The Graphics

Warplan is a World War 2 simulation engine. It is a balance of realism and playability incorporating the best from 50 years of World War 2 board wargaming.

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canuckgamer
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The Graphics

Post by canuckgamer »

As a long time board and computer wargamer the look of the map and counters reminds me of the vanilla counters and maps that SPI used to produce in the 70's and 80's. I hope the current graphics will be improved before the first version is released.

The graphics will no doubt be compared to Strategic Command WWII WIE which I have. I use NATO symbols playing SC and like the fact you are using aircraft and ship silhouettes for War Plan but they could be improved by as an example using a Stuka (side view rather than top) for the German tactical aircraft units and so on. In my opinion the map used in SC WIE looks much better and think the colours on the War Plan map to be very subdued.

I don't have the time to join the beta but will be interested in seeing how this game develops.
welk
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RE: The Graphics

Post by welk »

I have the exact opposite opinion[:D]: I love at 100% the look of game and I hope nothing will be change, because the game has already the look I prefer : boardgame. Please, do not change anything, I will just do some minor modifications to reinforce this wargame 1970/1980 look

EDIT : If you do changes in graphs, please : keep us in a "extra" directory the actual files, because the look of the game is actually superb and perfect
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ncc1701e
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RE: The Graphics

Post by ncc1701e »

Regarding map, SC3 has reached a high level in terms of possibility to change the shape of a given hexagon. There are many possibilities to draw the format of a particular coastline, or of a mountain chain. I hope such tile variation will be possible to tweak few things. This is the kind of things that is a plus to me.
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welk
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RE: The Graphics

Post by welk »

I have on the desk a rapport of my Intelligence Service, that says to me (with probant documentation[8|]) : "What it was possible with SC3 is possible with Warplan". And concerning new moddable games, my secret agents are in ordinary times very efficients... [:D]

It seems that lot of things may be changed in game (map tiles, ressources, borders, see, units counters, streams, mountains, etc). But I have also to say that secret agents have heavy cost : so, if some futur players want to know more about the question, I think they should consider that my finances are low and that a credit card is made to be used

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AlvaroSousa
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RE: The Graphics

Post by AlvaroSousa »

I can please both parties here.

The game graphics are what they are at the moment. The game more focuses on play with a traditional feel for classic wargaming.

But there is an option to add your own map and units. There are about 10 image files that can be placed in the scenario directory that will be automatically uploaded to a scenario and replace the current look. If you look at other similar games people do graphics for them all the time and make maps and counters how they like. The original png files will be made available to the public to modify as they wish.

Right now I am looking into an alternate counter set as I have had many requests to do so. So the game might end up with 2 different counter sets.

I placed enough land tiles to design maps accurately while minimizing the amount of time and effort to do so.
Creator Kraken Studios
- WarPlan
- WarPlan Pacific

Designer Strategic Command
- Brute Force (mod) SC2
- Assault on Communism SC2
- Assault on Democracy SC2
- Map Image Importer SC3
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ncc1701e
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RE: The Graphics

Post by ncc1701e »

ORIGINAL: fuzzypup

I placed enough land tiles to design maps accurately while minimizing the amount of time and effort to do so.

Great, thank you.
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AlbertN
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RE: The Graphics

Post by AlbertN »

Usually grand strategy games do not require amazing graphics, they're all about mechanics and the system.

I'd mention here a grand strategy game of fantasy type, that has extremely old graphics, but that's excellent in its mechanics (not a Matrix one though).

In general who plays a strategy games does not need lots of fancy stuff that only confuse things around, but requires clarity of a situation through a swift glance.
At best I'd suggest only to improve counter graphics in the style of Matrix World in Flames, with air silouhettes and so forth.
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PanzerCro
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RE: The Graphics

Post by PanzerCro »

ORIGINAL: fuzzypup

I can please both parties here.

The game graphics are what they are at the moment. The game more focuses on play with a traditional feel for classic wargaming.

But there is an option to add your own map and units. There are about 10 image files that can be placed in the scenario directory that will be automatically uploaded to a scenario and replace the current look. If you look at other similar games people do graphics for them all the time and make maps and counters how they like. The original png files will be made available to the public to modify as they wish.

Right now I am looking into an alternate counter set as I have had many requests to do so. So the game might end up with 2 different counter sets.

