DXII Guide to Map Making

[size=14][b]D12 Official Map Making Guidelines[/b][/size] [i]Technical Standards & Community Expectations[/i] [hr] Dominating 12 relies on the community for new maps. Any player may submit a map provided it meets our quality and technical standards. [hr] [b][size=14][color=red]1. The "Canvas-First" Protocol (Technical Addendum)[/color][/size][/b] Before any geography is drawn, the map dimensions must be set. [list] [li][b]UI Zones:[/b] You must allocate clear, non-congested space for the [b]Map Title[/b], [b]Minimap[/b], and [b]Legend[/b].[/li] [li][b]No-Scroll Standard:[/b] Maps must maximize the viewport. Rotate landmasses (e.g., Italy, Philippines, Gold Coast) to fit a horizontal screen. Use a [b]Compass Rose[/b] to indicate North.[/li] [li][b]Scaling:[/b] Scrolling is an exception reserved [u]exclusively[/u] for Large-Scale maps with high territory counts. Small/Medium maps must fit the screen without scrolling.[/li] [/list] [b][size=14]2. Territory Counts & Strategy[/size][/b] [list] [li][b]Optimal Counts:[/b] Aim for these totals for balanced play: [i]30, 32, 33, 35, 40, 42, 44, 52, 56, 65, 66, 81, 104, 117, 128, 144.[/i][/li] [li][b][color=red]Forbidden Counts:[/color][/b] Maps with [b]36-38[/b] or [b]45-51[/b] territories are prohibited due to troop distribution disadvantages in 3-player games.[/li] [li][b]Defensibility:[/b] Territories should generally have 3 borders to defend. Maps with too many indefensible regions will be rejected.[/li] [li][b]Special Rules:[/b] Limit special gameplay to one type (e.g., ports OR adjacent bonuses).[/li] [/list] [b][size=14]3. Copyright Policy[/size][/b] Maps based on fiction (movies, games, books) are protected by law. [list] [li][b]Requirement:[/b] You must have explicit permission from the copyright holder or proof of "passivity" (no response after multiple attempts).[/li] [li][b]Permission:[/b] If granted, provide the correspondence to a staff member. If denied, you must use a "roughly similar" original creation instead.[/li] [/list] [spoiler=Sample Permission Letter] Dear Mrs/Mr, For the website Dominating 12 (www.dominating12.com) we would like to design a map based on {...}. As {...} is protected by copyright, we would like to ask permission to use the names and geographical features from {...} to create a map for our community. Kind regards, {...} [/spoiler] [b][size=14]4. Expectations & Process[/size][/b] [list] [li][b]Suggestions:[/b] Concepts [i]must[/i] first be posted in the [url=https://dominating12.com/forums/3/map-creation/93/map-suggestions]Map Suggestions[/url] thread.[/li] [li][b]Revisions:[/b] If a site Cartographer requests a change for standard compliance, it is [b][color=red]mandatory[/color][/b].[/li] [li][b]Style:[/b] Maps must fit the site’s dark aesthetic. Extremely light or "cheesy" themes will be rejected.[/li] [/list] [b][size=14]5. Graphical Requirements[/size][/b] [list] [li][b]Format/Size:[/b] JPEG (~300kb). Standard width: 1024px. HD width: 1366px (less preferred).[/li] [li][b]Layers:[/b] Required for: Outline, Color, Shading, Texture, Connections, Text, Title, Minimap, and Credits.[/li] [li][b]Anti-aliasing:[/b] Required for smooth edges. Jagged or blurry lines are not acceptable.[/li] [/list] [b][size=14][color=red]6. Beta Status & Tournament Integrity[/color][/size][/b] [list] [li][b]Purpose:[/b] Beta is for testing gameplay flow and technical stability.[/li] [li][b]Tournaments:[/b] [b][color=red]Do not use Beta maps in official tournaments.[/color][/b] Since Beta maps are subject to scale changes or game termination, they are unsuitable for competitive ranking until finalized.[/li] [/list] [b][size=14]7. Coding, Bonuses, & Capitals[/size][/b] [list] [li][b]Bonus Formula:[/b] [i]Territories / 3 + Borders to Defend / 2.5[/i].[/li] [url=https://dominating12.com/tools]Calculator[/url] [li][b]Capitals:[/b] Spaced equally apart, one per region, in territories with 3+ connections. Use site templates for submission.[/li] [/list] [b][size=14]Resources[/size][/b] [url=https://dominating12.com/assets/img/territories/normal-small.png]Small Circles[/url] | [url=https://dominating12.com/assets/img/territories/normal-large.png]Large Circles[/url] [hr] [b][size=12]CARTOGRAPHER COPYRIGHT AGREEMENT[/size][/b] The author retains copyright but grants Dominating 12 permission to use the image free of charge. D12 staff may make alterations to the submitted map for gameplay stability, graphical accuracy, or site compatibility. [hr] [i][b]Notice on Guideline Continuity:[/b] These guidelines have been updated to consolidate over a decade of site history into a single, character-efficient resource. The core principles established by our founding cartographers remain the same; these edits serve only to clarify technical standards for modern display resolutions and ensure consistent gameplay across all new submissions.[/i]

