Subsector Map Styletest - Feedback requested

[enderra]

Hey guys,

I have been making slow but steady progress in working on my sector. I am now at the point where I am working on a "final" map design. I am still experimenting a lot, and this is where I am at, using subsector "A" for my tests...

I don't want to bias your opinions by writing too much about this, but I should probably remark the following:

- the callouts (like "Abandoned colony") will likely be a problem in subsectors with a higher system density

- this is NOT a Third Imperium subsector/setting, so for example there is a different FTL technology.

- Only one system has starport class, this is on purpose - I was too lazy to add them to all systems for a style test.

- It's a low-res version for posting purposes. The final map of the sector will have A2 format.

I'd appreciate any and all feedback - especially on colors (I am colorblind!) but also on what elements to include, not to include, what is okay but might need changes, etc etc etc.

 

[Balfuset790]

Looks pretty good, though perhaps the text on the system names could be made a little larger or otherwise more obvious. It's drowned out by the lines and outlines as it stands at the moment.

As an idle curiosity thing, are the yellow lines indicative of your settings equivalent of X-Boat routes, or are they trade routes or something else?

 

[enderra]

Thanks for your feedback, Balfuset!

Looks pretty good, though perhaps the text on the system names could be made a little larger or otherwise more obvious. It's drowned out by the lines and outlines as it stands at the moment.

Mh, yeah. I am not sure how much of that is an artifact of the low res export. When I take a screencap, the system names look better:

That's one thing I may have to work out over a test print. But will keep it in mind!

As an idle curiosity thing, are the yellow lines indicative of your settings equivalent of X-Boat routes, or are they trade routes or something else?

Main travel routes, yes. The solid lines connect Class A ports, the dotted lines connect Class A to Class B, and Class B to other Class B.

 

[phavoc]

Will you be denoting gas giants like Traveller maps?

Since you say you have a different FTL type drive, would your drives have to worry about stellar issues like say nebula's? If so then you might want to add those visually to the map. Unless it makes it too busy that is.

The dashed lines showing Imperial space kind of overwhelm the planets. Maybe you could shade the planets or alter the text names to indicate what empire they are a part of?

 

[dragoner]

Remove the side and underlines, Sumo should be capitalized; otherwise, it looks great!

I might add bases and Gas Giant symbols though.

 

[Tom Kalbfus]

The Empire is rather small I must say with 8 worlds in total.

 

[enderra]

Thanks for the replies, guys!

Will you be denoting gas giants like Traveller maps?

Since you say you have a different FTL type drive, would your drives have to worry about stellar issues like say nebula's? If so then you might want to add those visually to the map. Unless it makes it too busy that is.

Drives are a hyperdrive variant, there are some complications and limitations built into the setting's backstory (and don't get me started on the tech); they all add up to "GM's fiat". I thought about doing nebulae but decided they're probably not worth the hassle. And you are right, it would make the map fairly busy, though I do have a "fancy" background anyway; it should be more or less trivial to edit it to represent "dust density" or somesuch and have an actual gameplay effect. Hmm. Food for thought.

I use D-T fusion plants, and since tritium doesn't occur naturally in sufficiently-large amounts, there's no skimming or ocean refueling, not for regular ships anyway. You need so little fuel (by volume/mass), though, that "tank capacity" isn't usually a problem.

The dashed lines showing Imperial space kind of overwhelm the planets. Maybe you could shade the planets or alter the text names to indicate what empire they are a part of?

Hmm. I will give it a try, thanks for the idea, though it might be a problem with the "fancy background".

Remove the side and underlines, Sumo should be capitalized; otherwise, it looks great!

I might add bases and Gas Giant symbols though.

Thanks (the Sumo line was just a throw-away for a test callout but I do stand corrected .)

Won't be including gas giants, besides the different fuel situation (see above) I also think they are probably very common in the universe. Unlikely to be something you point out in anything but the very specific 3I setting.

Bases... yeah. But what does need to be included on a generic traveler's map? Not military installations. Starport classes I will almost certainly include, that covers ship repair, fuel and supply facilities. A pirate base would likely be reflected in a travel zone (Amber at least) and would presumably be hidden anyway. TAS (or my universe's equivalent) facilities perhaps?

The Empire is rather small I must say with 8 worlds in total.

It's a styletest. That is, not the complete or even finalized map.

 

[enderra]

Some very quick and minor edits:

Addded starport classes
removed the side/underline of callouts
Exported at higher dpi which seems to help the labels a bit
Travel routes are now a bit more orange-ish

Edit: Made the "Imperial space" border thinner as well

 

[dragoner]

Looks great!

 

[enderra]

Looks great!

Thanks!