take the damn effort to make them clean afterwards.

What do you mean by that? For example, would you count A Tale of Four Cities as "clean"?

Edited 3/27/2015 17:56:39

i mean that this is sloppy: https://www.warlight.net/Play?PreviewMap=41464

just edit the borders by hand and have them side by side if theyre different colors.

Oh right yeah, I agree.

I only use bezier for the reason you mentioned, and its easier to make things more 'perfect'

Ehm nope zxctycxz, bezier curves are these


(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B%C3%A9zier_curve might help you understand them better)

Your tale of four cities is completely made of straight lines, which is much better than using beziers because the latter may cause several problems when imported into WarLight, like this http://puu.sh/gRV7f.png - it is a real trouble finding and fixing them all.

So we're saying the same thing, you just didn't properly understand what a bezier curve was :)

hes talking about the tool, bruh.

yeah and the tool is for making both straight lines and bezier curves - he's talking about straight lines in his post so i guess he just misunderstood the difference

Bane's right.

well you said a tale of four cities was made with beziers, so there was a clear ignorance from your side

real friendly.