Middle Earth Template

[Moderator]

02:08, 4th Oct 2015
StoPCampinGn00b: Map Approved

 

[StoPCampinGn00b]

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[TD]

GENERAL "Middle Earth template.w3x" is a massive map of most of Middle Earth. While not lushly decorative, it does give the impression that the author knows what he or she's doing. The author has not only got the outlines of the map done, but the proportionate (of what's possible in Warcraft 3 to be proportionate of thousands of kilometers) topography everywhere. It can definitely can compete for the most accurately Middle Earth maps geography wise. I find this template one of the most useful templates on the Hive because of the space the map has for customization plus accuracy. I do think you can add a lot more for a better visual rating along with the fact that editors could just delete these things. The author hasn't taken the time to add more than four landmarks and eye candy that represents LOTR movie choreography. The four landmarks that we're placed; laketown, Mount Doom, the black gate, and whatever it is on Umbar, looked pretty decent so far. The tiles didn't blend as much as other maps but they were no problem to me. Despite the missing depth and noticeable emptiness in some areas, the map follows all the rules and is approved! ​ SUGGESTIONS ➤ Use miscdata.txt for more jagged looking and defined mountains in appropriate areas. ➤ Use grasses that blend better together, they're pretty jagged when they clash. ➤ Add moar landmarks! Eye candy! Helms Deep, Isengard, and Minas Tirith won't get sieged without existing. ➤ Fix the trees in Rhudaur, they're shadows in game. ➤ Snow... in Mordor mountains? I don't know if this is accurate but it just doesn't look right to me. ​

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MODERATOR RATING

PERSONAL USER RATING

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[Connacht]

Alrighty. I was kind of hesitant about adding snow to Mordor in the first place. Maybe just a few places in the east perhaps... I didn't want to add many cities because this is meant to be able to start before the War of the Elves and Sauron, before the founding of many of the cities in Middle Earth. I was planning on adding in cities with triggers based on the chosen mode. Esgaroth and Umbar are there just for reference atm. I wanted to keep everything proportionate, so when I do add cities, they won't be very large. I think Esgaroth is too large right now anyway. I'll experiment with the tilesets to see which ones blend better. Thanks for telling me about that miscdata thing. I was wondering how I could make places like the precipice of Minas Tirith and the mountains of Mordor look more realistic. Thank you for your suggestions.

 

[Arad MNK]

Ummm.... Why/How isn't there an Author Name??

 

[Connacht]

Because a phantom made this.

It was in blue, hard to see. I just fixed it.

Working on v2, taking a lot longer than I thought it would. If y'all have any suggestions, speak now or forever (or at least a few months) hold your peace. I'm adding a bunch of new cities, including:
-Edoras
-Minas Tirith
-Minas Morgul
-Barad-Dur
-Caras Galadhon
-Orthanc
-Helm's Deep
-Dol Amroth
-Umbar (better)
-some easterling city
-Esgaroth
-Rivendell
-Grey Havens
-Osgiliath
-Annuminas

I'm posting the unfinished version with the trees fixed right now so that people don't have to go through the hassle of making a new doodad.

 

[Valandil]

Oh my god this is so nice! Well done!
Can you add number of version in the map name?

Will you add lothlorien and Umbar? Like to see them made by you!

 

[Connacht]

I was planning to add those when the official v2 comes out. That should take about a week if I'm lucky. Thanks for your input!
I actually used your LOTR total war map as inspiration partially. You did a good job on it.

PS: Where'd you get those wooden building models for Edoras? I've been looking for stuff like that for Esgaroth.


I'm adding some screenshots of the cities I have so far. Once again, feel free to comment on them or suggest changes.

 

[Valandil]

I think that models are in this pack http://www.hiveworkshop.com/forums/packs-542/house-building-261669/

if not, you can open my map and export all models you like.

 

[Wasabee]

Great template.

 

[Connacht]

Thanks . There's more to come though. All will love me and despair.


EDIT: I just finished adding all the custom models, but this ballooned the map size to 10 MB. Does anyone have any ideas/suggestions on how to reduce the file size?

EDIT of EDIT: I managed to cut down the map size to 6.6 MB with all the custom models. If this is still too much for y'all, tell me.

Update: Further setbacks for V3; map was corrupted. *cries*

 

[Shogo Excalibur]

You Should Add Custom middle earth units and make a strategy map with this.
4/5

 

[Connacht]

That's precisely what I'm doing Excalibur. The problem is with the file size. I don't think a template should be very large, so I'm going to try to attach a version with custom unit models (~6.5 MB) and one without them (~4.5 MB). I plan on making at least two maps from this template at the moment; a risk map and an RP map. Thanks for the suggestions.

UPDATE: I just finished Rivendell, and it's quite sexy, if I do say so myself.

