Re: [Arianne-general] Re: maps start

[Brian T. <bri...@ho...>]

>Please, forget about technology that should be used. or compressions 
>schemes or
>net or whatever. Just tell me(us) what the goals of the map should be.

There are several ways of conveying the map.  First the idea maps such as we 
have already seen which are used as the basis for the data maps.  These 
should be submitted in any format which is comfortable for the contributor, 
but should contain a legend of some sort so that we can understand what they 
are trying to convey.
  The first data maps should be strictly for the land, a height map grid in 
one layer 0-255 for -128 to 128 with what I think should be 10 cm per 
increment, the terrain type map in another layer which will designate stone, 
dirt, or lava ....  A water level map in another layer which will be used to 
show water levels in that specific map this could probably be a part of the 
terrain map layer by dividing the terrain type map in 2 parts <128 as under 
water and >128 as above water.  The third layer should be used to represnt 
what type of plants are there.  The plants will be like this grass, bushes, 
stumps, and several types of trees would each have a different value 0-256, 
and their alterations would as well, a fruited tree with buds, with fruit, 
which has leaves falling of and changing colors like in autumn, and one that 
is burned should be represented by different values as well(How do we tie 
the 3d models of bushes and trees to the map?)

>
>Also to create the map all you need is to do pieces of terrain either 
>square or
>triangular that will model the surface.
>
>POLL: Triangles or Squares?
>Triangles allow an easier modelling using existing tools ( 3DS for example 
>)
>but double at least the number of required objects.

Couldn't we use a single 320x320 file to represent 2 320 equilateral 
triagles in a single file?  I vote for triangles because I know how to for a 
contiguous world using triangles and I know that modelling is easier, but 
would like to think we can save space by putting 2 triangles in a square 
file to save space.  A thought about isometric view, image a square in the 
view that it appears to be 2 equilateral triagles connected at an edge.  
This is an easy method to figure out the view to render characters models 
for display, and we don't really have to change the trianlge method of 
modelling.

The idea outline I am working on is broken down into these areas
I. Objects
II. Characters
III. World
IV. Interactions

I have done most of the objects stuff and need to reformat and submit it for 
critique.  I have written some of the character stuff, but from previous 
experience with the first RP system have most of that.  I am now working on 
ideas on the world structure/object its format mostly. I am starting to form 
the ideas for interactions.  I am sorry it is taking so long to get the 
object outline to you, but the copyright and hacker email have taken 
priority in Arianne affairs, and we won't talk about my personal life.  I 
think that once the outline is done people can see where they would like to 
submit and hopefully the form to submit new objects, character, world, 
interaction idea in.  I think people should continually be writing up 
histories and interactions and we should assign histories to particular 
people so that we have definite leaders for each culture being developed, 
but these leaders must accept new ideas for their cultures and work together 
with other culture leaders to make the overlapping events in the world work, 
like a great flood should have occurred in cultures at about the same time.  
I would also recommend making a history outline/timeline that we can all 
work from and we can work together to build this, I think that major history 
is important but that minor histrorical events be left undeveloped so that 
we can develop them later.  (Basically we leave reasonable gaps so that we 
can create history as we go as well).  Once I am done with the current 
outline I want to work on the world maps, and at the same time start 
coordinating the construction of Arianne's Historical Timeline(events will 
shape the land literally and figuratively) and this is when we should assign 
cultural leaders.  Start coming up with ideas for your favorites races 
histories!

Hope this answers some questions and doesn't generate too many more.

Brian Thompson

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