There’s been plenty of progress on the ‘Above Seal Level’ portion of the new map, but it’s bringing up some issues that I need to address sooner rather than later. This is the first time I’ve worked on something from scratch using only photoshop. Even the outline of the landmasses was just done by hand, again. The workflow is as much a work in development as the map is.
Even so, have a look. It’s a bit ghostly and I’ve been focusing mainly on the eastern areas, but it’s coming along.
It’s rough, but wait until the mountains are finished, the rivers are laid down, and the colors flood in.
One of the biggest issues I have to figure out are the mountains and the rivers. This was the big obstacle with the second map, and it wasn’t something I managed to fix that time. I know where they’re supposed to be, and I can get the level of detail I need for the rest, but mountains in real life have an incredibly distinct and fractal appearance that’s insanely difficult to replicate. Rivers are similar, only inverted and shallower. I have to get that look right but I need some new methods. My old workflow is just not going to cut it on this one.
Version 2 of the original map for reference.
The original map had a rocky texture placed over everything–I have no idea where that file went–and then I erased or sharpened it in places to give an impression of elevation and roughness. There was nothing realistic about it, but up close, it was passable. I could have been sold on that method if the colors had been better (and if I hadn’t seen just how incredible the Earth’s geography is from overhead).
Check out this coastal around Sula.
That was one of my favorite areas along with Calig and the right half of the southern continent. Everything in nature follows the Golden Ratio, so major geographic shapes tend to follow specific patterns. I’m trying to mimic that as best I can, but it’s going to take some passes. The map’s mountains and the layout of rivers are going to look very different this time around. For now I’m using this peaks and valleys problem to learn and we’ll see where things go from there.
Note: Those three bright spots on the new map that are lined up with each other are artificial structures called Megaliths. They really are big enough to be seen from low orbit in broad daylight.
I haven’t posted any videos to youtube in a very long time, and the ones I did post were unlisted. Yesterday was an interesting day. Dare I say a good day, so I was feeling up for it and decided to make most of the older videos publish to give my ‘channel’ (if you really want to call it that) something for browsers to look at. Using my youtube channel for that should make it easier for me to post videos so I don’t overload my own site. Definitely a bonus.
The Map’s not ready for an actual preview just yet, but progress on the terrain (mainly the peaks) is looking good and I should be able to make my deadline (the 23rd). More importantly, I’m starting to pick up some new knowledge and skills while working on this.
People have been saying you should make tutorials for things you just figured out, but I’ve always been reluctant, personally. Usually because I have a habit of taking the long road and if I’ve got a quick and easy method, I picked it up from someone else ten minutes ago. I might as well point you to them.
That’s been the reasoning for some years now, at least. Now I’m thinking more along the lines of: Oh hey, I could put more stuff on the site!
Making any kind of information available is work so once I figure out what I’m doing I’ll definitely start putting some photoshop information up on the blog.
I’ve been so preoccupied with ironing out things for Frame Ops that I haven’t been able to come up with anything for today’s post. You know what that means ….
(As usual, I’ll be experimenting with the blogging format for readability, as well)
What is Frame Ops?
Frame Ops is a series in the Aeon setting centered around an E-sports community and the Battle Network, the gaming conglomerate that manages it all. The game Frame Ops is a fast paced mech shooter at its core, but ‘Battlenet’ went all cash-eyed and turned the game into a full blown E-sport with colossal commercial interests and at least two different leagues for the players. The whole series is based in the Jovian Sphere.
What is the Jovian Sphere?
The Jovian Sphere consists of all the territories around Jupiter, out to 1 AU from the planet itself. The Jovian League controls most of it, but that control diminishes the farther out you go from the settled regions. It’s like a combination of the old Wild West and the Pacific Ocean.
Details to Iron Out
As for what’s keeping me busy up in the mental workshop, it’s mainly the economics of both the setting as a whole, and the internal economics Battlenet’s system. Frame Ops isn’t just an E-sport for the times, it’s a new world created in cyberspace to facilitate all sorts of outlandish business models.
While Frame Ops is mainly about the gamers and their adventures, Battlenet’s activities, and those of the major companies are always carrying on in the background. This has a rippling effect throughout the various stories, affecting pretty much everyone who’s anyone. That’s why it’s important for me to understand the process, even if it barely amounts to background noise in any given story.
Besides, at some point, once I find a good way to do it, I will be focusing on Battlenet’s people, too.
A Work In Progress
I am working on Frame Ops’ ‘Odyssey related stories when I can, but I’d also like to do some smaller stories about characters that won’t get much attention otherwise. That will also help me out with ironing out the lore before things get too muddled.
Fleeing Victory’s format is working for me so far, so I’m thinking of using the same format for that kind of content.
Anyway, there’ll be more news on this when I’ve got more to share.
