cartography, map making +1

[minetus]

i know there are alot of post covering this, but this is a sumarization of the things i found that could be usefull with a few sugestions added.

sugestion for cartography skill development

requirements:
• intellegence
• painting skill
• cartography skill
• tracking skill (maybe?, to find pathway's of npc/monsters etc)
• ink
• paper
• pen
• compass (or something to get orientation, not really a nessecity but is helpfull)
• eraser (maybe?)

sumarization
•the skill would open a map making interface, that would work with 2d illustrative icons of places and things (ex:. roads, mountains, buildings, etc) also a typing
option could be avaible for writing places names etc(or name list for marking the map for easy edit and exploitation proof), at the higher level of the skill, there
would be avaible option to use multi layers with alpha for making sublevel pathways (bridges, overlaping caves etc)
•highest mapping range around: near 10km squarred, this looks like a good sizeable map for maximum skill(enought to make a map of roads and very important places of the size, akkaio to bronze doors, i know this seems too much but remenber that on a map this size you couldnt map city npcs, and other features), and the world will evolve into a much wider area in the future.
• also this system could be used as a improved version, for devs to make 2d concept maps of new areas, plan strategic changes in the world
•the code could be saved as xml following a format like this example:

Code: [Select]

<map name="name">
<layer number="1" alpha="0" overlaycolor="ffffff">
<object name="road01" location="55,150" color="yellow" rotation="45">
</layer>
</map>

skill improvement: i used a basic description for progress needs some work tho
• basic mapping: able to draw 1 type of road in any direction
• intermediate mapping: can draw several types of roads with diferent colors, 2 layers
• moderate mapping: gains access to some basic landscape descriptions (mountains, river, lake etc), 3 layers
• good mapping: smaller icons (for bigger maps), buildings, 4 layers
• advanced mapping: 5 layers

• other markings avaiable: monsters icons, npc icons, building names, npc names, monster names, places names(ex:. plains of the ulber or ruins of zzz)
editors signature (since diferent people may edit a map, this also could be in the back page),

map comerce
• able to visualize a (small thumbnail or less quality view) of the map traded to check for some authenticy(to avoid scams)
• materials for map making should be somewhat expensive, to make map price somewhat high, so that not every one can carry a bunch of maps, to reinforce exploration.

resource threads:
• map making: http://hydlaa.com/smf/index.php?topic=20597.0
• actual map making: http://hydlaa.com/smf/index.php?topic=20715.0
• can we please get a mini map page 2 & 4 rest seems garbage to me: http://hydlaa.com/smf/index.php?topic=17761.15
• enhanced cartography: http://hydlaa.com/smf/index.php?topic=2957.0
• a map (tracking): http://hydlaa.com/smf/index.php?topic=7978.15

additional sugestions welcome, any positive criticism welcome, orthografic correction welcome

[Baldur]

An idea I had, if it hasn't already been proposed.
Decaying map/mindmap(?)

[minetus]

baldur i tink your sugesting is adequate for a mini map thing, not for cartography/map making.

but that "decaying" idea can aply to maps after created in the form of durability of the map, the map could get stains, cuts and other deformations as the paper loses durability. making maps not lasting forever. ideas for map decaying in durability could be trades of maps, using the map, fighting could cause the map to decay as well, eaven thought its not used in combat.

[Soulless_Body]

Any kind of map would be good......

[eldoth_terevan]

Well, we do have a map of Yilakum in game already ... it is VERY detailed and at a 1:1 scale... /me ducks flying rocks

[minetus]

if you dont have any thing to add to the 1st post, please refrain from posting, thank you

[Chaoron]

Maybe some others already told it several times, but I think drawing your own map by hand has no any real point as I can always use some paper and pencil IRL.
So I expect  the client helps me drawing the map (as I don't use my real hands in attack), but I have to learn skill and wonder around to explore areas.

I would suggest the automapper should draw the map, if I ask so (like /makemap). When the automapper is on, it
- needs mental stamina
- decreases the quality of equipments
- usable for alimited time depending on the skill and type of map
- explores the area around the player - radius depends on the type of map  and the skill.

If area is larger than the map can contain, another sheet is needed to continue, but automatically uses one, if it is in the inventory.

Have different sizes of paper sheets, each for a different scale: draft, city, explorer and pathfinder maps. Using larger sheets obviusly need higher skill. The scale and the skill requirements are in brackets.
- Drafts are for drawing city-outland-city area sketches [1:500000]
- City maps are for mapping streats, caves, etc; on higher level, the NPC's are also shown [1:10000, lvl5]
- Explorer maps are for showing major surface deformations, lakes and place-of-interests (ex. large rocks, portals) [1:100000, lvl10]
- Pathfinder maps showing minor surface deformations and larger in scale also shows NPC's [1:30000, lvl20]

[Kiamors]

I believe the only reason in game map making should even be considered is if you could sell or trade the map. Otherwise you should just get out a piece of paper and a pencil and go to work. and the maps should be created like items, not by hand, otherwise you could buy a map and it be wildly inaccurate. Just looking at it won't do you any good either because if you need a map you obviously don't know the area well. Therefore I believe that a series of precreated maps should be made and that a cartographer could only make a map of an area after they have fully explored the area. The players and cartographer could then edit the maps via a drawing and labeling tool so they could add locations of treasure, NPCs and such. This would allow some custom maps to be much more valuable, but it would still have the basic map. No guarantees about the edited verson could be made though. So a famed treasure map might be worth the huge sum of money you paid, or it might only be worth as much as a regular map, that kind of risk is up to the player to take. And of course people who make fake maps and sell them would be punished by a bad reputation, so they could not stay in business for long.

[Gluonite]

This idea of map making is of great interest to the Explorers Guild of course, and especially to a cartographer character such as mine. Would he be able to make a living with it? I think that it should be mostly as described in this thread, but there is a problem with gaining skill and being able to make maps as a consumable in the economic structure: They are so easily copied outside the game structure that no one will be willing to spend money to buy one IG. The only possibility being that NPCs might pay money for them, but that doesn't sound like any fun now does it?

[Eagel]

I was thinking (and forgive me if I mistakes at this), but.... what it's the point to have a cartography system?
(Someone can explain to me?  )

I though: If you have to gain many PP and trias to "study" cartography and buy the "expensive" requirements... you'll have to stay a very long time in game to get the PP and trias or you can choose to be a leveler and stay camping near a NPC (I hate that ).

I was roleplaying a lot, without taking much care about my levels and I'm happy. I explored, known many nice people and places... actually I remember entire dungeons at Laanx Temple. It's about 2 months I join PS community and I know most every place in Yliakum. Come on people... explore a little, It wont hurt you.

PS: Oh... BTW I remember myself asking for a compass some time ago...