Siete Torres - The City of Seven Towers

[Immolate]

This was a challenge map for the October 2009 challenge "Trading".

The map was based on the river in Ascension's town tutorial, which is absolutely gorgeous, and the walls and towers in CoyoteMax's Cruzament De Rio. After that, I went my own way.

Siete Torres has a number of unusual characteristics. The shadows are all hand-created using a -45 global light. Contrary to popular opinion, I am not a masochist: I did this so that I could represent complex shadows on surrounding layers of multiple elevations. It's a tricky process, and you can't be perfect with it, but the results are quite satisfying.

The shields are another unique feature. There's nothing mysterious about them, but I'm happy with the way they turned out.

There were a few other, more minor innovations throughout the map, but mostly it was a product of a massive investment of time, and the tireless efforts of a few people who offered invaluable criticism and encouragement. They are:

CoyoteMax, Gandwarf (master of cities), Steel General, Gidde, Ascension, ravells, nolgroth, Roger, shantedracule, rdanhenry, mearrin69, armoredgear7, ffxfiend, Ashenvale, Ramah, Xyll, and Skinnerman02.

Thanks to all of them for the help they provided.

If you want to follow the day-to-day growth of the map, see the challenge thread.

The changes to the map from the original thread are:

Complete replacement of the residential area inside the walls with a more varied construction and a large, colorful great fair tent. One can find any manner of good or service at the fair, not all of which are strictly legal.

Legend of unlabeled icons as suggested by one of the commentors. I looked for the comment to identify who it was that suggested it, but couldn't find it. Whoever you are, thank you!

I hope you enjoy it.
Siete Torres Final.jpg

[Steel General]

Very nice, love the 'Circus Tent'.

[Gandwarf]

Yeah, glad you replaced the last part of the buildings. This looks a lot better (and it was already a stunning map). Great work, I salute you

[Immolate]

I'm glad you approve Gandwarf. It was primarily your discontent with that last section that chipped away at me and finally caused me to go in and redo it again. If anyone has an eye for cities, it is you.

I am warmed by such high praise from the master.

[mearrin69]

This is truly an awesome map and your latest refinements really sell it. BTW, you should revisit that Aztec-looking piece you did as a city in its own right. It looked cool.
M

[Ramah]

It does indeed look better. I'm glad you decided to change it.

Btw... although that first stab at doing that part of the town didn't really fit, it did look really cool. I'm hoping that you decide to make a city around that style. It reminds me a little of some of the cities in Morrowind.

You know you want to.

Oh my word... did I really spell "look" as "luck"? :S

[Ascension]

Yeah, do it. I want you to as well

[Immolate]

Not sure I'm primed for another city after Oten'Jo and Siete Torres in rapid succession. They really do suck the will to live out of you.

[Ascension]

This is true. We will remind you next month then

[rdanhenry]

I don't recall anyone asking for a legend of the shop signs. I did say that there were a few I couldn't figure out (and now I see that was meant to be a wizardy hat for the Magic Shoppe). Maybe you just thought of the legend as a solution to that yourself and thought you'd read it suggested?

I like what you did with this edit and the big tent adds a new focus of interest. I think it balances the design a little. You've added some really nice finishing touches to a map that had me amazed when it was half-done.