Hope that's the right thread to post in...
As the most regular RCC PWMOD players might know, the server has Leroy's map running today for some hours. I was there and I saw the map the first time.
So, what can I say about it...?
At first, I think the map is well-made. I saw some flying trees and some of the mountains looked a bit unrealistic in shape, but that is nothing to complain about.
I really liked the most of it. I liked the giant tree and specially the tree house attached to it, I liked the big town, also the small town in the "desert", the big fortress in the snowy mountains... well, I did not see all, the maps were changing horribly fast because it looked like one half of the server wanted Valley of Swamps back and the other half wanted to stay.
What I also liked were the many details. I saw skeletons in cages (and not in cages) at nice locations, some really mighty swords sticking in big stone plates, also some tombs behind trees and small camps with fireplaces in the landscape.
I could continue praising the map, there were other nice things, too, but I want to point out why I, regardless of the coolness of the map, like Valley of Swamps more.
The first thing is a personal thing. The map is too flat. Sometimes it looked like the objects and places were put randomly onto this big, flat area to fill it. Valley of Swamps, on the other hand, looks more well thought out and much more realistic.
Also, the map is MUCH too big. The most time there are maybe 20, 30 players on the server, on weekends and in good times 50, maybe 60 (as I experienced, maybe other players wouldn't agree with me). Even for 60 people or more it looked way too big, but for 20 or 30 it would be like putting some ants into the middle of a sandpit and let them try to find their way out...
Hmm... now it sounds like I don't like the map at all... don't get me wrong Leroy, if this map would be the only PW-mod map I know, I wouldn't complain and just play it, but compared with Valley of Swamps (which is, of course, also not perfect) it looses for me, and it will always loose, even when you make it smaller and more realistic-looking. It's still well-made (as far as I can say, I'm really not an expert), but it doesn't get me in a way like VoS does, sorry.
I would not mind if the map is running on the server some times, maybe 1 or 2 hours in the evening and morning or something like that, but all the time (or at least more than VoS)? Sorry, not for me. Of course I would continue playing when N0body decides that this map is the new "main map" of the RCC server, this mod is too awesome to quit it, but I wouldn't be happy with it.
As I said, don't get me wrong, I still think the map is well-made. Most of my complains may be personal and other people will think completely different.
You are a good mapper Leroy and I would like to see what you will do with this map and what your future projects will be. Keep up the good work.