does anyone know if the diplomacy map was created by hand or scaled/superimposed from a cropped image of the actual geogrpahy of the regions the terrain represents? just wondering if this was possible, as i heard something about it recently, similar to using images and converting them into ascii with various font colors and sizes.

any feedback would be great, thanks!

lol, the diplo map was created by hand. Remember that you have to WALK on the map. You can convert a picture to a map by simply using a program, but it doesn't use walkable tiles generally. That's how these "strip" maps were made.

The map terrain is somewhat distorted but still very similar to the actual geography. I'm not really sure what that indicates though.
Using a image-to-map program like Picture Mapper would make the job easier but doing it manually is certainly possible.

If you're going for just the general shape of continents you could convert an image and then just paint normal isometric terrain over it.

You could get a picture, scale it to the right size of the map like 128x128 pixels, and place each isometric tile on the map "pixel by pixel" according to the picture. Although I think because you want to keep it isometric if the map size is 128x128 the "square" grid must be 64x64 so that's what the picture has to be if you're going to follow it pixel by pixel.

When I made my risk terrain I opened a picture of a risk board in Paintshop pro and turned on the grid. Then I turned on a 64x64 (pixel) grid in SF and used the grid to help me. Worked pretty well.

kenoli how did you manage that?
i would really like, ideally, to be able to find a few other competent, like-minded, dependable individuals to start a ums map ''team'' with as it would divide the hours actually put in, give things a few different pre-beta perspectives and help make all around better maps.

That team exists, but only IRL. Most people are like me, in that they will help you a little bit, but won't actually do any work. I suggest you read up on Tuxedo Templar's team mapping essay.

What?

Co-designing is definitely possible, but only with people you know well. It won't work with some stranger.

I have one person I've co-designed many maps with, and don't think anyone else would be reliable enough.

There were no fancy image->map programs back when the original terrain of maps like Diplomacy and Civilzation World were around.

Since there are fancy image->map programs now, you can do it. Its a bit annoying, and it doesn't really do it for you, but the image->map programs allow you to hand make very accurate geography. Its very simple, Ive done it before.

1. Get your image and put it into a form you and the program can deal with.
(1.5. My Image->Map only lets me make 128x128 maps, so I made 4 different images, ran them through the program, and copy&pasted the terrain into one larger map(256x256) using SCMDraft)
2. Once you get your images run through and in the desired map, start filling it in. Basically, the Image->Map program gave you lines like in a coloring book and gives you the borders between land and watter and in some cases, nation or mountains.
3. Using Isometric terrain tool, start "painting" over the water and land parts, I started with the water and then did the land after getting rid of all the excess water(seas/oceans).

After a little bit, you'll have excellent and accurate terrain. Ive only done this method with a map of Japan. At first, I did it by hand, then did it this way a few months later. I found the second one to be MUCH more accurate and ovre-all better. Its not very complicated, but it is faster and more accurate then simply doing the whole thing by hand.