An Interesting Graph

Me... I'm a numbers junkie. I like seeing every fact and figure plotted out and regurgitated. And when given the chance, I'm using a pie chart.


In case you haven't heard, I'm selling copies of my first mass produced custom map. One side features my "Dark Alley" map and the other features the Nightclub. The map first went on sale back in November and we're rounding the corner of it being available for nearly three months.

I wanted to take a peek at where the sales have been coming from, so I generated this quick graphic. This represents the maps I sold thru this website and does not reflect any maps that were purchased straight from me at my venue in Delaware. Couple of things jumped out at me.

• First off, my home state of Pennsylvania. You guys are rocking in the lead with the most maps purchased.
• Maryland and my Clix for the Cure buddies are coming in strong in second place!
• New York & New Jersey, beyond being fairly populated, are strangely missing from my sales ledger. What do I need to do to win you fine folks over?
• All of New England... where are you my friends?
• Tennessee and Missouri, you guys rock as well!
  

What's next after this map? I've got the next map primed and ready for the printers. We just need right around 100 more copies of the Dark Alley map sold and I'll have the next one printed .


Thank you all for your support!

-CL

Map 19 of 26: Atlantean Throne Room

If your Atlantis has risen for more than four hours... consult a doctor.

I couldn't resist that joke. I told myself not to post it, but I did anyway.

You're probably shocked. I know I am. After months of whoring out my awesome Dark Alley map (which is still available... buy it!), I'm back to displaying maps of my favorite public domain locations. That's right, nobody owns the concept of "Atlantis". Take that, lawyers! Ha!


Everybody knows one thing about Atlanteans. They like the color blue. They can't get enough of it. Blue buildings, blue roads, blue pavement, blue thrones, blue shields. And when their water changes from blue to sewagey brown/green or oily black, they get super miffed and go after us surface dwellers. You know, I've never seen a story where Atlanteans dump their waste on our lands and we invade their territory. Geoff Johns, if you're reading this, make that story happen.
I've been told I don't have "the right shade of blue" and this map was inspired by that comment. I actually did play around with the RGB on the blue water terrain lines for awhile on this. I wanted a blue that could stand out from the other side of the map and didn't blend in with the actual water terrain.

Most of my maps show a transition from one location to another. This map is no exception to this. It's tough to depict an underwater city top down without showing some underwater parts. This leads to an interest dilemma. What mechanic do you use to simulate the line between domed city and underwater space? For me the answer was simple, ignore it. You can see here that water terrain leads right into clear terrain. Yes. there is a purple energy to stylize the force field or dome protecting the city but there isn't an associated mechanic attached to it.
Lastly, I threw a prehistoric beastie under the water. Originally I had planned to put a small personal sub in the starting area however the inclusion of something that hi-tech really threw off the feel of the map. The addition of the plesiosaur is an homage to my first map. This seemed fitting as last February I embarked on a personal challenge to produce 26 maps in 52 weeks. The first map completed had dinosaurs and if you count the 3 full sized map pieces of the giant Airship I made for the Maryland Clix for the Cure as three maps, then this map is #26.

Circles in circles.

Well, thanks for reading and thank you for your continued support and interest as we approach year two here at Curious Lurkings.

-CL

Happy New Year: Ball Dropping Danger! Free Map!

Well, I may be late with a free Christmas map, but I'm barely early with a New Year's Eve map!

Again I want to thank you for a great 2010. This blog and my maps, would not be what they are without all of you supporting me. Thank you so much for a great 2010!

And here's to all of us that we have a flawless 2011. I'm still a few Dark Alley map sales away from hitting the numbers I need to produce a second map. But if we reach that goal, I've got a few big surprises for everyone for 2011.

I've always wanted to experience New Year's Eve at Times Square. And since I can't convince myself to endure that level of madness... I felt mapping it would be the next best thing!

For you New Yorkers, hopefully this map adequate captures the feel of Time Square. I'm in New York for business often enough that I was OK with watering down One Times Square to its bare essence. Ok New Yorkers, I know that Broadway comes in on an angle and isn't at a perfect 90 degree, but square grid maps lead themselves to right angles.

I also cut out the Police Station and the Recruiting Center. I have nothing against either structure, I just couldn't get them into the map without losing the side elements I wanted.

Those of you that remember my Martian Clockwork map know that I'm a fan of balls and this map has both a Dick and a Ball! That's right! That's our old, old, old pal Dick Clark on the side of that building. And that's a 12 foot diameter ball! Look out Dr. Manhattan.

Also, unlike the North Pole, this map contains very little hindering terrain. So look out Clown Prince of Crime, odds say that the Caped Crusader is in that mailbox!

If you want to rock your battles on this Rocking New Year's Eve Map, you can find it here.

Happy New Year! I'll see you in 2011.

