Author Topic: check out these huge effin maps i made. (Read 64349 times)

Mapmaster · « **on:** 20 October 2011, 15:31:33 »

so, i started playing around with aerial photography and photoshop a couple of years ago, and developed an obsession with making my own battletech maps.

check em out:

Archipelago Assault

Badlands Highway

Capitol City

Desert Craters

Forest Battlefield

Hills Fortress

Ice Canyon

Mountain Facility

Secret Base

EDIT: Those old links are now dead. If you want to see a good gallery with most of them in it, try this one:

http://www.lordsofthebattlefield.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=38991

infinite_array · « **Reply #1 on:** 20 October 2011, 15:32:37 »

Oh, hey! You're the guy on Bartertown who's selling them, yeah?

Man, the city map is tempting.

Mapmaster · « **Reply #2 on:** 20 October 2011, 15:53:45 »

That's me!

thanks, man. the city map really took a LOT of time. i almost gave up on it.

worktroll · « **Reply #3 on:** 20 October 2011, 16:18:17 »

Re Desert Craters - I saw what you did there. And I approve O0

W.

Stormforge · « **Reply #4 on:** 20 October 2011, 16:24:13 »

Quote from: worktroll on 20 October 2011, 16:18:17

Re Desert Craters - I saw what you did there. And I approve O0

W.

Always wanted to duke it out on Mars

worktroll · « **Reply #5 on:** 20 October 2011, 16:31:03 »

Always wanted to be able to jump the Valleis Marineris ... ;D

Stahlseele · « **Reply #6 on:** 20 October 2011, 16:36:34 »

Whoa, now those are nice O.o

Fireangel · « **Reply #7 on:** 20 October 2011, 16:42:21 »

If I had one criticism it would be that the highway map does not have the highway running its length.

Nice.

Morpheus1975 · « **Reply #8 on:** 20 October 2011, 16:44:49 »

Nice, what are they about 2x2 in map size? What are their rough dimensions? Just wondering how big of a table I will need.

Fireangel · « **Reply #9 on:** 20 October 2011, 17:07:40 »

Quote from: Morpheus1975 on 20 October 2011, 16:44:49

Nice, what are they about 2x2 in map size? What are their rough dimensions? Just wondering how big of a table I will need.

They are roughly 53 x 38 hexes, so each map is the equivalent of a 3 x 2 standard mapsheet spread. They could be printed with smaller-than-standard hexes (say, 15-20mm instead of the 30mm std) in order to save space on the table.

Dang. Full-size, how much memory does each suck up?

whistler · « **Reply #10 on:** 20 October 2011, 17:26:15 »

wow... very nice.

Kos · « **Reply #11 on:** 20 October 2011, 17:59:42 »

Amazing! Those are awesome! How did you make them? How could I make them? I must know!

Shin Yodama · « **Reply #12 on:** 20 October 2011, 18:09:55 »

Absolutely fantastic. Catalyst should hire you!

What would I have to do to play on one of those?

Grave · « **Reply #13 on:** 20 October 2011, 18:36:57 »

I really do like these, but they're just out of my price range, unfortunately. I've flown small planes and I have an idea of what aerial photography costs to do right, but I already have what i need in terms of mapsheets and can't justify the expense.

Is there any way you might find to get a cut down version that would be available to build some of these bigger maps?

thefiddler · « **Reply #14 on:** 20 October 2011, 18:45:30 »

Quote from: Shin Yodama on 20 October 2011, 18:09:55

Absolutely fantastic. Catalyst should hire you!

What would I have to do to play on one of those?

They've been up on ebay for around a week..

Warpimp · « **Reply #15 on:** 20 October 2011, 18:54:09 »

This really should be the standard for BT maps.

Mapmaster · « **Reply #16 on:** 20 October 2011, 19:09:17 »

thanks, guys. the maps are 46.5x66.75 inches. they are composite images made from scraps of aerial and sometimes satellite photography, including some hi-res images of, you guessed it, mars. they were made over the course of 2 years. i used photoshop to morph them into something that makes since with a hex grid over the top of it (the real world has a nasty habit of not conforming to a hex grid). the photoshop files average 1.5 gig in size. the finished jpegs are about 75 meg, and the preview images are around 1 meg apiece.

if you have any other, sensitive questions about them, feel free to email or pm me (i'm pretty sure i'm not supposed to advertise on here, so i won't be posting any links).

Mapmaster · « **Reply #17 on:** 20 October 2011, 19:25:10 »

and now, for fun, let's see how long and pointless of an argument we can have over what specific inner sphere sites they could actually represent.

oh, and the first person to identify the actual city that the capitol city map was made from wins a cookie.

Goose · « **Reply #18 on:** 20 October 2011, 19:55:35 »

'Cause photoshoping DC is that hard?

Fireangel · « **Reply #19 on:** 20 October 2011, 21:02:28 »

Quote from: Mapmaster on 20 October 2011, 19:25:10

oh, and the first person to identify the actual city that the capitol city map was made from wins a cookie.

It might be harder if the Washington Monument were not so prominent on the mall. #P

Mapmaster · « **Reply #20 on:** 20 October 2011, 21:20:01 »

Quote from: Fireangel on 20 October 2011, 21:02:28

It might be harder if the Washington Monument were not so prominent on the mall. #P

i can't remember if it's heavy or medium, but it's labeled as 120 levels tall! [rockon]

let's see how your gaming group handles that when somebody blows it up. free fall? ::waits for 9/11 truther stampede::

Sartris · « **Reply #21 on:** 20 October 2011, 21:36:03 »

me gustan

St.George · « **Reply #22 on:** 21 October 2011, 04:25:43 »

like'n the maps,,,just look out when that 120 drops on-top of your Battalion. ;D

Stahlseele · « **Reply #23 on:** 21 October 2011, 05:24:44 »

The only ting i'd critizize(spelling? that does not look right <.<) is the fact that the hex lines are a bit hard to see in places . .
Of course, i don't know wether or not this holds true for the real life versions too, or if that is only the case on these pictures.

VF1LAM · « **Reply #24 on:** 21 October 2011, 05:42:30 »

YEAH!!!!

I saw your maps on eBay yesterday and told my parents about them. I was amazed at what can be done by a dedicated person using aerial photography and Photoshop.

The table my gaming group uses is too small for your maps, but the floor of our living room might be able to handle one of your maps...
[applause]

MacPhail · « **Reply #25 on:** 21 October 2011, 05:49:49 »

Beautiful maps, wonderfully rendered and professionally done. Excekllent work! I particularly like the desert craters map, but they're all exceptional.

I'd buy one but you don't ship to the UK so end of conversation.

Keep up the good work.

DaveMac · « **Reply #26 on:** 21 October 2011, 07:11:45 »

Cracking idea and execution matey

mutantmagnet · « **Reply #27 on:** 21 October 2011, 13:23:57 »

I remember the first time I've seen maps like these. I admire the effort put into them.

I think the price is reasonable because this is a limited print production and the cost for out of print map sets is comparable relative to the quality of the workmanship.

Mapmaster · « **Reply #28 on:** 21 October 2011, 15:04:13 »

Quote from: Stahlseele on 21 October 2011, 05:24:44

The only ting i'd critizize(spelling? that does not look right <.<) is the fact that the hex lines are a bit hard to see in places . .
Of course, i don't know wether or not this holds true for the real life versions too, or if that is only the case on these pictures.

it's a yes and no answer. the actual maps have WAY better resolution than these, and in most cases, you can see the lines in those troubling looking spots (might have to squint a bit), but a few of them on the hills fortress map really do get lost in the shadows. however, my gaming group has never had a problem with them due to the fact that they're in limited concentrations and your eyes sort of deduce where they should be.

speaking of the hills fortress map... we're running a campaign in the 3025 timeline and you talk about a map made for indirect lrm fire! don't even think about entering the grizzly parts without jump jets!

GRUD · « **Reply #29 on:** 21 October 2011, 23:28:41 »

I've been admiring these on eBay also. AWESOME LOOKING maps!! [applause] O0

If I was still gaming with my old group I'd certainly buy one or more of those. 8) Sadly though, if I want to game these days I have to drive 5 hours ONE WAY, and those guys don't game on maps. :o It's all good though, we still have fun.

Keep up the Amazing work! O0

Goose
The Ancient Egyptian God of Fractional Accounting	Animare Tai-sa Shikishima
_{I'm always ready to learn, although I do not always like being taught.}