Bowtie 16x16

This is my first attempt at making a map, but as such I am very pleased with the results.
I used microsoft paint to the background. I know no maps have a white background, but I think it fits with the suit-and-tie formality and simplicity of the map. I added the gray line so you could see the path and know where you couldn't put towers.
Buuuuuut... if anyone wants to make a better background or help me make one it would be appreciated.
I also really approve of this path design. I've played all the maps ingame and looked at all the ones on the forum and there are none similar to this path design. I think it would do well in All vs All and Survivor modes. There is no obvious spot for a first tower, which makes the beginnings of games easier. There is limited space for towers in the endgame also, which should keep games shorter. Some of the maps I've played I dislike because the beginning few turns are rushed and critical, but the later rounds are slow and drawn out.
I would love to make this map better, so comments and suggestions are appreciated. I hope you like it I would be overjoyed if it made it into the game.

Edit: I've further cleaned up the raster and path image, and changed the path itself so that there are no diagonals. Instead the path doubles back on itself for one segment, which seems just as good. Please keep commenting and giving suggestions, I am willing to keep trying to improve this map =)

The new images and path are shown below and are available for download in the .zip file.

[Pezinator]

Ok first of all thx for trying to make a map. I know that is some effort to do this. So thank you for this.

About the background: The Idea is ok, but you need to make the tie clearer. It has to look like a straight line and you shouldn't see the pixels. Although you think, that a white background should be fine, there's a big problem with that. You can't see white creeps on white backgrounds and especially at the beginning where the path goes of the white you wouldn't see any white creep.

Next point: You should draw two lines in which the creeps go in between so. that you can clearly see where they go. That's better than only one line! More over should make the whole path look clearlier. Another problem might be, that you have diagonals in the path. The biggest part of the community doesn't like them at all.

One more point: How is the path in the middle going? you know that all path segments are squares. So actually your path, doesn't work like it is painted in you picture.

Thank you for taking the time to review my map and help me improve.

Doh, I didn't even think about white creeps on a white background!! Haha that's embarrassing.
I was going for the white suit and black tie thing, but that's not gonna work. What color would you suggest?

The one line that the creeps follow made it look clean and straightforward to me, and along with the diagonals I liked how the angles looked, but two lines would definitely make the path easier to recognize. I'll try to work on that.

I've seen creeps go diagonally, like in the maps jumpingcreeps and smiley, but now that I think about it, that's probably something different, like a jump or something...

This whole thing was the result of only one solid day of work, so it is the work of an amateur, but I will try to learn more about maps and put some more work into it. Thanks so much for the help and direction.


Edit: I just looked at quite a few maps in the map editor, and it appears Creeps can go diagonally. For instance, the map 4stops, they come in straight then go diagonal, and same with the exit of that map. So, I think the path is okay. The line is connecting the centers of the path segments, and that's probably why it's unclear.

[Pezinator]

First of all yes there are maps, that have a diagonalpath but nearly nobody likes them. Cause it looks ugly if the towers cross the path.

I don't know which colours is the best you gotta find a nice one on your own. But the problem is that you have to remake the whole background. It simply has to look a bit better made. Maybe you add some shadow or some structure to the tie.

Path:

Unbenannt.PNG (35.39 KiB) Viewed 4993 times

Your path would look like this. So if you make a clear path as in every other map and not only the line in the middle, this map would look quite strange. Moreover I don't think, that's that much fun defending this map since the only chance to built towers is at the outside of the path.

[Seraph07]

I like the way of this path.

With a new pathdesign, a raster and a new background could this map be addet.

Thanks so much Seraph!!!! Just made my day
What is a raster?

Pezinator, I just looked through all the maps, and the ones that I saw that had a lot of diagonals were the circular ones. Namely: Loopings, and Olympics, and yes those both have pretty bad ratings. But maps that include diagonals, such as 4stops and quadcore, are very highly rated! They only have small diagonals, but these maps I have mentioned are the only instances of diagonal paths I have seen. The majority of the maps in the game indeed have square paths with absolutely no diagonals. This path is different from all the usual maps because it has diagonals. I agree it looks pretty crummy when the towers poke into the path, but I don't know if it's fair to say nobody likes diagonals.
That being said, it is posing a problem. If there were a line on each side of the path that would make the whole thing look very messy. I'll try and clean it up and upload a new version soon.

