NationStates Jolt Archive

I don't know if this has been tried before, but I was wondering if this would be a good idea.

I've noticed that in a couple of the RP's I've been in, people keep on changing where they are. In one of my really old threads, someone said that their nation had a land border with me and attacked. But when we were ready for a counter-attack, they said that their nation was only attackable by sea. So I wonder if it would be possible to create some kind of map to help clear up confusion.

I think sheer numbers of nations will make this hard.....

Yeah, and some nations don't have maps, also you would have to acquire information on which nations want to be closer or further away from each other, but nice idea though.

of course. to clear that up, mabye there could be a thread were you sign up to be on the map. That way, we wouldn't have to do them all. It might also be a good idea if I could get other people working on the project (should it happen). That way, they could each work on a smaller section of the greater map. After that section is done, it could be added to the whole map.

Maybe, I'm interested but I don't have much time for NS right now.

I actually thought about this a few weeks ago. I was thinking that if everybody had submitted a map, somebody could put it on a larger map with others being in the same scale. I would need to change neighbors for this to work, since mine don't come here anymore as far as I can tell.

Maybe this should be a thread for people who want to post maps of their countries? Like for wars, trade, etc.

On the map, there would probably only be the outline of the country and MAYBE the capitol city. That way, nations could supply their outline, the capitol, and other info like where they want to be located, who they want to be located by, etc. And we could maybe get permission from countries they want to be by to put them there, so that we don't get some hostile nation next to their enemies (unless they want it like that).

oh, and maybe there could be smaller sections of the map with a little more detail. Just a thought.

It would be difficult, I'd be willing to organize and help out with the project.
The Multiverse would have to depicted as some sort of layered disk, so the map could visualize pace-time. One would have to ask each participant how many times they've "ignored" a player in general (to calculate how many alternate existences needed to be visualized), what nation's they are in proximity to, what tech level do participate in, how physically large is the nation? (I've got a formula and a program in the works that could do it) and then ...maybe.

well, i could only help with a MT map because it is the only tech level I rp in.

Some nations claim the same land masses... so you'd have to have like over ten Africas, Europes... etc.

Well I imagine NS earth is pretty big, bigger then Jupiter, likely xD

I understand that, but the countries could only look like those places, not be the landmass because so many might be claiming the rl counterpart.

A Hypothetical Question,

If Earth we're a balloon, and the south pole was ripped apart, what shape would Earth make if you laid it out flat and stretched out?

A Circle, A Square, ?

Numerous others have attempted to do this, as im sure you could see searching other threads. I don't think a map of an MT NSEarth is possible what with people using different image types, varying locales, and numerous ignores et al.

A Hypothetical Question,

If Earth we're a balloon, and the south pole was ripped apart, what shape would Earth make if you laid it out flat and stretched out?

A Circle, A Square, ?

http://go.owu.edu/~jbkrygie/krygier_html/geog_222/geog_222_lo/geog_222_lo04_gr/orangepeel.jpg

My nation will not be added to this proposed map as we are planning on moving to a different region sometime in the near future.

Nevermind, its a circle.

Therefore the map would be several disks for the different tech levels.
Nations could sign up for all tech levels, if their nation exists through all of those time periods. Alternative Universes other than Alt. Tech Levels should be ignored to make it easier.

Well I imagine NS earth is pretty big, bigger then Jupiter, likely xD

Probobly. But that's why it would take more then one person.

Numerous others have attempted to do this, as im sure you could see searching other threads. I don't think a map of an MT NSEarth is possible what with people using different image types, varying locales, and numerous ignores et al.

It would still be possible. I wouldn't be copying and pasting each country on, I would actually draw it in. And people working on the map would probobly have some standardized image type.

My nation will not be added to this proposed map as we are planning on moving to a different region sometime in the near future.

Mabye region could be more of a political thing, not geographical. So moving a region doesn't physically move your country.

It would still be possible. I wouldn't be copying and pasting each country on, I would actually draw it in. And people working on the map would probobly have some standardized image type.

I'm still skeptic. The amount of work this would require is ludicrous.

it would, but once it's done, it could really help

it would, but once it's done, it could really help

Instead of making a map of the ENTIRE NS WORLD why don't you just try RPing with more serious nations that don't change their maps between different RPs?

but this would help even those nations. they would know where their enemies are, what type of soldiers are needed (infantry, navy, etc.), and more.

I don't see how this could work. I've seen people constantly change their map, don like where they've been placed, etc.

