Cobblestones Street Map #2

[Dave]

I got a request for a 4'x6' medieval urban map that would be ideal for use with Warhammer and Mordheim, and could be converted into a 4'x4' map easily.

Here's the plan:


And here's the texture work in progress:

[WackyAnne]

Looks great so far, Dave. I really liked the first map, think it's a great idea.

[Dave]

BAD NEWS: My PC can't handle these file sizes. Somehow while saving the file last night, it became corrupted, and I'm sure it's because I've maxed out the scratch disk. I'd have to start over, but I still don't have the memory to handle the files. These big maps might not be possible until I upgrade, and that might be a while. I'm as disappointed as anyone.

[room101]

Hi Dave. Perhaps you can do them at 8" squares then stitch copies of them together after you've flattened them? Worth a try.

[mproteau (Paper Realms)]

Honestly, after upgrading my computer to something fairly modern, with tons of memory and processing power, I'd say it *isn't* worth a try. So many other things you can do with your time that don't involve the frustration of using hardware that will fight you every step of the way! That being said, when I finally was able to get my computer upgraded, it was night-and-day. I can work in HUGE files and not fear GIMP locking up, falling over or corrupting stuff!

Dave - do you have an easy-to-use catalog of products available? I bought a massive building bundle a while back, but I have a feeling there have been some releases I didn't get. Now I want to fill in the gaps and pretend I'm donating to the "get Dave the computer he deserves fund". I'll start making a catalog based on what you've got on your website, until I hear otherwise. With a collection as vast as yours, it's kind of a shame to not have a PDF catalog to see everything together.

EDIT: Paging through DriveThruRPG, while not the most pleasant thing to do, has led me to the models I don't yet have. Or, rather, *didn't* yet have. I have them now!

[Dave]

Jan 20, 2014 15:13:49 GMT -9 room101 said:

Hi Dave. Perhaps you can do them at 8" squares then stitch copies of them together after you've flattened them? Worth a try.

I was already breaking it down into easier-to-manage sections, but the streets themselves need to be continuous -- no other way to get a seamless match. But if you saw my PC specs, you wouldn't be surprised that it couldn't handle this stuff. Seriously. Your cellphone does more things. I've got my eye on a used tower that's about $200 that would be a significant step up, just to give some perspective on what I'm using now, and what I can afford. I'm not complaining, just living within my means.

Jan 20, 2014 15:39:53 GMT -9 mproteau (Paper Realms) said:

Honestly, after upgrading my computer to something fairly modern, with tons of memory and processing power, I'd say it *isn't* worth a try. So many other things you can do with your time that don't involve the frustration of using hardware that will fight you every step of the way! That being said, when I finally was able to get my computer upgraded, it was night-and-day. I can work in HUGE files and not fear GIMP locking up, falling over or corrupting stuff!

Dave - do you have an easy-to-use catalog of products available? I bought a massive building bundle a while back, but I have a feeling there have been some releases I didn't get. Now I want to fill in the gaps and pretend I'm donating to the "get Dave the computer he deserves fund". I'll start making a catalog based on what you've got on your website, until I hear otherwise. With a collection as vast as yours, it's kind of a shame to not have a PDF catalog to see everything together.

Thanks! I hope you enjoy them.

Sorry, I don't have a PDF catalog. The best I can offer is the Wargame Vault catalog, which is as complete and up-to-date as anything I would put together:
www.wargamevault.com/browse.php?manufacturers_id=2985

[Dave]

I'm taking a break from my Library model to revive this project. The only thing I could salvage was the curbstones layer, but that's better than starting all over from zero. To make the working files manageable, I reduced the resolution to 200dpi, which is probably what I would have ended up doing with the final map anyway. I'm using a different type of street paving than the one I did before. I've added a bunch of detailing and weathering on the streets -- dung, drains, rubbish, discoloration, pitting, wagon tracks, cracks. I'll post a work-in-progress shot a little later.

So I'm just about done with the streets textures and will start on the "empty lots" textures next -- I can probably do that in a day. I'm hoping to have this ready to release this Thursday, and then I'll get back to work on the Library. We'll see! (I may still hit my PC's memory limits before this map is complete, but I'm hopeful.)

[Dave]

Overview of the work in progress.



Close up look at the street textures.

[mproteau (Paper Realms)]

With stones that uniform, must be dwarven work!

[squirmydad]

Wow! I like these cobblestones better than the originals.

[dungeonmistress]

Beautiful work, Dave! I'm a big fan.

Sorry about your computer. I understand how you feel. Mine was a stumbling zombie for nearly a year before I saved up enough money to buy a Barebones kit from Tiger Direct. Building it was fairly easy and now I have a machine that on today's market would cost three times what I paid for it.

Now, if only I could get reliable internet and a new printer...

Ah, well. I make do.

Once again, love your stuff! Those cobblestones are amazing!

[afet]

I love your stuff too, Dave. But I´m not fond of the cobblestones. They look a little too much like finished marble. They look good, but they are implausible for street paving.

[Dave]

No, they're not realistic paving stones, but this is a one-off map and it's fun to try things that are more fantastical. And don't be misled by the thread title; if I ever finish this map with the current street pavers, it won't be called a "Cobblestones Streets" map.

[erk]

Regardless of what the pavers are, this is lovely.