JTS/HPS Wishlist and Random Thoughts

[2-81 Armor]

I wouldn't say that maps are the bottleneck to anything but free add-ons and user designed mods.

The main map in Campaign Overland is 989,1088 -I think that is the biggest one that I know of -and the Quebec city area map from FIW is larger than M 42's map by about 100 hexes each way.

The programming that creates the layers on maps are largely the same - although there is a bit of a lag loading up the Overland map. I don't think that it is a significant issue. What you as a scenario designer do on that space -is probably more of an issue.

Just throwing that out there.

So, essentially what we're saying here is the map size is not limited by the software, but it's a question of file sizes (for loading time) and a point of diminishing returns regarding what could be provided for free vs what should be making a profit for the effort invested? If so, I can understand that.

As far as what the individual designer does with the tools and materials, I can relate to that also. Years ago I did a scenario for TOAW called "Home Before The Leaves Fall" which seemed to take forever to get done and tested. Once I understood I had to set a limit for how much detail, and how many units I should (not could) include, with the map scale and scenario length, things went a lot easier, and it got published as part of the TOAW III package. That's when I learned that even with the best of intentions, you can overdo it and kill your own design if you're not careful. The play testers were actually the biggest help in getting me back to reality.

OOB research is my real area of enjoyment, but even now I find myself getting carried away with trying to add too much, such as with the 1970's DF'85 OOB I'm playing around with, and I haven't even begun any real scenario work using it yet.