This'll take a TON of work.

it would take a lot of work. I've got a lot of time. That's also why I want people to help, so that it would be multiple people working on individual parts, then splicing it together.

That, and quite a few regions already have maps.

well, that could possibly help. Just insert the maps into the larger map. It could possibly cause problems, but could also help. Maybe there would be a form for getting on the map, and a form for moving which could only be approved with good reason.

Some regions also have mutual or unilateral IGNORES on others.

Unless you try to make your own region or an "Earth", making a map for other nations is just pointless.

not the whole map. just the nations outline that they would have to supply.

People are not going to be interested in anything that interfears with their ability to move their nations as they choose. Moving when ever one wants is a part of the game mechanics.

And as far as needing a map for MT nations a map for FT nations etc - that doesn't work

The principle of NS is that unloess we state that we are on a different planet, or inhabit one of the alternate worlds like AMW, we are all on NS Earth - Future Tech nations cheek to jowl with MT nations, or Fantasty Tech nations, or Past Tech nations and so on.

lets remind you that this is a concept. so it can be changed. maybe countries coudln't change position on the map it's relatively complete.

Ask for a Longitude/Latitude

According to my best estimates using old census data, the NS world's Longitude would have a degree of 1,157,945.439 km distance,

as for Latitude,

length of parallel at latitude x = (cosine of x) * (length of equator)
The length of each degree is obtained by dividing the length of that parallel by 360.

so, just to get a idea, how many people are for making a map so far, and how many are against it.

Ask for a Longitude/Latitude

According to my best estimates using old census data, the NS world's Longitude would have a degree of 1,157,945.439 km distance,

as for Latitude,

length of parallel at latitude x = (cosine of x) * (length of equator)
The length of each degree is obtained by dividing the length of that parallel by 360.

Thanks for the suggestion

I don't really RP in relation to Earth.
I kind of just am 'there.'
I don't have a claim to any countries, and I'm not based in any well know islands or anything. My country has no relation to Earth.
It just floats there in it's own dimension, and I'm happy with keeping it that way.
What would somebody like me do?

hmm, thats a hard one. mabye you just wouldn't be on the map. I said earlier that it would be optional, I wouldn't just put every country I see on it.

What region are you in Heirosoloa?

I mean, I wouldn't want someone put on the map where they didn't want to be because that's where their region is...but it could be a way of determining for some?

possibly. so who is for the idea of the map?

So some questions could be asked,

Southern or Northern Hemisphere?
Longitude and Latitude?
Region?
Size (could be predetermined with are own formulas)?

Tech Level might not be needed, possibly nations exist in all of these time periods? Just are awareness of space-time isn't fully developed, (aka, we don't RP those tech levels)

possibly. so who is for the idea of the map?

*fires gun into the ceiling*

Yee Haw

On the one hand, I'd like to see Fatatatutti on the map - but on the other hand, I'm just as happy that some of the more belligerent nations don't know where to find us.

Maybe nations could be more like dots on a canvas, as opposed to fully visualized nations?

So some questions could be asked,

Southern or Northern Hemisphere?
Longitude and Latitude?
Region?
Size (could be predetermined with are own formulas)?

Tech Level might not be needed, possibly nations exist in all of these time periods? Just are awareness of space-time isn't fully developed, (aka, we don't RP those tech levels)

good idea. it would probably be easiest to start with an MT map, because it's just one planet, not thousands. maybe a few more questions like capital city stuff (possibly) and others that we might need. I do agree with predetermining the size. we could use population or something.

Maybe nations could be more like dots on a canvas, as opposed to fully visualized nations?

elaborate on what you mean

It been tried many, many MANY times before...

Usually it's left at mapping continents, or a simple island-chain of nations on occassion (*cough* Haven).

But yeah, when you state you've got a border with someone, you're stuck with it for life.

it's still worth a try if we have people to support it.

Someone did a visualized political compass of NationStates a while ago, something like that would work for this. As I was talking about before, imagine earth flattened, and looking from the north pole. The north pole would then be the center of the page. However the map wouldn't be very graphic at all, dots could correspond to where a nation is on the "map", considering detailed geographic information and graphics would be too hard to obtain.

One could just give us the latitude/longitude, and we would put it on the map.

They could decide with their trade partners, war buddies and region colleagues where they want their nations. So we're not the ones going all crazy trying to fit this map together like a puzzle piece, with "NATION A is close to NATION B but far away from NATION C" and all that shit. We could also talk with Founders of regions, and people who RP notable NS landmarks on their advice to where their placers on the map would be.

hmm, good idea. so now we have two options, unibot's and mine (the one which has been tried before)

@Whoever asked; I'm not in a region of any importance.

