why no world map update?
 

How come the world map is still the same as in release? I'm picky but i kinda like having it. :)

i was about to ask the same thing... i wanna see the continent of faydwer in my world map

Its the least of my worries at the moment. If you want to submit the xml update for it go right ahead. :)

well... the image to use is %EQ2_FOLDER%\ui\default\images\maps\exp03_world_map.dds

for some reason eq2map is still using %EQ2_FOLDER%\ui\default\images\maps\world_map.dds for the worldmap...

even when DoF came out a year ago, eq2map never updated itself to use %EQ2_FOLDER%\ui\default\images\maps\exp01_world_map.dds instead of the original worldmap.

EDIT:
the fix for the image is as follows

in the file core_mapstyles.xml, line 751 reads as follows:
this should be updated to read:

this will require a new overlay, as well as the placement of continent names.

Nope, there is xml for the continent names that needs to be updated as well.

i editted the post above with what should be the fix, at least for which image is displayed when in the world tab. now, time to look for the continent names part... can u point me in the right direction? i'm willing to spend this afternoon figuring it out and fixing it for everyone.


edit: i found the WORLDNAMES area in the default eq2ui_mainhud_map.xml file... shouldn't copying this entire area overwriting the previous worldnames info in the zones_world.xml file fix it? i'm currently making changes to my zones_world.xml file.. gonna go log on now and see if it works.

if it does work, i'll upload my updated zones_world.xml and core_mapstyles.xml here.

ok, my changes to these 2 files work perfectly. now to work on the overlay... i suck at graphics, i'll read up on some tuts on how to work with dds files in photoshop and get the world map overlay fixed.

attached are my fixed XML files.... and a screenshot proving it works :)

Thanks for your help so far anfrey. :)

not a problem. i understand u guys are real busy with changes to eq2map, reviewing new submissions, etc.... and with so many ppl bringing up this issue, i figured i'd take a crack at it :)

ok, i lack a DDS plugin, and i still haven't figured out settings coords up... so someone else is gonna have to undertake making the overlay... unless ppl can be patient with me until i figure it out...

or better yet, someone teach me.

Are you using Photoshop Anfrey?
If so, nVidia has the plugin you need.

I also remember another author writing up a great how to on the site.

Will have to search for it if i get a chance since I'm hoping to get back into dds editing.

-edit-
http://www.eq2interface.com/forums/s...&highlight=dds
http://www.eq2interface.com/forums/s...&highlight=dds
http://www.eq2interface.com/forums/s...&highlight=dds
http://www.eq2interface.com/forums/f...splay.php?f=31

I'll stop there.
Regardless, great info throughout the site.

If you guys give me the other zones connection info I will finish the overlay for you. Here it is so far.

Also let me know if you want any changes made.

world_map_overlay.dds

hmm guess I better include a non dds image too :)

Connection Layer: (jpeg looses transparency)


Compiled view:

Awesome guys thanks. :nana:

faetyl: thanks for the links. i'll read and learn

gridvector: wow that looks good. now how the heck are we gonna draw lines from qeynos/freeport to ro?? and from nek/steppes to butcherblock? lol... so, does anyone know how to adjust and do the actual XML for the mouseovers? or are we good leaving this here and having it pushed on the autoupdater?

Well I can just use a different color for the Qeynos/Freeport connection to Ro, and I can always put BB in th overlay even though it doesn't exist (as a label) on the map as an interim connection zone.

Maybe I will see if I can sneak a legend in there.

So to reiterate:

Connections between Q/FP to Ro
Add BB and connect between Nek/TS

anything else?


-- Added --

Here are the latest changes.




Note: The word "Butcherblock" is in the overlay but it is lost on the jpeg conversion.

Made a variation to keep clean lines in the overlay:

looks real good and a lot cleaner than i even expected lol... did you add butcherblock with XML in the zones_world.xml file to have it appear? if so, you should upload the new XML :)

The colored boxes aren't on by default, right?

They make my eyes hurt, heh.

And we do need another color for the to BB, since it's a boat and not a bell.

Also, need a carpet line from BB to MajDul

EDIT: And man... Did SOE decide to shrink Faydwer or what? It's much bigger than it looks there =/

Is this better?

/claps

Beautiful! Now thats a World Map!