I placed enough land tiles to design maps accurately while minimizing the amount of time and effort to do so.
[&o][&o]

Please do it ! Nothing should be too fancy, I just more easily play game with Sd.Kfz/M3 icons representing Mechanized infrantry than with NATO counters. These are just too similiar for my taste and make things harder for me. :)

I hope for good game, I am loving Strategic Command series :)
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AlvaroSousa
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RE: The Graphics

Post by AlvaroSousa »

Well that is what I am shooting for. Silhouettes of infantry, tanks, half tracks, etc. The planes already have it because the Nato counters for air were too hard to ID on the map and differentiate from the land counters. I might put several mix and match counters. Easy to code in.

Anyways someone will make some kind of counter sheet with color. I have seen it done a bunch of times in other games.
Creator Kraken Studios
- WarPlan
- WarPlan Pacific

Designer Strategic Command
- Brute Force (mod) SC2
- Assault on Communism SC2
- Assault on Democracy SC2
- Map Image Importer SC3
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Michael T
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RE: The Graphics

Post by Michael T »

here's someone who is happy with bog-standard Nato.
AlbertN
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RE: The Graphics

Post by AlbertN »

Quite happy with basic nato symbols and silouhettes for ships / planes (World in Flames to me is excellent).

The graphics of a Strategy Game do not need excess of fancy, but should allow the player to understand the situation with a swift glance (Something for instance Paradox has totally missed, going from a neat and tidy Hearts of Iron II map, to the very messy and confused Hearts of Iron III and IV map where a player has to struggle to understand which are regions and which is the terrain they're fighting in).

Look at map, understand what you're into!
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AlvaroSousa
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RE: The Graphics

Post by AlvaroSousa »

ORIGINAL: Cohen_slith

Quite happy with basic nato symbols and silouhettes for ships / planes (World in Flames to me is excellent).

The graphics of a Strategy Game do not need excess of fancy, but should allow the player to understand the situation with a swift glance (Something for instance Paradox has totally missed, going from a neat and tidy Hearts of Iron II map, to the very messy and confused Hearts of Iron III and IV map where a player has to struggle to understand which are regions and which is the terrain they're fighting in).

Look at map, understand what you're into!

What you are talking about here is called UX or user experience. I have studied this some. For traditional user applications UX is directly translated into making users work as efficiently as possible and not think about how using the application. When it comes to game design there is a balance between usability and fun. Some mechanisms are purposely made a little more tedious because players enjoy it that way.

Perfect example, and I forgot the name of the RPG game, was a game that allowed you to sell your treasure while on the adventure as you go for convenience. Players hated it. Traditionally adventure games make you walk out and go to a town, talk to different shop owners and sell your treasures to the shop owners that will haggle the best price and are interested. Quite a task. But players preferred the latter instead of the former easier method. It added flavor to the game.
Creator Kraken Studios
- WarPlan
- WarPlan Pacific

Designer Strategic Command
- Brute Force (mod) SC2
- Assault on Communism SC2
- Assault on Democracy SC2
- Map Image Importer SC3
TSPC37730
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RE: The Graphics

Post by TSPC37730 »

I have to count myself as one who would prefer the older, classic style counters. But, having choices and options sounds even better. I'm looking forward to this one coming out.
welk
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RE: The Graphics

Post by welk »

In my opinion, official screenshots of the game are not very well done : the game is more beautiful in the reality. Here is a capture that shows how the game is superb (player has a lot of zoom/unzoom levels to set exactly what he wants display):

Image
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Michael T
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RE: The Graphics

Post by Michael T »

Looks great.
Titan
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RE: The Graphics

Post by Titan »

Looks Fab, Would i be correct in saying the map is smaller than SC3 WIE? Berlin to Paris is certainly closer than SC3.. What about whole map? Does it cover more of Europe/ Africa/Far East? I do realize scale is different
canuckgamer
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RE: The Graphics

Post by canuckgamer »

The distance from Berlin to Paris in Strategic Command War in Europe is 20 hexes. Counting the hexes in the above map it is 19 hexes so basically the same for both games. On the above map at Southampton it looks like there is a naval unit stacked in the same hex as a ground unit. Will you also be able to place an air unit in that hex?
Titan
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RE: The Graphics

Post by Titan »

Not that its a biggey, But i count 23 for SC3 Vs 20 for this..That includes counting Berlin and paris....So a x3 hex diff
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Simulacra53
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RE: The Graphics

Post by Simulacra53 »

ORIGINAL: fuzzypup
But there is an option to add your own map and units. There are about 10 image files that can be placed in the scenario directory that will be automatically uploaded to a scenario and replace the current look. If you look at other similar games people do graphics for them all the time and make maps and counters how they like.

The original png files will be made available to the public to modify as they wish.

Right now I am looking into an alternate counter set as I have had many requests to do so. So the game might end up with 2 different counter sets.


Thank you for doing this, including sharing the original png files.
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