RE: Weather (Full Version)

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Shannon V. OKeets -> RE: Weather (12/21/2006 8:45:44 PM)

These are some of the map portions I have shown with previous designs for the weather zones.

If anyone has trouble seeing these, now is the time to speak up. I am of the opinion this design detail is final.

[image]local://upfiles/16701/F2C70AB8336E4CED85BE095FFE237864.jpg[/image]



Shannon V. OKeets -> RE: Weather (12/21/2006 8:48:36 PM)

At zoom level 2 the separation between the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea is easy to see. The Afghanistan border with Persia and India is clear. Even the weather and country boundaries in the Himalayas are obvious.

[image]local://upfiles/16701/3540B40B5A2B4BFE98761FAA13F465F8.jpg[/image]



SamuraiProgrmmr -> RE: Weather (12/21/2006 8:49:06 PM)

Nice solution!

Have you considered making all weather boundaries 'dashed' like that for consistency?



Shannon V. OKeets -> RE: Weather (12/21/2006 8:52:15 PM)

This area is one of the more confusing places on the map because of the not-quite-overlapping country borders and weather zone boundaries. The alpine hexsides and the Burma Road add more confusion. Nonetheless, I am happy with this visual of a cluttered area.

[image]local://upfiles/16701/86AACE3C333340D3BBBEC2B1FF56664F.jpg[/image]



Shannon V. OKeets -> RE: Weather (12/21/2006 8:55:52 PM)

Here is another problem area, because the sea area boundary is made up of the island land masses in several places.

I think the weather zone should be changed to align with the sea area boundary in the SE corner of the South China Sea. Moving it will have no effect on game play and I believe it will made things easier to understand.

[image]local://upfiles/16701/19ED2A47C8A74169983716486CDC6C4C.jpg[/image]



Shannon V. OKeets -> RE: Weather (12/21/2006 8:58:44 PM)

8th and last in the series. My final problem child (home sweet home). This new design make both the sea area border and the weather zone boundary clear.

[image]local://upfiles/16701/8EFC16A23E4047818BF6A8270290BC49.jpg[/image]



Ballista -> RE: Weather (12/21/2006 9:21:09 PM)

Looks good to me ! Great job ! Maybe a quick try to see if the dashed white line should be used everywhere ? (or does that cause problems with those who are color-blind ?)



qgaliana -> RE: Weather (12/21/2006 9:25:56 PM)

Looks good!



Froonp -> RE: Weather (12/21/2006 9:52:27 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Shannon V. OKeets
Ok, I think I've nailed it. Like so many things in programming, once you find the answer, you wonder why it took you so long to see it. Bloody obvious, mate!

Zoom level 2, and everything is clear (it also works at zoom level 1).

GREAT job, I really like this !
What about trying dashed lines all around to see how it looks ?



Froonp -> RE: Weather (12/21/2006 9:53:09 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Shannon V. OKeets
I think the weather zone should be changed to align with the sea area boundary in the SE corner of the South China Sea. Moving it will have no effect on game play and I believe it will made things easier to understand.

Yes, it is an error here, I'll correct it.



composer99 -> RE: Weather (12/21/2006 10:02:51 PM)

Looks pretty good - everything is unambiguous, even with the weather boundary (and even though the Burma Road and/or other roads are the same colour as the weather boundary).



Shannon V. OKeets -> RE: Weather (12/21/2006 11:19:19 PM)

Here are some with the dashed white line used for weather boundaries everywhere.

Not too bad here at zoom level 2 (the thin black lines are removed erverywhere at zoom levels 1 & 2).

[image]local://upfiles/16701/EEC4FF6B832143BCA1D895A0D80218B9.jpg[/image]



Shannon V. OKeets -> RE: Weather (12/21/2006 11:20:49 PM)

Still not too bad (Zoom 2), though the run down the river in Senegal is messy.

[image]local://upfiles/16701/500D0393FCF241FE9B354F87F367A1A8.jpg[/image]



Shannon V. OKeets -> RE: Weather (12/21/2006 11:24:18 PM)

Here is where the problem arises: zoom 3 in mixed terrain. Where the weather line runs through clear or between clear and a different terrain type, the dashed line is harder to see than a pure white line.

[image]local://upfiles/16701/F4B996FB9848432A8860DBB585ED89A4.jpg[/image]



Shannon V. OKeets -> RE: Weather (12/21/2006 11:26:27 PM)

But going in 1 zoom level (to Zoom 4), the dashed weather line jumps right off the screen - no problems.

[image]local://upfiles/16701/F4F472193D9B42B7975773FB56C1C517.jpg[/image]



Shannon V. OKeets -> RE: Weather (12/21/2006 11:28:03 PM)

Zoom 2 here is ok, even through the Himalayas.

[image]local://upfiles/16701/C53E1CD552F743559A00C41EB3216416.jpg[/image]



Shannon V. OKeets -> RE: Weather (12/21/2006 11:29:29 PM)

But zoom 3 has the same problems again.

[image]local://upfiles/16701/0BDE26E2AF244F22AD0D71DECD7E0106.jpg[/image]



Shannon V. OKeets -> RE: Weather (12/21/2006 11:30:48 PM)

Zoom 4 here is fine (and so are higher levels of zoom).

[image]local://upfiles/16701/51BDB62B3D97489AB86CEBABB4919539.jpg[/image]



Shannon V. OKeets -> RE: Weather (12/21/2006 11:31:58 PM)

Zoom 3 over the ocean is ok (Rabual's name should be moved).

[image]local://upfiles/16701/1F7E07C4BEE4493ABDB7BAB2AA8E48C8.jpg[/image]



Shannon V. OKeets -> RE: Weather (12/21/2006 11:33:19 PM)

Bbut zoom 3 here makes the weather line hard to pick out. It looks messy.