This whole 'dots' method seems cluttered to me.
All you would see was a bunch of indistinguishable little circles on a map.

there are advantages and disadvantages to both

on one hand, the dots meathod is faster, but wouldn't clearly distinguish things such as borders. probloms could also happen if people wanted the same longitude and latitude.

on the other, my method would take quite a bit longer, but would distinguish features much more clearly.

there are more, but this is just a general idea.

All you would see was a bunch of indistinguishable little circles on a map.

A big vector picture could allow for a powerful zoom tool..? Distances to and from places could be calculated then....it would benefit trade and war RPs...well all RPs alike.

Lookie at my current map on my wiki page, it shows a lot from the Wysterian maps, but I could change to another lot. Thought then I think I'd be juggling around two nation shapes.

It been tried many, many MANY times before...

Usually it's left at mapping continents, or a simple island-chain of nations on occassion (*cough* Haven).

But yeah, when you state you've got a border with someone, you're stuck with it for life.
Wouldn't really call Haven an island chain, considering said "islands" tend to be several times the size of Eurasia...

people wanted the same longitude and latitude

we're talking about a single hundredth of a degree making up for the size of India or so...
the NS World is something like a 10,000x as large as Earth.

....it would benefit trade and war RPs...well all RPs alike.
Not a plus for those of us who don't want to be in war RPs.

I understand, but it still doesn't acomplish one of the original things that I wanted, and that's to help distinguish borders between nations. A bunch of dots can't do that.

Not a plus for those of us who don't want to be in war RPs.

but it wouldn't just benefit war. it would help trade etc.

but it wouldn't just benefit war. it would help trade etc.
I don't see how. All I see is a big target.

how about every nation has sea borders with everyone each nation then submits an image of there nations outline in a pre determined size vector image similar to the system on
sim city 4

oh well, i gtg right now. gotta go watch 24 :mp5: (I'm addicted to it)

try not to post a million things while i'm gone

Because NERV, people already have made maps.
I don't want to remake my map.

Fatal Terrain Regional Map (http://www.atddm.com/newmap.jpg)

Not very good, but it took hundreds of hours ( and thats before having to redoing it with the Fall of Imitora - what happens when one of a regions largest nations decides to up and leave NS for good.
and as to size - those yellow markers are 1000 miles long. The region is roughly Size: 10,000 N/S by 18,000 E/W - 18 time zones - you don't even want to know the rough square mileage the nations cover.

Edited to add - Flat out - there is NO WAY this map is going to be remade

This brings up interesting possibilities. I do believe, however, an image map, would be a lot of work, and simple dots, while quicker, would be ineffective to cover the issues that the map is being created for. When recently working on a regional map, there was a discussion about cylindrical earths, but that is neither here, nor there. It's a perplexing situation, maybe some kind of nation web, put a nation in the middle, in a circle, lines branch of of that, to the nations that boarder it, and lines branch of them to their bordering nations, bodies of water are represented by dotted lines, maybe with a distance. Its a crude, but effective solution, you will know where everything is, what they boarder, and how they border it.

And anyway, what about nations that are supposed to move around? ^_^

the moving nations could perhaps be based on huge flying plateaus with milions of helicopter rotors!! or a similar design.
^_^

>.>

Orr they could just not be mapped, or be mapped on a separate image.
Changing the current location on the map would be too hard, the nation owner would have to do that.

the moving nations could perhaps be based on huge flying plateaus with milions of helicopter rotors!! or a similar design.
^_^

Or possibly on the backs of a dozen giant elephants which are in turn on a giant, ancient sea turtle.

Well, this (http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z107/Kain1235/Lonun.png) is a quick draft of Lonun anyway. First proper map I did. Not sure of a good scale though, any suggestions? The main island is supposed to be the size of Australia across.

ok, im back

so, do people still think it's a possiblility

Map would be huge.But its plausible to be made.

it would definitely be huge, but yes, it's possible.

so I'm gonna start making a form to put your nation on the map in case we make it.

Im using the world map for better defensive capabilities but ill post the teritories soon here if you dont mind.

not yet, it's not even guarenteed that we are going to make it. If we do end up making one, there will be some sign up thread.

Ok, this is a rough draft of a possible form so don't start filling it out. The 'sections' part is that I said maybe we could divide it into sections that individual people could work on.