Much better, although personally I would prefer if you removed the boxes entirely, since I do not think that they are needed.

Some corrections:

* Remove the line from EL to LS.
* Add a line from Nek to LS.

Technically you would need to add lines from FP and Qeynos to TS and Nek as well (I am not sure whether you can still take the boat ride to the other zones from the cities, I think it was removed, right?).

And you forgot to set the ShadowStyle for the text "Butcherblock". Personally I would remove the Butcherblock text since you do not (and should not) list "Sinking Sands" on Ro either (or any of the other overland zones on Faydwer, or Rivervale, etc.).

So more like this?



Once the connections are good we can see what the populous wants in the way of boxes or lack thereof.

That one is great in my view!

It does not yet have the bells from FP and Qeynos to TS and Nek, respectively (the ones that cost 60s per ride), not sure if you can reasonably fit them in there however.

ok comments, additions, subtractions?

where's the bell w/ ticket from qeynos to steppes... and from freeport to nek?

Yes, you forgot that (my wording may have been ambiguous, sorry).

One idea: It may be easier to see the separate lines if some of them are not rectangular again. What do you think about making the blue lines direct connections (and maybe have them start from the same point on one continent)? Same regarding the brown lines on the continents. That way you should win a lot of space to add the missing lines.

And maybe the rectangular lines are nicer if you make them curves (or shaky freedrawn lines, hehe)?

Well, just ideas to play around with. Thanks for your work so far! And very good idea to add a legend regarding the different line colors! :nana:

I tried that at the moment but EQII map updater will always replace the world_map_overlay.dds with the default one. Did I miss something?

Rass

This is work in progress. Don't use the updater if you want to try it out.

added the 2 other connection lines.



I am also including the dds for this build. ony issue I have see so far is the icon locations in the zones_world.xml file:

are in the wrong locations for this map. not sure if the POI icons for the world map are even necessary. My primary use for this map is to quickly see the routes between the major zones.

gm9: I will try a draft with your idea and see if I can get the lines to look any better.

i have an idea... u know how we can filter POIs by type? maybe there's a way to filter zone connection lines by type as well... though that'd kinda make things complicated.

dunno, just tossing ideas out because this is a nasty web that's only gonna get worse as more expansions are released. if we figure out a good system now, we save ourselves a lot of trouble in the future..


and i don't use the POIs i the world map either. hell, i almost never look at it since i know where to go for each zone, but still.. i don't really think we need to have the icons since u have a connection legend in the corner now.

After looking at some of these I think the square lines are just too confusing. Here's a map that I think is easier to follow. I had the lines for bells (dark blue) as straight lines at first but after looking at it, curving them didn't change the appearance too much. The PSD is just the lines and dots, saved from GIMP since I don't have Photoshop.

Othesus - Dirge - Lucan DLere
Vaspar - Fury - Lucan DLere



Oh, I haven't tried it in-game but here's a DXT3 DDS.
--
I edited the files a bit after realizing I had the SS and Feerrott docks in the wrong places.

My vote
 

This is much easier to view.

I'm going to be working on a core map update over the next few days and will include everything needed for the new world map. I agree the curved lines are clearer and will use that aproach. I'll also include a legend. All of which will be hidable.

Oh very nice!

Three cheers for smoothed curves!

And the problem is that things aren't to scale, but thats on SOE's side. The isle of Ro should appear a bit bigger, and Faydwer should be _much_ bigger.

But nothing to be done about that. Ideally "Antonica" and "Commonlands" should be removed to keep it consistant.

Four cheers for Zonx =)

As an aside, does someone have the original files for the Freeport City overlay? That one needs two more connections also-- the new doors from Longshadow to the Graveyard and from the Scaleyard to the Sprawl. The Qeynos City overlay just needs one icon for the Down Below added to the Caves.

FYI, the changes anfrey made to show the new zone overview map were pushed live yesterday. I made the overlay blank until we get something that is finished. :)

good deal :) glad i could help

I just put in a legend also. I don't think I really look at this map very much anyways, but if you're new a legend might help.
In-game the lines are a little clearer because you're seeing jpg compression here and the location names are on top of course.


Here's a new DDS file too.

Othesus - Dirge - Lucan DLere
Vaspar - Fury - Lucan DLere

((Edit: thanks, forgot that one line))

very nice... now add a blue line between nek and ts