First Eclipse Level

[Relic]

Hello, I am Relic. I found out about Eclipse today and decided to download it and give the map editor a go, so I created a small outside level for you all to C&C.

But first, a little history. I've been developing (doing everything, mapping, coding, animating and a small amount of pixel art) on a game called Graal Online for several years. This game has multiple servers each with different goals (one is an RPG, one has guns and you can join a gang and such, and so on.) I've held various development positions, a management position here and there and played for years before I began developing.

I decided to see what else was out there for developing online games.

Now onto the map. It's a very basic outside map, I used Eclipse's default tilesets to create this just to see the capabilities, restrictions, etc of the map editor. I'm very pleased with the map editor, it has many capabilities that I've been pushing to help implemented on Graal. I was restricted a little by lack of tiles and such which accounts for a lot of the tile errors and some of the lack of/bad detailing.

But enough talking, without further delay here it is:


C&C appreiciated. Thanks!

[The Oracle]

wow. very nice and also a great way to give a good impression for the rest of your stay here. As for the map, it's amazing. Very nice attempt. The only thing i have to ask is, what is that green stuff at the bottom? It's overlapping itself and other stuff. o.O

9/10

[westin444]

i think its supposed to be trees?

oh, and
9/10

[The Oracle]

looks more like grass to me

[yorty]

Upper levels are too blank. Things are in weird places and looks generally unrealistic. But I guess I have to be the true critic. 6.5/10\. But good for a first of course.

[Relic]

Thanks for the ratings guys. Few comments, the green stuff at the bottom is trees, it didn't work out quite how it does in Final Fantasy and the likes who uses that style of tree very well  :sad:

@Yorty: I left out the detailing in the upper levels on purpose. I tend to do that when doing a showcase level and usually intend just to showcase what is at the base and on the middle levels of the cliffs, however I'll whip up some detailing for the upper levels tomorrow if you'd like. One question though, what is unrealistic and what looks out of place so I can switch that up a little.

Thanks.

[balliztik1]

Add some shadowing below the trees if you can. It'd look a lot better and people could tell what it is.

Other than that, it's a very good map.

[yorty]

@Relic:

> Thanks for the ratings guys. Few comments, the green stuff at the bottom is trees, it didn't work out quite how it does in Final Fantasy and the likes who uses that style of tree very well  :sad:
>
> @Yorty: I left out the detailing in the upper levels on purpose. I tend to do that when doing a showcase level and usually intend just to showcase what is at the base and on the middle levels of the cliffs, however I'll whip up some detailing for the upper levels tomorrow if you'd like. One question though, what is unrealistic and what looks out of place so I can switch that up a little.
>
> Thanks.

This is too much of your generic map. Elevation at the top. Some boring body of water. trees and different kinds of grass. I tend to find these maps very unrealistic. Go google (image search) some pictures of a _real_ landscape/forest/plain/whatever you need. So trust me, its not just you who does this. But of course this is all in my opinion. ignore me if you wish.

[Guest]

I think the map definitely shows you have what it takes to move on to custom tile sets. You have a lot of the same kind of experience I had going into Eclipse 2 years ago. I downloaded the engine and did a few test maps as you have done and 2 weeks later I started pluging in Reiners tiles ( [http://www.touchofdeathforums.com/smf/index.php/topic,30499.0.html](http://www.touchofdeathforums.com/smf/index.php/topic,30499.0.html) ) and some of my own custom stuff.
If you want to really see what the engine is capable of doing come play Ambardia one day. We would be happy to show you around and explain things.

[Relic]

@Yorty: Thanks I'll try to check out some landscapes and such before my next map, for now I'm just going to stick with what I have unless there's some major flaw in the tiling or anything like that.

@Ambard: I've already seen some screenshots and posts about your game and browsed the website a little. Thanks for the offer - after Tuesday of next week would probably be best for me to come check it out because I have exams, so I'll be talking to you.

[Drummerpete]

Keep trying, for a first map this is good, but there are some depth problems, and some odd placings for smaller tiles, but it's excellent for a first try.
With some practice and dedication, you could be great.

[Relic]

@Bob:

> Keep trying, for a first map this is good, but there are some depth problems, and some odd placings for smaller tiles, but it's excellent for a first try.
> With some practice and dedication, you could be great.

Could you please point out where the depth problems are? If you're referring to the trees at the bottom of the map, I know that is a problem, it didn't turn out quite as expected.

[Drummerpete]

The cliffs I mean.
You have the tops at the same level next to each other but the bottoms are different, and it just look weird.

[Relic]

@Bob:

> The cliffs I mean.
> You have the tops at the same level next to each other but the bottoms are different, and it just look weird.

I've looked over the cliffs several times and I honestly can't see what you're talking about. I'm sure you've got a good point I just can't wrap my head around it. :embarrassed:

Any other way you can explain it?

[Sowtis]

@The:

> wow. very nice and also a great way to give a good impression for the rest of your stay here. As for the map, it's amazing. Very nice attempt. The only thing i have to ask is, what is that green stuff at the bottom? It's overlapping itself and other stuff. o.O
>
> 9/10

Basically all what I have to say.

Very good, and keep up the good work ^_^

[Bayes]

Very nice, your a good mapper.
With a better quality of tiles you could make some amazing maps.

Really good for a first map.

[Harris6310]

Really good 7/10, Some of the sand has missing bits and the tree thats behind the tree is missing the trunk.

[Relic]

@Bayes:

> Very nice, your a good mapper.
> With a better quality of tiles you could make some amazing maps.
>
> Really good for a first map.

Thanks, I'm planning on giving a custom tileset a go, next map.

@[6310:

> Harris]
> Really good 7/10, Some of the sand has missing bits and the tree thats behind the tree is missing the trunk.

The trunk is there, It's just covered by the bottom right part of the tree in front. Also, I'm missing a lot of tiles, but that's because of restrictions in the default tileset, in which inside corners are all one tile instead of four seperate ones like they should be.

Thanks for the comments guys.

[Kubmin]

MY EYES!…its so...pretty ;)

8/10

[Niko]

The cliffs on the top left don't have any real depth problem they just look weird. Technically its fine…

[Drummerpete]

@Niko:

> The cliffs on the top left don't have any real depth problem they just look weird. Technically its fine…

So there is something wrong with them? xD
I thought so..

[Relic]

I can kinda see what you're saying now. Are you talking about where the top edgeo f the smaller cliff meets the bottom edge of that large cliff?

[Drummerpete]

Yeah, it looks strange.

[Hippoman789]

Tile Mixing.
Not enough detail.

i like it.
its a great first map.