PCO Map MakerYou can put as much or as little time into a map as you like. A winter map of mostly an open field area with a few houses would take me less than an hour. It would take a beginner less than an hour on the map making part as well. What would take the time for a newer map maker would be finding what they are looking for.
That's exactly the reason behind the map making videos and my Pictorial on Map Making.
To help cut down on the learning curve. The term "steep learning curve" simply means poor documentation. We absolutely don't intend for there to be a steep learning curve using the Map Making editor for this game. Stridor started this project with a full head of hair. He now has tremendously less hair having me tell him over and over, "it's not simple enough". Back he would go and bring me another version. We'd start all over again and I'd tell him again, "it's not simple enough."
Finally, one day, he came to me and said, "This is as simple as I can make it." I think he's right. There is no other map making program like this one on the planet. It really can be so simple you click on the editor a dozen times and save a map that can be used in the game. OR you can spend days on your maps, like some people who will remain nameless....Mobius, and add so much detail that it becomes like a work of art.
Read through the map maker section of the rules. Open it up. Watch the first video and check the first part of the pictorial guide. You'll see how simple it really is. Follow along. By the time you make 3 maps there won't be anything you can't do or are afraid to try.
Pictorial Tutorial:
http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=2801622Video Tutorials:
http://www.matrixgames.com/products/391/downloads/Close.Combat.-.Cross.of.IronStridor made a program that is unbelievable in scope and simplicity.
Rick documented it all, both in the manual and in the video tutorials.
Put those two things together and you have a tool that even my 12 year old grand daughter likes to play around with and makes maps on.
It really is that easy.Good Hunting.
MR