-CL

Merry Christmas: North Pole Nightmare Free Map!

Yo Ho Ho! or just Ho Ho Ho!
It's Christmas and who doesn't like free gifts!?! This has been a wild 2010 for me. I started this personal challenge to design 26 maps in 52 weeks. With your encouragement and your kind words, this has blossomed from what was really just a pipe dream to my mass producing one of my maps for the public. Last February, I had no idea that my work would be so appreciated. Thank you!

Way back on December 10th, I previewed this map over at HCRealms. I was hoping to finish it two weeks ago, but with barely a few hours left before Christmas, it's done and ready to download.

I actually started this map a few years back and it was originally intended for a horror game and was riddled with dead elves, dead reindeer and a dead Santa. In the end I decided to clean this one up a bit and use it for more friendly battles.

Santa's workshop is a Stealth player's heaven. There are tons of workbook benches, ornaments and trees to hide in. Looks like Batman has been a good boy this year.

While vectoring the green lines around all those tables, I started thinking about Snow as a game element. One would expect Arctic snow to be deep and hence able to be submerged in. And it's made out of water... so with that I thought, "Eureka! Snow is water terrain!" Merry Christmas, Aquaman! All that snow becoming water terrain lead to some unique and intricate map areas. You need to really watch and plan out exactly where you're stepping and where you want to go.

I hope you like it and you can download this map here.

Thank you again for reading and Merry Christmas!

-CL

3 New Tabs at the Top of the Page!

We're getting fancy over here at Curious Lurkings!

Three new tabs have been added at the top of the page!

Home: Here you'll find all my inane ramblings and previews of my mapping projects!

Maps Available for Purchase: Here you can get info on how to buy my maps. Currently we've got a double-side map available with the Dark Alley on one side and the Nightclub on the other. Prices include shipping and International Ordering is available.

Free Maps for Download: Here you'll be able to occasionally get info on how to download special free maps. These maps will be only available for a limited time and new maps will be made available periodically.

As always, thank you for your support!

Free Map: The Video Maze

Well, it has been a wild November. My first mass-printed maps were ordered and delivered and I've started selling these maps online. This has been an interesting and intense month. From hyper-analyzing each printed copy I've mailed out to learning the in's and out's of Paypal, every day has been busy.

I want to get back to where this journey began... designing maps. I've got a few beauties in the pipeline and I think everyone will be please for what's in store for December and January. Occasionally, I want to have a few maps available free for download. These maps will tend to be either a bit more simplistic than my normal maps and the maps that I will eventually make available for sale.

The Video Maze may be texture light but it's far from simplistic. Since I got in to miniature gaming I've wanted to see a playing field like this one with lots of turns and blocked lines of fire.

Of course, I can't take credit for the genius who initially designed this board but hopefully I've packed enough classic imagery to satisfy the inner geek in all my followers. And yup, more orange lines, however this time I can't imagine that there isn't someone who can't figure out how to house rule that one.

Click here to download!

Thanks for looking and if you haven't purchased my Dark Alley / Nightclub map... well what are you waiting for!!!

-CL

Maps now available for sale!

That's right! After hundreds of your emails and private messages goading me into mass printing maps, I am officially selling one of my maps. Well... actually two. Now available is the Dark Alley and The Nightclub printed as one double-sided map.

These will start to ship out on Thursday and the price will be $15.00 USD for one shipped in the US and as a break to all those judges trying to stock up for their venues you can get three copies for $35.00 USD. Right now these are just available in the United States however in a week or so, I'll have pricing up for international customers.

If you want to see these maps up close, check here and here.

The Dark Alley

The Nightclub

And guys, I'm not sure this will be a regular thing. I have no real plans to start a business out of this. As my blog followers are aware, this has always been a personal challenge to design twenty six maps in one year. This time last year I would have never thought my dining room would be filled with copies of my work. Thank you to everyone who has supported me over the past nine months!

What are you waiting for??? Get buying!

Clix for a Cure: Leaving Pennsylvania for Maryland in 11 hours.

Well I've got the big caravan rented to haul everyone down. I pick that up in the morning. We've got snacks and beverages for the trip... and well the map, its got that new carrier smell.

I thought some real life shots were in order.

It's tough getting a six foot by three foot map in one photo!

Modok!
This looks like a job for Gorilla Man!

Thanks for looking and check back frequently!

Clix for the Cure Maps: Terrain Lines Added

I thought so more images of the map was in order. Here we can see what all three maps look like lined up and what just using the top and bottom sections get you!

Just using two sections
Using all three sections...

Clix for a Cure Maps: Up Close!

Evening folks!

I thought I'd post some close-up images of some of the details from the Clix for the Cure Maryland map. I hope you enjoy.

Call Mom!
Very Interesting!

Warning: Objects in Mirror appear closer than expected.

Is that Pacman???