Adding new maps: Which one would be the most useful?

[sniperton]

Originally Posted by _1SMV_Gitano

I have three MTO maps in the works.

It's gorgeous!!!! Unfortunately I can't help you, but fingers crossed!! I voted for the Channel because IceFire stipulated that "big or key battles" must have happened there. Historically, the Med was only a secondary theatre, but I love it above all.

(You know, red soil and wine, mare azzurro, olive trees, pesky Italian planes...)

[ElAurens]

How about somewhere other than Western Europe?

I'm bored with the channel after the hours spent in CloD plodding around on the same old map. It's one of the reasons I stopped playing CloD altogether.

Boring.

IceFire, you know where I want to go next.

China.

It's never been properly done, and it deserves to be.

[Feathered_IV]

Malta is a very important area not yet represented. It's a small land-area and consequently will allow for a great variety of textures so that it won't get repetitive. I tend to prefer smaller maps with rich detail than large, generic ones.

I've been having a look at an existing map that Maraz originally made (the first ever map to be created when mods came out, I believe). There's a lot of potential for a brand new map if a team could be created. New objects would be a must though.

[Juri_JS]

Icefire, if it is your first map project, I suggest to start with a smaller map, for example a Pacific Island, to learn the basics.
My suggestion - A northern Kurils map, showing Paramushir, Shumushu and the southern end of Kamchatka. The Japanese had based a large number of planes in the area and the islands were attacked regularly by USAAF bombers flying from Alaska. During the Soviet Invasion in August 1945 both sides used aircraft.

If you really want to start with a China map, Taiwan/Formosa with a small part of of the Chinese mainland would probably be the easiest area. Japanese planes based on Formosa bombed the Chinese mainland during the Sino-Japanese war and the island was attacked for the first time by Chinese bombers in 1938. In 1944 and 1945 there were large scale attacks by US carrier aircraft and land-based bombers.
But to be honest, I don't think such a large map can be done by one person alone, it has to be a team effort.

And concerning scale - I think it is important to do the map in 1:1. In my experience scaled down maps are often useless for creating historically accurate missions. For example I've once tried to build missions showing the Royal Navy raids on Petsamo and Kirkenes on the stock Murmansk map, but it was impossible, because the map isn't 1:1 and the fjords were much to narrow for torpedo attacks. In the end I had to use Mixx map of the same area in UP/HSFX.

[shelby]

My suggestions for il2 what must have of maps
Malta, Cyrenaica, Tunisia, Italy for Mediterranean front and Horn of Africa for East African Campaign
France, Belgium, Holland, Norway and the Channel for the Western Front
Minsk area, Rostov area, Kharkov area, Voronezh area, Maikop area, Grozny area, Malgobek area, Korsun–Cherkassy, Belgrade area, Budapest area, Vienna area and Prague area for Eastern front
And of course areas of Germany

[ben_wh]

IceFire,

May I suggest that you take a look at this thread? It may provide some ideas as to what maps (stock and mod) are available and which areas these maps cover.

http://www.sas1946.com/main/index.php?topic=27841.0

A sample below - more within the thread:



Cheers,

[_1SMV_Gitano]

IMO the best choice is a Sicily + Malta map. The historical value of such a map would be huge, a war front from June 1940 to July 1943 with many possible uses. Here you can see the current status of the map and a selection of its airfields. Some are partiallly working already but a lot is still to be done...





Chinisia S.Giuseppe airfield (Borizzo in allied docs)




Catania Fontanarossa*


*note the wrong identification, as Gerbini was some kilometers to the west...


Castelvetrano




Trapani Milo




DISCLAIMER: this is not intended for 4.13

[IceFire]

Originally Posted by Juri_JS

Icefire, if it is your first map project, I suggest to start with a smaller map, for example a Pacific Island, to learn the basics.
My suggestion - A northern Kurils map, showing Paramushir, Shumushu and the southern end of Kamchatka. The Japanese had based a large number of planes in the area and the islands were attacked regularly by USAAF bombers flying from Alaska. During the Soviet Invasion in August 1945 both sides used aircraft.

If you really want to start with a China map, Taiwan/Formosa with a small part of of the Chinese mainland would probably be the easiest area. Japanese planes based on Formosa bombed the Chinese mainland during the Sino-Japanese war and the island was attacked for the first time by Chinese bombers in 1938. In 1944 and 1945 there were large scale attacks by US carrier aircraft and land-based bombers.
But to be honest, I don't think such a large map can be done by one person alone, it has to be a team effort.

And concerning scale - I think it is important to do the map in 1:1. In my experience scaled down maps are often useless for creating historically accurate missions. For example I've once tried to build missions showing the Royal Navy raids on Petsamo and Kirkenes on the stock Murmansk map, but it was impossible, because the map isn't 1:1 and the fjords were much to narrow for torpedo attacks. In the end I had to use Mixx map of the same area in UP/HSFX.

I did a little research on the Kurile islands and WWII history there. That might be an interesting start! Not a lot of civilization (few roads or villages) and its possible to create a contained battle area. Useful for B-24, B-25, P-38 as well as A5M5, B5N2, Ki-43 and possibly Ki-44. Russian forces would be A-20, P-63, Yak-9 and Yak-3. Also older planes like the SB-2, IL-4 and I-16 from Kamchatka. Interesting.

I might get started here...

A dogfight version with some extra bases and an "Alaska" on the edge somewhere might be appreciated as well.

Not a lot of resources available either so some historical bits might be hard to find.

[ben_wh]

Originally Posted by IceFire

I did a little research on the Kurile islands and WWII history there. That might be an interesting start! Not a lot of civilization (few roads or villages) and its possible to create a contained battle area. Useful for B-24, B-25, P-38 as well as A5M5, B5N2, Ki-43 and possibly Ki-44. Russian forces would be A-20, P-63, Yak-9 and Yak-3. Also older planes like the SB-2, IL-4 and I-16 from Kamchatka. Interesting.

Agree that island map may make for a good start. There are basic Aleutian and Formosa map mods out there for reference if you want to take a look.

As for other regions: many others have mentioned already but there is still no stock map (and very few mod maps) that enable simulation of an end-to-end long range bomber raid/escort/'Defence of the Reich' type mission.

Cheers,

[Juri_JS]

Originally Posted by IceFire

I did a little research on the Kurile islands and WWII history there. That might be an interesting start! Not a lot of civilization (few roads or villages) and its possible to create a contained battle area. Useful for B-24, B-25, P-38 as well as A5M5, B5N2, Ki-43 and possibly Ki-44. Russian forces would be A-20, P-63, Yak-9 and Yak-3. Also older planes like the SB-2, IL-4 and I-16 from Kamchatka. Interesting.

I might get started here...

A dogfight version with some extra bases and an "Alaska" on the edge somewhere might be appreciated as well.

Not a lot of resources available either so some historical bits might be hard to find.

In the past I have also done some research on the Kuriles in ww2. Send me a PM if you need any information.