I Need a Brainstorming session...

[Resyak]

Hello.

I'm working on a pretty big map and the truth is that my ideas and skills as a map maker are not enough for more, I'm blocked and I have no idea how to approach it. But well, I have something clear, the idea of the map is the following: A war front in which four sides fight: the Void, the Legion, Ner'Zhul's Undead and another army of Undead (these are not controlled by the Lich King). It's a free-for-all and I want the zones to be divided as shown sadly in the:

Spoiler: screenshot

And well, the reason for this post is that this is all I have and I don't have any ideas that would help on how to "decorate" it. If someone can give me some idea on how I could "make" the zones, concepts, images that can help me, whatever... I'll appreciate it.

Regards.

PS: Obviously I don't want anyone to make the map for me, I'm just looking for ideas.

 

[Celaquil]

Well.

The obvious advice is to use doodads and terrain tiles that match the corresponding factions, I see a conflict of concept regarding Ner'Zhul Army and Undead Army, seeing as they are both thematically undead, and doing anything Void is not going to be thematically simple, but I have ideas:

- Legion: This is the easiest, any doodads pertaining to the Outland/Black Citadel category can be used here (along with the corresponding tiles), though I would personally throw in some of the green poison tiles from Felwood just to give it that green legion vibe.

- Void: This one is a little out there, but generally a barren vibe with some clever use of the smoke doodad and the abyss tile (from the outland palette), I also imagine fooling around with SFX spell effects as doodads might be cool for some extra flash (think starry) in this area.

- Udead Army: To differentiate this from Ner'zhul, I'd think more in terms of Forsaken vs. Scourge, so for undead you can go more Forsaken, like use Dalaran Ruins/Lordaeron Ruins/Village Ruins doodads, ruined structures, blighted fields, undead buildings and generally just a 'withered' vibe.

- Ner'zhul Army: And then go full-on Nerubian/Northrend vibe for this, use lots of Icecrown Glacier doodads mixed with blight and spidery stuff, maybe a bunch of ice crystals and some ice and snow as well for good measure, it also helps that this is the northernmost part of the map for immersion

Honestly I'd love to do a 'proof of concept' for these ideas, like a tiny sample-map, but I don't think I have the time or energy to do so, we'll see.

 

[Resyak]

Well, I've rethought the concept a bit and decided to start with a central point for each army, here a reimagining of the Frozen Throne, since in this version Ner'Zhul is still trapped. The idea is to start designing each of the four zones around these central points.

Here is an initial approach:

Here is something like initial paths and connections:

Well, after a whole afternoon, this is how it has been for today. I'm not really convinced, but it's progressing little by little:

 

[Resyak]

Well, this is the current state of the map, I accept suggestions...

 

[Celaquil]

So, take it or leave it, but I had something like this in mind for the void section, I see you went for more of an 'old gods' vibe instead though.

Also might not help that much since its HD, but the map is attached if you want to have a look at it.

 

[Resyak]