[image]local://upfiles/16701/9160B8C7A6A0437D879CF3C1E6F256BB.jpg[/image]



Froonp -> RE: Weather (12/21/2006 11:34:40 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Shannon V. OKeets

Here is where the problem arises: zoom 3 in mixed terrain. Where the weather line runs through clear or between clear and a different terrain type, the dashed line is harder to see than a pure white line.

So, maybe make the weather zone boundary a continuous line for zoom 3 (or 1-3) when inland, and leave it dashed at sea, when adjacent to sea, and on borders ?



Shannon V. OKeets -> RE: Weather (12/21/2006 11:36:41 PM)

10th and last in the series.

Even at zoom level 5 here, the use of dashed lines for the weather zone boundary makes it hard to see. The dashed lines here are confusing to the eye.

I prefer the solid white lines when the weather zone is not overlapping another boundary line.

[image]local://upfiles/16701/A1A9969A105642B2B400F64ADCCBE80F.jpg[/image]



Shannon V. OKeets -> RE: Weather (12/22/2006 1:51:11 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Froonp
quote:

ORIGINAL: Shannon V. OKeets

Here is where the problem arises: zoom 3 in mixed terrain. Where the weather line runs through clear or between clear and a different terrain type, the dashed line is harder to see than a pure white line.

So, maybe make the weather zone boundary a continuous line for zoom 3 (or 1-3) when inland, and leave it dashed at sea, when adjacent to sea, and on borders ?

I see no reason for using dashed lines, other than where the weather zone boundaries overlie other borders. The thin white lines (solid) are easy to see and understand, without being overly intrusive visually. Using a mixture of some solid and some dashed seems to me to be likely to create confusion.

Also, when possible, I prefer simplicity in interface design. Dark blue sea area boundaries, maroon country borders, white weather zone boundaries, and a mixture of white/blue or white/maroon when they overlap. Easy to explain, which means it should be easy to understand/interpret for all players.



lomyrin -> RE: Weather (12/22/2006 2:39:08 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Shannon V. OKeets

quote:

ORIGINAL: Froonp
quote:

ORIGINAL: Shannon V. OKeets

Here is where the problem arises: zoom 3 in mixed terrain. Where the weather line runs through clear or between clear and a different terrain type, the dashed line is harder to see than a pure white line.

So, maybe make the weather zone boundary a continuous line for zoom 3 (or 1-3) when inland, and leave it dashed at sea, when adjacent to sea, and on borders ?

I see no reason for using dashed lines, other than where the weather zone boundaries overlie other borders. The thin white lines (solid) are easy to see and understand, without being overly intrusive visually. Using a mixture of some solid and some dashed seems to me to be likely to create confusion.

Also, when possible, I prefer simplicity in interface design. Dark blue sea area boundaries, maroon country borders, white weather zone boundaries, and a mixture of white/blue or white/maroon when they overlap. Easy to explain, which means it should be easy to understand/interpret for all players.


I agree with Steve here.

Lars



Incy -> RE: Weather (12/22/2006 3:06:30 AM)

Dotted lines look great, yes. I agree they should be full when not running along another border.

How about the weather overlays? I still like the idea about large and small waves for ocean/a weather system overlay.
There's not really any need to change any rules or explanations, it can all be explained with an example, like this:

rain: | <land rain graphic> | <sea rain/snow graphic>
snow: | <land snow graphic > | <sea rain/snow graphic>
storm: | <land storm graphic> | <sea storm/blizzard graphic>
blizzard:| <land blizzard graphic> | <sea storm/blizzard graphic>



Shannon V. OKeets -> RE: Weather (12/22/2006 3:22:54 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Incy

Dotted lines look great, yes. I agree they should be full when not running along another border.

How about the weather overlays? I still like the idea about large and small waves for ocean/a weather system overlay.
There's not really any need to change any rules or explanations, it can all be explained with an example, like this:

rain: | <land rain graphic> | <sea rain/snow graphic>
snow: | <land snow graphic > | <sea rain/snow graphic>
storm: | <land storm graphic> | <sea storm/blizzard graphic>
blizzard:| <land blizzard graphic> | <sea storm/blizzard graphic>


Here are the weather zone boundaries in action, with non-fine weather.

As for the waves, I'll ask Rob to come up with something after he finishes the last 6 map segments. So, this might not get done until February.

China in snow and storm, zoom 3.

[image]local://upfiles/16701/7400D6CE4BA24A488E722656866EB9A9.jpg[/image]



Shannon V. OKeets -> RE: Weather (12/22/2006 3:24:06 AM)

Same as before, zoom 4.

[image]local://upfiles/16701/84378BB501374711A878BD17BC890569.jpg[/image]



Shannon V. OKeets -> RE: Weather (12/22/2006 3:29:47 AM)

Africa in storm and blizzard, zoom 3.

[image]local://upfiles/16701/A8D9276CD7F5490F8CAE07360385AAB3.jpg[/image]



Shannon V. OKeets -> RE: Weather (12/22/2006 3:31:25 AM)

Singapore to Batavia, storm and blizzard at zoom 5.

[image]local://upfiles/16701/9E86BCC2BE6F46FAB8E71D9B66149F10.jpg[/image]



Shannon V. OKeets -> RE: Weather (12/22/2006 3:34:48 AM)

Here's a mixture. The weather zone boundaries help this make more sense. Snow in the north - which is Fine over desert and desert mountain terrain; Storm in the south, which is Rain in the desert and desert mountain terrain.

[image]local://upfiles/16701/E4F346276F8940A0962601C5903373E4.jpg[/image]



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