Apologies from a Paradox Forumite

[madtemplar0]

First off, I must say that I never frequented this portion of these forums, and altogether dropped this site when my playing of Civ stopped around a year ago. I had no idea as to the source of the IOT forum game.

I participated in my first IOT over at the Paradox forums, that IOT being Called IOT: Peshawar Lancers. GBIT, the GM, did not cite this website at all, nor any previous game over at Paradox. As such, noob to the game as I was, I had no clue that I would have the wrath of several members come down on me for starting my own after Peshawar ended.

One of you civfanatics instead PM'ed me, actually informing me of the situation instead of giving me what I saw as unjustified cruelty. Immediately after this sensible action, I cited my sources and gave credit where it was due. As such, I would like to offer my sincere apologies for anybody who felt slighted by my bastardization of a bastard child of a game over at Paradox. Although I do not condone the actions taken by a certain forumite, I completely regret that this entire escapade had to unfold. Again, I am sorry.

 

[Sonereal]

You were getting yelled at over it? I'm surprised.

I guess the issue isn't the IOT thing itself because, you know, IOT is basically just another name for Nation Games or RP Nations and etc etc. Sorry for some of our members being aggressive jerks over the issue.

 

[hoplitejoe]

I agree with Sonereal, good to see IOT spreading

 

[Tee Kay]

It's always good to acknowledge your sources. That said, I think some people here might have gotten a little too worked up about it.

 

[Double A]

I thought you were a guy on this forum already and was going to chew you out for not crediting the rest of us (and if you knew me, you would've known that I wouldn't be entirely serious).

But really, though, that map is terrible, you should browse our map thread for a better one. I'm not sure if the Second American Revolution map is there or not, but I could dig it up for you if you can't find it.

 

[Tee Kay]

I make the best maps. [/shameless promotion]

 

[JohannaK]

And I try to

 

[Lighthearter]

Hey, blame me, not yourself. I'm the one who brought IOT from here to Paradox in the first place.

No one can blame you for starting your own game. You credited the creators you knew of, and didn't mean any harm. Given that we're dealing with games and not . . .I dunno, military war plans, I think that's what counts.

But like I said. I'm the one who brought IOT across the void, so I'm ultimately responsible if there's a problem.

-L

 

[hoplitejoe]

It isn't a problem though!

 

[mayor]

Hey, blame me, not yourself. I'm the one who brought IOT from here to Paradox in the first place.

No one can blame you for starting your own game. You credited the creators you knew of, and didn't mean any harm. Given that we're dealing with games and not . . .I dunno, military war plans, I think that's what counts.

But like I said. I'm the one who brought IOT across the void, so I'm ultimately responsible if there's a problem.

-L

I see what you did there


EDIT: Oh and madtemplar, you should join some IOT's over here

 

[Tee Kay]

Yes, some fresh blood would be swell.

 

[madtemplar0]

Thanks everyone, id hoped that I didn't cause a forum war

As for the map, I'd appreciate it. Im terrible at paint, the only thing I have editing wise, so I spat that thing out in five minutes. I may take up your offer.

And I very well may join a game over here, after the many I am part of finish taking so muh one

 

[NinjaCow64]

I see what you did there

But I didn't. What did he do?

 

[mayor]

It might be unintentional but I&B 2

 

[Tee Kay]

As for the map, I'd appreciate it. Im terrible at paint, the only thing I have editing wise, so I spat that thing out in five minutes. I may take up your offer.

TK terrible tips for making monsterous maps

Getting Started

- Steal take a blank map someone else made, and edit it. OR
- Make a map from scratch.

The latter is obviously more work, but the good thing is you make the map exactly the way you want it. Firstly, unless you're one of those people who draw really amazing stuff with MS Paint, get Paint.NET and GIMP. They're both free and you'll love them.

And then, you draw your map. There are several ways to approach this:

- Draw it by hand, then scan it and clean it up in GIMP or Paint.NET. Draw it freehand or trace it from an atlas, whatever suits you. Personally I think a hand-drawn map has a certain charm to it that a digital map lacks, but maybe that's just me. OR
- Draw it in MS Paint or Paint.NET or GIMP or Photoshop. Use an atlas or a map as a guide if you want to draw realistic maps; in Paint.NET or GIMP, you can use layers to help you trace a map. If you're drawing it without tracing, or if you're drawing, say, a fantasy map, you can start by making a rough outline of the coastlines and major features on the map (preferably in a different, lighter colour than the colour you'll be using for the actual lines on the map, so you can erase them easily later - the Paint.NET colour replacing tool comes in very handy here) and then you can slowly embellish the coastlines to make it look realistic.


Map Size

Make a map that is the right size for your game. A map that can fit in a typical monitor screen is ideal, but you might not be able to put a lot of things on it. I personally would be reluctant to make a map larger than, say, 5000 x 2500 px. Consider splitting the map into several parts, or make a zoomed-in inset of a particularly crowded region of the map.

Often, a map used in IOT is divided up into provinces, like in Diplomacy or Risk or EU3. Make sure the borders are nice to look at, and make sure they make sense, especially if you're making a map of the real world (ie not a fantasy map). I'll say it again; the borders better make bloody sense. You do not group Tibet and Uttar Pradesh into the same province, even if they look close on the map. If the number of provinces you own has any meaning for the economic strength of your faction, do not put more provinces in the Sahara than in India, unless the economy runs on sand, or something. If the people playing expect to be forming historical countries, then the borders should ideally be made so that they can form historical borders. And so on.


Aesthetics

Whatever features or icons you put on the map depends on what you're making, but they should be nice to look at, and ideally they should fit in with the theme of the map. If the game has a medieval setting, try not to use futuristic-looking icons to represent towns or units. You know, common sense stuff. As for colour, I prefer softer colours on my maps as opposed to bright, flashy colours that hurt my eyes, but again, it depends on what sort of effect you're after.

 

[JohannaK]

Firstly, unless you're one of those people who draw really amazing stuff with MS Paint, get Paint.NET and GIMP. They're both free and you'll love them.

This, I drew all my work on CivO's map with MS Paint. HJ made them thinner with Paint.NET but, believe me, they look nicer thicker. (it also depends on the thickness, the most thin MSPaint pencil is nice)

- Draw it by hand, then scan it and clean it up in GIMP or Paint.NET. Draw it freehand or trace it from an atlas, whatever suits you. Personally I think a hand-drawn map has a certain charm to it that a digital map lacks, but maybe that's just me.

Also this. I got an awesome fantasy map I drew by hand at school (while bored in class, of course) but I wouldn't ever try to draw it with a program, because it has a something very special, very unique.

 

[madtemplar0]

Thanks for the advice! I have GIMP, but am hopelessly terrible at it. As for this current game, everyone has a starting position already so I think I'm just going to go into paint and hand-trace thicker lines, to make it more inviting and less eye-numbing.

 

[hoplitejoe]

HJ made them thinner with Paint.NET but, believe me, they look nicer thicker.

You edited with MSpaint ergo you wrong. Thin lines are better.

 

[Tambien]

Thanks for the advice! I have GIMP, but am hopelessly terrible at it. As for this current game, everyone has a starting position already so I think I'm just going to go into paint and hand-trace thicker lines, to make it more inviting and less eye-numbing.

Hi! Im a CFC native, but would like to observe this game. Link?

 

[Double A]

Learning to use GIMP is like learning to play Dwarf Fortress, except the tutorial videos aren't fun to watch.