... turned into a bit of a monster ... BUT creating me taught me loads of useful lessons!
I started out by drawing maps of all the battlefields that had featured in my previous Zubia-based wargames. The end results looked like this:
Secundria.
Zigazag.
Wadi Halfwa.
Abu Nasir.
Massala.
A-Nahr.
I then created a large hex grid (33 hexes wide by 30 hexes high) and pasted these maps in their relative positions to one another. Once that was done, I filled in the blank areas with hills, mountains, oases etc. My final map looked like this:
The finished map of Zubia. The approximate locations of the maps shown above and shown by the red rectangles.
The finished map of Zubia. Click on the map to see an enlarged view of the map.
I am rather pleased with the outcome but about halfway through creating it I realised that it was far too big to be practical. That said, it has given me the opportunity to use MS Paint to create a relatively simple hex map drawing system.
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Bob -
ReplyDeleteI don't reckon it is too big to be practical. That can be printed on an A4 sheet, and counters, or flag pins, created to represent troops and other things you want to represent. When it time to make a campaign move, lay it out, whack in the counters/flags, and photograph. That way you have your record of where things are at, and you don't have to keep the thing set up.
This seems to me a fine campaign map. It is probably wanting a few roads and desert tracks but the strategic scope
looks promising.
OK, the thing is about 3 times the grid array of my own Aithiops and Kavkaz campaigns, but they were always intended to be limited in scope.
Cheers,
Ion
Archduke Piccolo (Ion),
DeleteThanks for your very helpful feedback. I had intended to leave the map as it is and not add anything else, but your feedback has made me rethink that.
The advantage of a large, detailed map means that I can add extra detail as and when I use it for a campaign.
All the best,
Bob
Bob -
DeleteNow that you have the map 'on file', so to speak, you can always leave it 'as is' as the master map, and add in other features as required for a given campaign, and keep as a separate map. The place in 1889 might well look a bit different from the way it was in 1856!
Cheers,
Ion
Archduke Piccolo (Ion),
DeleteVery true … and I suspect that this map - and the others I hope to create - will develop and evolve as my project progresses.
All the best,
Bob
The "finished" map looks great Bob. It's nice to have the Big Picture even if you only use some of it, gives a bit more depth to the campaign.
ReplyDeleteMaudlin Jack Tar,
DeleteI must admit that I’d not thought of it in that way … but you’re right!
Perhaps I need to do a rethink!
All the best,
Bob
Looks great, Bob!
ReplyDeletePrufrock,
DeleteCheers! After the other comments I’ve received, I think that I might be developing this map a bit more rather than starting another one afresh.
All the best,
Bob
It almost looks like Libya or Egypt!
ReplyDeleteIf you switch to using an object based drawing program you can create units to move on the map without having to redraw everything. There are a few software packages like Aide de Camp, Vassal and Tabletop Simulator that allows you to create your own game boards and maps and the pieces to go with them. They can be quite detailed but you only have to do what you need.
Mr. Pavone,
DeleteGreat, that’s what I was hoping to do! I wanted my map to resemble but not actually be a copy of Egypt.
In the past I’ve used MS PowerPoint to record unit movement and locations, but I’ve not tried any of the programs you suggest. I will certainly have a look at them as they may well lighten the burden of running a campaign on my maps.
All the best,
Bob
Great looking map! I agree with Ion, it's not impractical at all, counters, blocks, cubes or pins can easily be used to mark the positions of units.
ReplyDeleteMark Cordone,
DeleteCheers! I am coming round to the idea that I ought to persevere with my current map and refine it by adding additional detail. Then - as they say - the fun can begin!
All the best,
Bob
I agree, excellent map (maybe more so for doing it with MS Paint. ha ha)! Great job fitting all of the battle maps onto it, and filling in the gaps! Might be you could also base new battles off of the big map? And maybe making some discoveries in the course of a campaign? There could be some sort of established routes between oases. Maybe some oases are incorrectly mapped, or dried up, or other oases are found, for example.
ReplyDeleteFitz-Badger,
DeleteOld guys - and old programs - can still do a reasonable job!
The map can easily be divided up into 6 x 8 grid ‘tables’, this being the size of the board the original battles were fought on. I can therefore fight battles anywhere on the map … and add additional details as the project (and map) evolves. (Thanks for the very helpful suggestions on that score.)
All the best,
Bob
The map looks fabulous. I can't believe you managed to do it in MS Paint! I use hex mapping software for this sort of thing.
ReplyDeleteMartin Rapier,
DeleteI’ve been using MS Paint for years and I am very comfortable doings so. I’ve looked at other drawing programs but they all seem to be very expensive. That said, I did recently buy a package from Affinity and that includes a drawing package I have yet to try.
All the best,
Bob