Official Nation Name:
Capitol City:
Relative Location of Capitol:
Southern or Northern Hemisphere:
Longitude and Latitude:
Section Request:
Other Requests (neigbors etc.):

Please include a map of your nation.

Just a suggestion, but I would make a new thread for this and tell people to post comments, conserns, questions and everything here.

well, since there is obviously some interest, I should make another thread. this one can be an out of character one, and the other can be like an announcement thread. I guess on that thread I could get people who could help make the map.

iv'e got an ic thread here (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?p=14523349#post14523349)

Transferred from accidental post in IC thread:

I'd suggest clarifying preferred artstyles, programs, etc beforehand for graphic artist volunteers, assuming you're actually going to attempt this. Differing art styles/levels of quality on one map really aren't that attractive or particularly easy to read.

I'll tell you now, you're better off joining a region with a map and going from there.

Alot of regions have maps of their own, obviously. If you were to take each of them and sort of paste them together in some way, with everyone agreeing on it, then that could speed up the process.

thats part of what im doing, if a region has a map, that will be added

I think anyone who want's to apply should have to show an example of their work.
To make sure that we're getting people of either high or similar caliber.

Do you mean a map or something? Or just a graphic?

A map, considering this is a map making process.
They don't need graphics, they need maps.
And really, considering the file size, they don't need to be all that fancy.

Take Haven's map.
Simple, quick loading time, and yet it's still readable and usable.

http://s383.photobucket.com/albums/oo273/kenavt/nationstates/islandmap.png Is this ok?

Simple enough, but I honestly don't know.
It's not my project :]

Also, here is another one that I just made, https://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=3642ff3997&view=att&th=11f8571459d795f6&attid=0.1&disp=inline&realattid=f_fraw8ohk0&zw it's kinda more of a logo though.

Here is a sample of one of my maps....... http://img22.imageshack.us/img22/9837/augmarkmap101lc4.jpg


but honestly, this is a daunting task, that will require many people, and a lot of time....not to mention flawless coordination.

Here is a sample of one of my maps....... http://img22.imageshack.us/img22/9837/augmarkmap101lc4.jpg


but honestly, this is a daunting task, that will require many people, and a lot of time....not to mention flawless coordination.

A tip; save in PNG file format. It's a generally larger file size (although Paint.NET does have superb compression in comparison to other programs; I got a 2MB Photoshop PNG down to about 250kb just by resaving it, so file size really depends on the program), but it's a lossless format, meaning it doesn't lose quality and doesn't have artifacts such as jpeg, and supports infinitely more colors than GIF format.

A tip; save in PNG file format. It's a generally larger file size (although Paint.NET does have superb compression in comparison to other programs; I got a 2MB Photoshop PNG down to about 250kb just by resaving it, so file size really depends on the program), but it's a lossless format, meaning it doesn't lose quality and doesn't have artifacts such as jpeg, and supports infinitely more colors than GIF format.


thanks! ......noted

Paint.NET is brilliant. If you don't have Photoshop. It's a life saver.
In fact, with some of the plugins downloaded, I like Paint.Net better.

i have paint.net

Quick question. Is this map going to be 100% created, or will it, in essence, be "overlapping" the real world map?

I was planning 100% created. But others could be thinking otherwise....

100% created. It would be impossible to overlap.

I don't intend to help with the creation of the map (seeing that i am a few days new and horrible with technology and drawings) but if you people want you could place my region called Bone Marrow in the map, it's suppose to be a small continent shaped like a skull in the middle of nowhere. It's really up to you, if you feel like it.

I don't intend to help with the creation of the map (seeing that i am a few days new and horrible with technology and drawings) but if you people want you could place my region called Bone Marrow in the map, it's suppose to be a small continent shaped like a skull in the middle of nowhere. It's really up to you, if you feel like it.

Fine, name the nations in the region, the corresponding capitals, a longitude/latitude for the region and any rivers or landmarks you'd want signified.

Okay?

yea, I'm restarting this.

right, so here is an example of a random island I made, took me less than 3 minutes in paint.net, without any plugins. i might put a tutorial on how to do it in the general chat or something so people can make their own, and the result is pretty nice.
http://i680.photobucket.com/albums/vv169/jesusaurisrex/randomislandexample.jpg?t=1237349934
EDIT: hmmm, the picture looks a lot less "realistic" after it went through JPG treatment... oh well.
BTW i am horribly colorblind so forgive me if the island is red or brown or something freaky like that