I wasn't going to start a topic for this, but there's a lot of thought's when it comes to what I'm doing, so I want to make sure that I've got everything working and looking right when this is released.

To the point- As mentioned on http://www.gamesas.com/bgsforums/index.php?showtopic=1026203, I'm making a Vvardenfell/Solsthiem map (which might include the mainland) in the style of http://pnmedia.gamespy.com/screenshots/pes/26326036.jpg.

Will it be possible for this map to replace the existing ingame map? Yes, but at the same time, no. Vality7 had made a Morrowind map at one point, and it was/is possible to use it ingame using Yacoby's map extracter/importer thing, but the game engine is limited to a 512 map texture, however this was before the code patch, it could be possible that the texture size on the map be increased by it in the future, I'll have to ask Hrmchamd.

So, you wanna see what I've got done? http://i28.tinypic.com/1zcea8i.jpgof me mid-working. You can give feedback or constructive criticism on it, but please before posting consider the following, to avoid suggesting/critizing things on which I'll already improve:
-That map in the picture isn't done. Keep in mind that when posting, it's not perfect because I'm not done perfecting it to the quality I'd like yet.
-I'm going to add location marker thingys for the cites and major locations like the ones seen on the Oblivion map in the place of cities, where you can actually see the features of cites.
-I'm not done adding the extra land details like what you see around the Grazelands/Southern Solstheim/Ascadian isles on that picture, feel free to suggest source images that I could use though, as of now I'm using aerial views of landscapes and images from google maps/earth.
-The red dots you see are placeholders for major locations on the map.
-I had made the map with all of the roads shown, but cleaned them up after because they were being space hogs, so that's why there aren't all the roads.
-The text sizes won't be the same size as Oblivion, they will be around 3/4 as big because when they were OB's size they were being space hogs.
-I realize the parchment isn't the same as Oblivion's, I'm avoiding using direct assets from Oblivion's map because I thought that that would be too easy/the back road, also because of copyright and stuff.
-The land on Oblivion's map different brightness for different terrian, I have not done this yet on my map, I realize it is too bright.
-I know the paths could look better, but they will once other stuff is added onto the map, and they look better up close, right now you can't see them that well.

So, just avoid bugging me with things like that, and I think ideas will flow a lot better and I'll be able to make this map better.

Otherwise getting the player position in the world shouldn't be to difficult. Which means you could just write a shader and connect it to a keypress to enable it. Bringing up the map and a mapmarker that works by getting players position. I don't know the script side of it, but the shader part should be kind of easy. I know Vtastek knows how at least, seeing his work with rendering images and or other things to mini windows.

I for one would like this, because I would love to have and enjoy a minimalistic UI. No healthbar or any thing.

That looks great! What you should do is open up a high res map of Morrowind in PS and apply it as an overlay on that map, to give it more depth. You might have to tweak it a bit to get it right though.

Well, I did mention Yacoby's tool, which is easy integration, but there are a few issues with it, one I metioned in the FP is the resolution- Morrowind only supports map textures that are 512?, this one is 2048?, the other is the game will replace the map with the http://www.gamebanshee.com/morrowind/maplocations/vvardenfell.php as you explore. Though Yacoby made his program before the code patch. I do believe that Hrmchamd would have knowledge concerning how to get this working.

EDIT: @Exorince, I had actually done that with the Oblivion map and a terrain map and the result was great. I'll probably do a simalar thing with this map in the end, but I'm going to keep the version without that, since I doubt a cartographer could draw all that stuff onto a map.

Nuthur edit: I http://www.gamesas.com/bgsforums/index.php?showtopic=859064&st=20 for Yacoby's utility, I think it be worth contacting Hrmchamd about solving the issues with it.

Ideas on how it could be solved:
- Make any size of texture available for import, since the engine squashes the map, there's probably some code limitation somewhere- since the engine wasn't meant for this.
- Disable the exploring map replacement feature thing, the Morrowind map is already nicely made, but to mod it to our liking we'll have to disable how the map http://www.gamebanshee.com/morrowind/maplocations/vvardenfell.php once you've explored everything.
-Possibly disable the orange map markers, or mod to make http://scaby101.googlepages.com/837013280_OblivionMapWIP.jpg available.

Oh yes, another thing I forgot to say on the FP, I'm making the Oblivion map icons after the map, and I'll also make some unique ones for Vvardenfell stuff, like ones for Dwemer ruins, Telvanni towns, etc.

Looks very cool so far. I'm no fan of Oblivion, but I'd really like to see this one in my game.

You don't have to be a fan of Oblivion to like some of it's features, or possibly want to have a modder remade version of the Province of Cyrodiil in your game, do you?

