It's about time we expanded that list and made more maps available. Players have been creating their own since Underlight started, like Arnaya's Maps. I'd like to invite players to submit their maps to be included in actual map items in the game, but there are a few requirements.
- Maps should be submitted in a high-quality image format like GIF, BMP, JPG, or PNG.
- Color depth (256 colors, 16-bit, etc.) doesn't matter, but they will be converted to a 256-color palette, so images with higher depth will lose coloring. Please use 256 when possible. If you can, please submit the indexed palette for your image for easier processing and please avoid using any of the first 32 colors of your palette in the image (they are reserved).
- Dimensions must be 768 (w) x 480 (h).
- Room names should not be shown in the game version (right-clicking on the map in the game will tell you the room names), but please submit a second image with room names shown so it's easier for us to process.
- Map should show clear connections of portals, especially two-way connections to make it easy for someone to figure a navigable path from one room to another. Portals to/from other planes should be shown in some way. See next bullet.
- Like the Threshold Map, include a legend of any special annotations, such as portals to other planes. If you want to add a special marker for sanctuaries, generators, or nightmare spawn points, that's a bonus that will get your map extra love from other players.
- The map should have the name of the plane clearly shown.
- If you'd like credit for your submission, be sure to put your character's name in a corner somewhere like the fancy artists do. Keep it small, though. It doesn't need to be an overwhelming billboard exclaiming how awesome you are.
- To make it fit better with the theme of the game, please limit any text to use the Underlight font.
- Overall, make it something you're proud to put your name on. Color is not your enemy, but keep in mind the limited palette (see below). While a plain white background with black boxes and black lines is clear and easy to read, it's very boring and is not going to look good in the game.
This image was created entirely in PowerPoint using shapes and text boxes. Then go to Save As and select file type .gif.
Don't forget to submit a second version with the room names shown, which can be just text boxes added at each room.
Here is the same map reduced to a 256-color palette:
You can see rooms and their connections. You can get from a to b following the map. And it still looks better than black boxes on a white background!
So, to make sure we're not duplicating efforts, before you start working on anything, check this thread for who is creating what. If a plane you want to map isn't already taken, reply to this post with the plane you are going to map. So everyone has a chance, just "check out" one plane at a time! When you submit your map, then you can "check out" the next map and keep going. We hope we'll get enough submissions (or any) before the next patch so your work can be available to everyone.
Available to everyone? But aren't GMs the only characters with the ability to Forge map items?
Right now, that is true. But in this next patch (with these new maps), we'll also be adding a new title for Forgers to get. Cartographer, Map Smith, Plane Drawing Person, Grand Mapper, or whatever it ends up being. Only those with that title will have the ability to forge map items! How do you get this title, you ask? By submitting a map graphic that gets included in the patch. Easy. Then you get to Forge maps of all (available) planes for your friends, for newlies, for whomever. Maps are one item that can't really be abused. Now that I say that, you'll all find some way to exploit and abuse them. Please don't. Can't we just have nice things? This isn't completely definite as we may go another route, but it's a likely option.
Okay, that's enough of that. My posts are always so lengthy. Sorry about that. I like to be generous with my information.
You can post your submissions here for everyone to see (and up-vote, I guess), but PLEASE send copies to me, email spark at underlight.com.
Thanks!