[Pezinator]

I just said, that many people don't like them.Ever since I am here and a map with diagonals came into the forum there was somebody complaining about them. (sadly it's me this time) But in the end it's your map and you can make with it whatever you want. For quadcore 4 stops mothership and all the maps like this i gotta say, that they don't really have diagonals in them. Of course they do, but those are only at the start/ end so they don't really disturbe the game play.

But again: It's your map. If you like the diagonals in the way they are now' it's perfect. I'll try the map eitherway! with or without diagonals.

Yeah those maps only have diagonals for a small portion, and in the beginning. I'll keep all that in mind, and I would get rid of them, except the map would look completely different. I do like the diagonals, but, seeing as how they are a big deal, I just sketched a map of what it might look like without the diagonals. The one on the right would be what it would be, but the one on the left is the smoother, stepwise feel I was originally going for, with each column being one square shorter, instead of two. See what you think of either of these, no diagonals.

Oh, I also did some work and cleaned up the background. It looks loads better than what it was at least, tell me what you think of it.

Path looks incredible boring and design is bad.

BTW: It makes not that much sense, to create maps, just because of an award.

Brutal honesty. =P
I've wanted to make a map for a long time, the achievement just gave me a little push.
And if it doesn't make sense to make a map for the award, they shouldn't have put the award.
They obviously put the award there because they want people to try to make maps.

People should get an award, because they made a good map, but people should not try to makes maps, just because of that award - thats, what you are doing.

I'm trying to make a good map, it's not JUST to get the achievement.
And if you have a problem with there being an achievement, take it up with one of the administrators, don't just bash on me and my map. (My map that I've put a lot of work into)

[Seraph07]

A raster is a part of the background which help the player to find a place where he can built towers.



1 = path, you cannot built there
2= deffspot, you can built there

[Pezinator]

Ok I added a raster to the map and I tried to improve the bowtie a bit, but unfortunately it didn't work that well as I had in mind. I got simply no Idea to improve that stuff. The next problem i have is the background. I got no idea what to do with this.

bowtie1.jpg (100.52 KiB) Viewed 4898 times

I had another idea which could make it more possible to paint a path on the tie, but still haven't an idea how the path would look good on that one. This one would also solve the problem with the background a bit, cause there isn't that much background left.

bowtie2.jpg (99.26 KiB) Viewed 4898 times

ps: the colour of the raster isn't final.

The raster definitely makes it look like an actual map. =P
I like both of those, and I think the original path design would fit great on the second background, the one with the bow tie zoomed in.
Maybe for the path, there can just not be gridlines breaking it into squares, and have it more of an open path, so it would be pretty clear where the creeps are going.

Pez, can you post the bowtie image you're using? I like it ^_^

[Pezinator]

hmm actually i have used your bowtie just made it look like a real one. Photoshop is your friend and helper

I used photoshop to clean up the original. I have no idea how to make it look like that though! It will take me a long time to work it out but I guess i'll have to make some time.

[Pezinator]

wait a mom i am going to load the photoshopfile up here so you can use it if you want.

What about a shorter path for more building spots?
The bowtie is yours with some Photoshop magic added.
The background is from an user on the old CS-Forums.

bowtie.jpg (62.48 KiB) Viewed 4871 times

bowtie_export.jpg (141.32 KiB) Viewed 4871 times

  Code:

# Map data
# compiled by CreepTD Map Editor 1.0.1
# at Fri, 01 Feb 2013 21:02:25 GMT

@author c0re
@strict
@size 16x16

# Path segments
1,11 start
1,10
1,9
1,8
1,7
1,6
1,5
2,5
3,5
3,6
3,7
3,8
3,9
4,9
5,9
5,8
5,7
6,7
7,7
8,8
8,7
7,8
7,7
8,8
9,8
10,8
10,7
10,6
11,6
12,6
12,7
12,8
12,9
12,10
13,10
14,10
14,9
14,8
14,7
14,6
14,5
14,6 end


# No blocked coordinates defined



[Pezinator]

The idea is nice. I like the path, although it's nearly too short. But my main problem is still there! The tie is for nothing. You can easily delete the tie and nobody would care. I would like to implement the tie in the map. The tie has to be the main thing!

and even if I don't want to believe it! The best way how to do this is with diagonal paths and the 2. attempt of me