Anyways, what I'm saying is Oblivion does have a lot of awesome features and things that Morrowind doesn't, we've already added a lot of them into our game, but there's always room for more as I always say.

Since it's about time I get more active around here... Nice work there! :thumbsup:
And I have to admit I've actaully never aprticularly like the stock map. I didn't like the stock look of the OBL map, either, (horray for OBL map mods!) but the markers were one nifty little feature and I'd like to see those in MW as well. Plus, the map has to be about the only thing never gotten proper mod attention.
Nothing I would suggest at the moment, though - get it to work ingame and you'll see what's still missing is my philosophy.

Aye, good work so far, but I'd suggest going a bit farther from exactly the same style as OB. You see, Cyrodiil is the central Imperial province, so I'd imagine them having easier access to paper/pergament/etc., while I see these things more scarce in the orphaned Morrowind... Maybe it would look better if using a material such as "guar skin" or some sort of canvas (you'd find plenty of resources on http://www.cgtextures.com/ - although I believe you know that site... ).

Also, I'd recommend against the OB icons - never really liked those too much... I reckon a nice set of hand-made icons would be the way to go.

Cheers,
PKR.

A bit off topic. Was your animated main screen mod ever released? if not, will it ever be? (it looked really cool)

will this work with mods that add new landmasses? and how will it work with MCP?

I've got this exact some request on my animated menu thread, the point of the map is to reproduce a map in the style of Oblivion's map, I'm mainly only making it though for practice so that I can make a map for the P:C version of Cyrodiil (which is the same, but everything won't be lined up to the Oblivion counterpart because it's being remade by hand).


Not released yet, converting the files takes a really long time, and hogs my system resources, so I don't always have time to do the conversions.


In concept, the mod would work the exact same way it does in the Oblivion community, mods have to be added/edited onto the map, but this is part of the reason why I'll make an optional download when done.

How will it work with the MCP? I believe that's the exact discussion concerning how this mod will work.


The way I see an installation:
-Import the map image into your save using http://www.gamesas.com/bgsforums/index.php?showtopic=859064
-The code patch (or a special patch made for this) would parch in the *gaps*, it would make 2048 map textures possible, and fix the issue with the map being replaced when exploring.

i love this idea...... and even though the map isn't close to being finished it's awsome looking =] curious though is it possable to do the fast travel system with morrowind?

Heh, most of it isn't even my idea, the first implementations of this were done by Vality7, although he didn't make an Oblivion style map, anyway, see Yac's thread for more info.

As for the fast travel, I wouldn't doubt it be impossible, all you need to know is a few variables: if location has been marked on map, if the location has been found by the player, (in Oblivion marked locations that you hadn't yet found were a lighter brown colour), and where the cursor is on the map, with these you'd be able to implement the rest of the Oblivion style fast travel system, although Morrowind has Silt Striders, Boats, and Guild Guides, which are much more realistic and effective IMO. Myself I'd just go for the Oblivion style map markers, that's all I'd want.

Another pic of http://i32.tinypic.com/4hyybn.jpg this thread seems to be about, am I on topic? If I am, then can you guys give me a little feedback on this version?

Your PC says 5:44 am - don't you ever sleep?

What? It's not 5:44 PM where I am, it's 11:13...

EDIT: Oh, I didn't sleep that day..

:rofl:

Ok people, this thread is about my map, not when I sleep. :wacko:

but they are both relevant to the topic...nah Ill drop it...so hows progress?

There's a reason I posted this:

Now, let's keep this on topic, shall we? :stare:

looks great

(not just posting out of pity for all the off topic)

I'm liking it a lot. I like what you're doing with Vivec, actually showing the cantons is a good idea, instead of just a blob of yellow squares.
I know it's still a major WIP, but some of the roadways look like they are floating above the map.
What do you have planned to show the height of the mountains. (it's been a long time since I've seen the OB map)

Please read the first post, there's lots of info in there about what I'm doing, but I'll answer what I think isn't already answered.

The height is done by darkness and the extra details, there were a few mountains on Solstheim that needed attention, look at those on my map as an example of what I'm doing. The roadways I'm aware look a bit strange at the moment, but look at the roadways in the Grazelands or the Ascadian Isles, those have the extra detail over them, so they look more in place then the rest of it. The cities and major locations will be done in the style of the Oblivion map (look at the first post, I've linked to it there), with the details shown.

One more thing, I'd like to avoid "It looks so great keep it up" type posts, since they don't give me any actual ideas on how my work can be improved. I'm fine with a compliment, but It's helpful if there is some criticism in it, none of my work is perfect.

That will be all in this post.

Good job.

:facepalm: