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Maps and game terrain

Posted: Sun Apr 11, 2010 4:06 am
by pcelt
I am reluctant to raise this as I fully appreciate the value, in an historical and period atmosphere sense ,of the in-game maps----but I feel strongly that these have to be a reliable resource and tool when planning a long march particularly when time available is a significant factor and concern.
I have now been playing many sandbox attacks and engagements and have had to plan many long marches. And I have often found the maps misleading and unhelpful.There are often roads and tracks which exist on the terrain which are not shown on map and conversely ,apparent indication of small roads or tracks on the map which are non-existant or in a different place from those found in the terrain.The really major routes seem fine but if you only stick to these you will often run into time problems especially if you are travelling E-W.
I know there is the arguement that these were the sort of maps available at that time but many of the participants certainly knew the area anyway and also locals could be asked.But many of us are totally dependant on those maps for route planning.This problem is also exacerbated at brigade and Div level battles since we have no attached cavalry to scout the area and route.
I really feel the need for some maps(sketch-maps) which faithfully represent the terrain as it exists in-game.I am not suggesting the replacement of the valuable and historic maps but would really appreciate a set of maps (even just showing usable roads and tracks based on the actual game terrain)---just d/loadable for printing as a resource and unit movement aid.
This would improve my enjoyment of the game in terms of march planning etc.But if Im the only one who feels like this I'll shut up and just get lost on my own......

Re: Maps and game terrain

Posted: Sun Apr 11, 2010 6:16 am
by GShock
I think it's what the texturized map really does... look carefully in the modding section. There is one and it's also texturized and it will replace the standard paper map. Since it's taken from the game map itself it's got to be 100% accurate. :)

I'm not posting the link but i know you can do it. :P

Re:Maps and game terrain

Posted: Sun Apr 11, 2010 8:37 am
by Garnier
Like this perhaps:

Textured minimaps mod


Image

Re:Maps and game terrain

Posted: Sun Apr 11, 2010 8:50 am
by pcelt
Thanks GShock and Garnier --Very helpful re finding routes--will you be able to add road names ,and key features like Devils Den, Culps Hill etc--clearly a need to be very selective to avoid a horrible clutter.
Looking forward to developments.
GShock --Have you modded yourself noisy battles yet...? No excuses.

Re:Maps and game terrain

Posted: Sun Apr 11, 2010 8:57 am
by MrSpkr
As an afterthought, I would suggest that there weren't a lot of people on either side who were intimately familiar with the area surrounding an indescript little town in southeastern Pennsylvania. This is true of the Union boys (largely), and particularly true of the Confederate forces, especially given the absence of Confederate cavalry and reconaissance forces and a hostile populace.

Steve

Re:Maps and game terrain

Posted: Sun Apr 11, 2010 9:12 am
by DrMike1997
And that lack of knowledge played a key part in the battle. If at no other time on the march, countermarch and march of Longstreet's force. A great what if scenario idea: Longstreet has the map above and is able to march directly into position and begin his attack four hours sooner B)

Re:Maps and game terrain

Posted: Sun Apr 11, 2010 9:16 am
by Garnier
pcelt wrote:
Thanks GShock and Garnier --Very helpful re finding routes--will you be able to add road names ,and key features like Devils Den, Culps Hill etc--clearly a need to be very selective to avoid a horrible clutter.
Looking forward to developments.
When the place names are available yes. Maybe I'll do general names (as in, not the objectives) but I can't automate that so it's not priority.
GShock --Have you modded yourself noisy battles yet...? No excuses.
Maybe I'll experiment with sounds some time, but working on OOB stuff currently.

Re:Maps and game terrain

Posted: Sun Apr 11, 2010 10:01 am
by larrytagg
DrMike1997 wrote:
And that lack of knowledge played a key part in the battle. If at no other time on the march, countermarch and march of Longstreet's force. A great what if scenario idea: Longstreet has the map above and is able to march directly into position and begin his attack four hours sooner B)
I agree with MrSpkr and DrMike--the whole point is that nobody knew the terrain in the area. Nor any other battlefield I can think of. Unless Jedediah Hotchkiss had gone in earlier and made a map, generals were always confounded by the lack of correct maps. Welcome to Civil War command, PCelt!

Re:Maps and game terrain

Posted: Sun Apr 11, 2010 11:15 am
by Braxton Bragg
Well I extracted the files but I still have the old maps showing :(

Braxton Bragg

Re:Maps and game terrain

Posted: Sun Apr 11, 2010 11:17 am
by Garnier
Either you played the Kansas map which I didn't make a minimap for, or didn't extract them to the right place.