Hash_Slinging_Slasher Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 I'm at work a lot and I have quite of bit of downtime sometimes. I would love to be able to look over the map and maybe plan out a strategy in paint or photoshop. Right now I'm on poking the bear, and a file of the map would be great. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ASL Veteran Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 Hmm, the only thing I can think of at the moment is to go into the editor and take screen shots of the map for a particular scenario or QB map. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
agusto Posted May 28, 2015 Share Posted May 28, 2015 Or find the real life loactions on google maps and print them out. For example the map of the 3rd mission of the russian campaign is modeled after a real life location. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hash_Slinging_Slasher Posted May 28, 2015 Author Share Posted May 28, 2015 Hmm, the only thing I can think of at the moment is to go into the editor and take screen shots of the map for a particular scenario or QB map. I will have to do that, i knew it was kind of a long shot. Thanks! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Los Posted May 29, 2015 Share Posted May 29, 2015 (edited) Your best bet is to simply take a screenshot of the map from above. It takes a little tweaking to get it right, using either fraps, printscreen or whatever, then alt-tab out and crop it to a tactical map to print or whatever. Five minutes work, I do it all the time. Then while you are at some boring meeting at work and people think you are diligently mapping out your department's fiscal strategy for the next quarter, you are actually laying out phase lines for the next day's assault. Los Edited May 29, 2015 by Los 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hash_Slinging_Slasher Posted May 29, 2015 Author Share Posted May 29, 2015 Your best bet is to simply take a screenshot of the map from above. It takes a little tweaking to get it right, using either fraps, printscreen or whatever, then alt-tab out and crop it to a tactical map to print or whatever. Five minutes work, I do it all the time. Then while you are at some boring meeting at work and people think you are diligently mapping out your department's fiscal strategy for the next quarter, you are actually laying out phase lines for the next day's assault. Los that is exactly my plan, we have a database management meeting today, im bringing the poking the bear map on a clip board. Thanks for the help 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vinnart Posted May 29, 2015 Share Posted May 29, 2015 (edited) Like others have said, best way to make a tactical map is to just take a good above shot of the map. If you want to have some fun with using a tactical map to see the battle in a different way for planning take into a military sketch program like Overlay maker, which is what I use. I have only done this a few times when dealing with a very large force and having some spare time to put it together. If you are one for doing something like this make a template of how you want the tactical icons to look and be named. You can even import the games, or icon mods into the program to use. Then you can just swap maps out without having to re-make your TAC icons for the sketch program. In a large battle I found it helped to see the force in this different organizational way to plan with and to keep track of the battle by moving the icons on the TAC map like Generals do. The downside is I found it still was a bit time consuming even with creating a template to get motivated to do all the time. Here is a sample of an overall AAR I did with Overlay Maker. Edited May 29, 2015 by Vinnart 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Los Posted May 29, 2015 Share Posted May 29, 2015 BTW this kind of map planning is one of my favorite things to do,as much as the battles. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A Canadian Cat Posted May 29, 2015 Share Posted May 29, 2015 OK I just had a quick look at The Overlay Maker. That is a seriously cool project - to bad the guy's web site is no longer. I did find a version you can still download and it works well. I think I can put this to use. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CMFDR Posted January 20, 2019 Share Posted January 20, 2019 (edited) The Overlay Maker 1.7 can be downloaded from https://the-overlay-maker.software.informer.com/download/ Edited January 20, 2019 by CMFDR 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Combatintman Posted January 20, 2019 Share Posted January 20, 2019 You could always try MILSKETCH http://www.historicalsoftware.com/downloads/ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhiteWolf65 Posted February 2, 2019 Share Posted February 2, 2019 At one time, I was one of the leading map maker for another computer wargaming company. I used Google Earth and if Black Sea allows you to make your own maps, I am sure I will be making a few, especially those from some miniature scenario books that I currently own. I have to learn the mechanics for the map making system but I am sure they are great. I will keep all of you updated as time goes by. 'Nite 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhiteWolf65 Posted February 2, 2019 Share Posted February 2, 2019 On 5/29/2015 at 5:20 PM, IanL said: OK I just had a quick look at The Overlay Maker. That is a seriously cool project - to bad the guy's web site is no longer. I did find a version you can still download and it works well. I think I can put this to use. I used an overlay system when I made maps for another wargaming company. Very easy to do. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhiteWolf65 Posted February 2, 2019 Share Posted February 2, 2019 On 5/29/2015 at 11:56 AM, Vinnart said: Like others have said, best way to make a tactical map is to just take a good above shot of the map. If you want to have some fun with using a tactical map to see the battle in a different way for planning take into a military sketch program like Overlay maker, which is what I use. I have only done this a few times when dealing with a very large force and having some spare time to put it together. If you are one for doing something like this make a template of how you want the tactical icons to look and be named. You can even import the games, or icon mods into the program to use. Then you can just swap maps out without having to re-make your TAC icons for the sketch program. In a large battle I found it helped to see the force in this different organizational way to plan with and to keep track of the battle by moving the icons on the TAC map like Generals do. The downside is I found it still was a bit time consuming even with creating a template to get motivated to do all the time. Here is a sample of an overall AAR I did with Overlay Maker. Great looking AAR map. If I am able to make maps using the method I did when I made maps for another game, I'll have my walls covered with them. Getting a tad excited. Yes, it does not take much to amuse me but hey, everyone needs a hobby. Right? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A Canadian Cat Posted February 2, 2019 Share Posted February 2, 2019 Welcome @WhiteWolf65. More map makers is always good. Check out the first section of the FAQ for some additional reading you might find useful: 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhiteWolf65 Posted February 2, 2019 Share Posted February 2, 2019 I just purchased the last two books in the World on Fire modern scenario book series. I have permission from the author to convert his scenarios to a computer gaming format. It will take some doing, especially with the European scenarios, but I want to give it whirl once I am up to speed. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhiteWolf65 Posted February 2, 2019 Share Posted February 2, 2019 8 hours ago, IanL said: Welcome @WhiteWolf65. More map makers is always good. Check out the first section of the FAQ for some additional reading you might find useful: I have a lot of research to do as far as making maps/scenarios for any of the CM titles. I will just have to see what can and can not be done. Thank you again. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Combatintman Posted February 3, 2019 Share Posted February 3, 2019 11 hours ago, WhiteWolf65 said: I have a lot of research to do as far as making maps/scenarios for any of the CM titles. I will just have to see what can and can not be done. Thank you again. @IanL's link provides your best one stop shop mate. If you've done scenario design before of course things become easier for you and I get the impression you've got a lot of wargame experience which will stand you in good stead. I personally don't think it is that hard to knock out a scenario because the mechanics in the CM editor are pretty simple. It is of course harder to knock out a good one. The best way, once you've read some of the posted links, is just to leap in and start fooling around with things in there. I can guarantee you'll get plenty of help if you get stuck, just shout out and ask on here. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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