August/September entry: Battle of Sugar High

[tilt]

yeah... time an patience... two rescources I have in abundance.. .not

[tilt]

So, added a border, a compass - not sure if the idea works, added a grid and added blades of grass to the west side of the battle zone ... does it look right?

### Latest WIP ###

[Ascension]

Yeah, those look great.

[Katto]

Looks very good tilt! I don't know if ants need compasses, perhaps you could use something different, like "anthill? march in this direction"
I also would shorten the black frame, it makes the map seem smaller and presses it.
Does anyone know AntMe! ?

[tilt]

@ascension - thanks... always difficult mixing drawn stuff with photostuff

@katto - yeah... wasn't sure I'd wanted a compass at all - but it is a map after all ... gotta think some more... and AntMe?

[Katto]

Oh, I thought it is an international thing. In AntMe you learn the basics to program AI. You write code for your ants how they behave in different situations.

[tilt]

ah.. nope - never heard of that ... but then again, been a looong time since I went to school (and curious enough a german school at that )

[tilt]

next update - added some ants to the border, moved a leaf, added a twig and some rocks - added single grass leafs to the top grass also.

### Latest WIP ###

[Ramah]

This is going to sound over-picky so I apologise up front.

The shadows you have given all the items you have placed on the map don't match up with the built-in shadow of the soil texture. Your shadows seem to come from about 12 o clock whereas the soil shadows looks to be about 4 o clock.

I don't know if that is the reason the bevel on the puddles make them appear to bubble up or not but that is how they appear to me. Does it need the bevel? The puddle would be pretty shallow.

Also, with soil texture like that, wouldn't the puddle shapes be better off rougher, closer to the original challenge shapes to show it moulding around the soil?

Lastly, have you tried darkening the soil unevenly around the puddles to suggest water seepage?

I love the idea behind this map. Really original. I think it needs a bit more work on the puddles though.

[tilt]

no need to apologise ramah - I need the critique.. and its good critique too.. completely forgot to match the shadows on the soil, good catch and you're right, the puddles would be shallow, I smoothed the water edges to reflect that water often "smoothes" things, the dirt sliding a little in the puddle as it gathers, but perhaps a little rougher edge would be ok. And no, haven't tried darkening the soil around the water, but thats a good idea
so thanks for good critisism