ARCHIVED: Steampunk Worlds - Map Creation Thread

[Blue Monkey]

Yes. There is (and was always) to be an "Earth only" scenario, most likely with KingArthur as the lead designer. Look at the early threads, like Discussion Topic - Civilizations of the World: even though KA has edited the OP to refer to the Lost Worlds scenario, the next few pages of discussion focus on the civs for the all Earth scenario.

 

[KingArthur]

Blue,

I really like this abstraction of the earth map surrounding the "hollow earth". It's geometrically pleasing and a logical representation of an outer world surrounding an inner one. Are you going to roll with this idea or the original one?

 

[Blue Monkey]

I favor the more abstract one. That'd leave the Earth in your capable hands.

I'd like to have a city set for the surface dwellers that is encampments. Something like this, but in various sizes:

I think I'd set it up so that only the "Surfers" are playable civs - give them a limited but powerful tech/unit line, and concentrate on a vp/princess/space race victory style. There could then be up to 4 culture groups for the "dwellers".

 

[KingArthur]

Looks like you are going for Royal Geological Society / American Museum of Natural History type civs?

 

[Blue Monkey]

Looks like you are going for Royal Geological Society / American Museum of Natural History type civs?

I was thinking of 3 types - the Vernian scientific explorers, the Burroughs/Farmer manly men conquering the primitives, & the "accidental tourists" a la Bulwer-Lytton (The Coming Race).

 

[Balthasar]

I'd like to have a city set for the surface dwellers that is encampments. Something like this, but in various sizes:

Like this, perhaps?

View attachment Excavation Cities.pcx

I made it from Ukas' excavation resource.

 

[Blue Monkey]

Thanks, Balthasar - & Ukas.

 

[KingArthur]

Nice job. They could be turned into nice Colony graphics too. Reminds me of Raiders of the Lost Ark.

 

[Virote_Considon]

I made a city set out of the default "colony", if you could use a second set. Nothing special, just single era, single size, as that is all I needed for the project.

 

[Blue Monkey]

I made a city set out of the default "colony", if you could use a second set. Nothing special, just single era, single size, as that is all I needed for the project.

Yes please. I might end up using it for one of the sizes/eras, or combining elements of the two.

 

[Virote_Considon]

Here you go!

 

[Blue Monkey]

I've been tinkering around some more with LM terrains for the Hollow Earth map. Here's a sample of some possible color ranges vaguely based on some photos. I hope Methos or others with actual cave exploration experience will comment on it, since I can't tell what is actual mineral color & what is caused by artificial lighting. I want to find a combination of Vernian eye-candy & quasi-realism. Once I find basic workable colors I will add back more of the dark crags like the upper left pair to increase the contrast & keep the terrain more 3d looking.

Questions for those with first hand experience:

• Do you find colors intense or more subtle?
• would the colors tend toward the darker or lighter?
• Do you find various colors close together, or more monochromatic sections?
• Would a single stalagmite have multiple colors - like bands or stripes?

Thanks in advance for any help you brave explorers of the netherworld may be able to provide.

 

[Moosezilla]

Basic- (from memories) all can work as even the purple is a florite (sp) green copper.., but more subdued until illuminated. All good!

 

[KingArthur]

I don't care about realism when things look this cool

 

[Balthasar]

I think I agree with the Big Moose, that some combination of all of them would be both accurate and very very cool. Feel free to mess with the Lost Worlds underground, as it could use some tweaking, and has some specific challenges...

 

[Blue Monkey]

I do intend to combine some of the colors in various combinations. I've invited Methos to take a peek. His mod bailiwick is elsewhere, but he had said before in the moderator discussion area that he'd gladly give a critique based on his extensive caving experience. so between Moosezilla & him the terrain should slowly get WIPed into shape.

Links to sites with good photos of cave interiors would help as well.

 

[Blue Monkey]

Balthasar: I took another look at the screenshots of your underworld. I'll have to try combining what you've got for the base terrain with my variations on Tsuga's stalagmites & mushroom forests. But I've got a lot more work to do so don't hold your breathe for a WIP shot.

 

[Methos]

Since this is regarding a Hollow World type setting, I'll ignore factors that would alter the cave ecosystem from a modern standpoint, as in contaminates.

Do you find colors intense or more subtle?

It depends. High water, such as floods, can cause formations to be dirty, leaving a dull look towards them. While caves with a lack of rising water, or multiple levels, can have a pristine and bright color.

would the colors tend toward the darker or lighter?

Both. As stated above, it would depend on the cave itself.

Do you find various colors close together, or more monochromatic sections?

Together. Remember, formations are formed by the flow of water through the earth. The coloring of formations is determined by what is mixed in with this water flow. For instance (sorry, modern standpoint), if there is a sinkhole located on the surface that is full of junk, such as rusting equipment, then those contaminates are going to eventually find their way into the cave system and become part of a speleothem, thereby altering the coloring.

Would a single stalagmite have multiple colors - like bands or stripes?

Yes, it could. I've seen formations that were primarily a beautiful white, only to have one section with a downward stripe of an iron color. Just remember, stripes will typically be vertical, with slight horizontal deviations based on air flow.

Thanks in advance for any help you brave explorers of the netherworld may be able to provide.

I'm not sure how the above will help, but I hope it does.

 

[Methos]

Here are a few pics that will hopefully help.

 

[Methos]

Sorry for the triple post, but one other thing to remember is water. A living cave (as in the formations are still growing), will be wet. It can be anything from flowing water (streams) to just small pools and the sound of dripping water. A dead cave (formations no longer growing), will be a dry cave.