I'm working to make a map... I hope to do a good job! I can't understand the ranges not allowed as number of territories. Can someone explain that to me? For example what's the problem in a map with 50 territories?

Good Question. With a 50 territory map in a 4 player game each player will start out with 12 territories. Player 1 gets to place 4 armies instead of 3 because he or she owns 12 territories. If Player 1 attacks Player 2 and brings them down to 11 territories then they only get to place 3 on their first turn. And the last player to go is almost guaranteed to only get to place 3 armies. This gives too big of an advantage to the player who goes first. The ranges all have to do with starting out with either 12 or 15 territories in 2, 3 and 4 player games. Post your map idea in the map suggestions thread to see if players will be interested in the map and to see if they have any helpful ideas.

Thank you Vexer. That's a good reason. I projected this map with 50 territories (and never realized it) to play with my friends. Usually we are 5 or 6 and the classic world map with 42 territories is a little bit small. I will love to consider every suggestion. Wanna show my idea to D12 as soon as possible but I need time.

This has been added to the Expectations section: Aside from quality, style must also be considered. The map has to fit with the rest of the maps on the site and also fit the design of the site itself. Extremely light maps don't work because the site's style is fairly dark. Ugly maps, no matter how high quality, do not fit. We only want maps that are considered by most to be beautiful. We have in the past accepted a couple maps that have a grunge style that I consider to be ugly but we will not accept anymore going forward. We have many maps with a deep blue ocean, more than we need, please use a different style on your map. Paper backgrounds are preferred over ocean backgrounds but you can also be creative with a background and make it neither paper or ocean. Also, no cheesy looking or poorly designed maps will be accepted.

How to send a map project?

you need to upload a jpeg of what you are working on in to a image hoster then post a link to it in a new forum thread so that the community can comment on it.

[i]Legend can only be used with special permission.[/i] Why and When? Sometimes you dont have enough space to make mini map and sometimes looks much better with legend.

The capitals section of the guide was updated to include template files for making capital placement images. @Noxon, yes sometimes it looks better with a legend. But you should try and a do a mini map first and then if it doesn't work out then do a legend but show both versions to us so we can all decide together which is better and possibly come up with solutions on how to make the mini map better. The reason why mini maps are the default and preferred is because it takes less time to find the bonus for the region you are looking at. While looks are important, being user friendly is more important.

Well when it looks better it is more easy to understand bonuses, but if map maker cant make clear legend that is another thing. Part of legend is also description that you have in some maps or i am wrong? I just didnt understand why is needed special permission for legend.

If I wanted to get in on map-making, how would you suggest I start? I'm a fairly good artist and I enjoy drawing maps, but I've never attempted a Risk-style map because of all the complications caused by territory quantities and connections and all that. Any help would be appreciated, I'd love to add to the map bank. btw, I'm a new player

welcome jolando24 my suggestion would be to talk to Vexer on map making ty for choosing d12!!

With the limits on territory numbers, wouldn't it be better if the system just assigned more neutral territories as required? For example, 60 territories for 3/4/5 players, so 60-64 should also be disallowed. On the other hand, 36-38 is only a problem for 2/3 players, 45-47 is only a problem for 2/3 players, 48-51 is only a problem for 4 players. In these cases, you could just add up to 4 neutral territories.

i still cant find the with and the height of the map your suposed to make

"Format and Size Maps are submitted in jpeg format compressed to about 300kb for a standard size map. The standard size is 1024 pixels wide and anywhere from 600 to 900 pixels long. The longer the map the less popular it will be however because players don't like to have to scroll to see the whole map. HD maps are also an option at 1366 pixels wide but HD maps tend to get played less because they don't fit well on laptop screens. A screen resolution of at least 1600 x 900 is needed to properly display an HD map. If you want your map to be popular then stick to the standard size. If you want you can future proof your map by making it HD and then resizing to the standard size when it's done as long as the resized version looks good. Unless you are using Photoshop then the text would have to be redone for the standard sized version and not just resized. Text does not resize well."