UPDATE 2: V3 is posted. It ended up being close to 7 MB, but there are ~50 custom unit models. I'll update the description later with all their paths so you can delete them if y'all want. Also, I'm not entirely finished adding environmental doodads, and I couldn't find an appropriate model for the Edoras great hall, so it's not there.

 

[StoPCampinGn00b]

I actually think it'd be fine to have the template over 8mb since those who want to use the template can delete things and of course, compress the size greatly by protecting the map.

Anyway, the map looks great (again!). Most things mentioned in my previous review were fixed / improved. I could nitpick and point out things like the somewhat jagged coast on the bottom left, but other than that, there's no noticeable negative.

The thing that bumps the moderator rating up is definitely the addition of more cities and landmarks, quality ones! If they were X times bigger and together, that already would have earned it in a non-middle earth template. But since they fit great with the accurate geography, that isn't necessary.

The tile usage is still average though. See what you can do to blend the tiles on the plains more by experimenting reordering of the tiles. Also, the custom trail / path tile would look just as good or even more fitting with the default cobble path one in the village tile set.

Rating bumped up!

 

[PrinceYaser]

Dont have Erebor?

 

[Chaosy]

Way too empty, tiles are not the best either, does not blend in well.

 

[PrinceYaser]

I know I asked this question before but it would be very nice if you make Erebor and the Woodland Realm. These are two important in Middle Earth! But I know it's hard to make them cuz they're so beautiful and hard to making. (Necro posting?)

 

[Wasabee]

Idk if necroposting exits in maps and resources since anything needs a review or something.

 

[Connacht]

I was originally planning on adding those, but I haven't been able to access my editor in a while, plus I don't really want to work on anything that no one is ever going to use. If I ever do return to this map I'm going to extend the northern, southern, and eastern borders and get rid of those cut outs in the bottom left part of the map. That's where I would add Erebor, Moria, Thandruil's realm, and the path's of the dead.

 

[Sinandur]

Impressive. Most impressive.

Best geographical representation I've seen.

Could use more landmarks.

At present, 4/5.

I'll wait before rating though; it's clearly a WIP.

Could easily earn 5/5.

 

[Connacht]

It's been a couple years, but I'm finally back to editing this map. I just got rid of the cutouts that were in the bottom left and added to them to the northern, southern, and eastern parts of the map. I also added Tol Fuin, got rid of the jagged coasts, and tried to blend all the tiles together better. This is definitely still a WIP, I plan on adding a dozen more cities/locations within the next month or so.

 

[Sinandur]

Well, Connacht, when and if you go down the Risk route, I think this might be the thing that displaces LOTR Risk: Strongholds, much as it displaced Middle Earth Risk on the Make Me Host lists (kinda' sad about that, since M.E.R. was a classic in its own right).

If you ever want to talk about Risk design or borrow elements from me, my door's open (when I'm not busy with real life work).

If you find any of my versions of the LOTR Risk Strongholds series interesting, feel free to have a look inside. I kept them unprotected as a learning tool for others. LOTR Risk Strongholds 16.4 is the latest and (I'd like to think) the most balanced.

If LOTR Risk: Strongholds was an "expansion pack" for regular Middle Earth Risk, then this map has the potential to be the sequel, revamping things in a major way. I really can't get over the detail. Having made terrain changes in the pre-10 series (and a full, from the ground up overhaul for the 10 series) I have got to say, I really appreciate the time and artistry that you put in.

I'll absolutely play your Risk when/if it comes out. I'd definitely have used your template as the basis if it had been available at the time and you'd been willing to grant me permission.

Good luck and all the best in your projects.

Edit: When I say elements I don't mean the the billion Hive models, skins or icons I've used. Those aren't mine to give permission for, obviously. If you like any of them, though, I can probably help you find where I got them from and credit the maker. If you actually like all of the resources that you see then you could pretty much just copy + paste the credits list across, aside from the makers of the resources unique to your template.

I'm having a look at the V4 now. Looks good.

One thing, though: your "Snowy Tree Wall" trees come out as black circular shadows on the ground. I think that's caused by the import name being wrong. I could be mistaken about that being the cause, though...

 

[MaJlou]

excellent! If combined with models Herr Dave it will make a great map!

 

[Javik]

The Elves made many rings; but secretly Sauron made One Ring to rule all the others, and their power was bound up with it, to be subject wholly to it and to last only so long as it too should last. And much of the strength and will of Sauron passed into that One Ring; for the power of the Elven-rings was very great, and that which should govern them must be a thing of surpassing potency; and Sauron forged it in the Mountain of Fire in the Land of Shadow. And while he wore the One Ring he could perceive all the things that were done by means of the lesser rings, and he could see and govern the very thoughts of those that wore them.