Commonsense When Designing Maps

[Rasputin]

G'day All,

Is it me, or is there anyone else out in Heroscape land that cringes when they see a new map where the tundra meets the lava? Sure we're talking fantasy here and I have done so for many years but there must be a point where the laws of physics and geology are respected? I would appreciate any thoughts on the subject and thought by designers when next they think of placing bubbling, molten lava next to frozen wastes of snow and ice.

[eveningdrive]

Depends, I guess. I'm making a map with the lava set in the middle, surrounded by the snow set, sort of like an active volcanic crater in the snowy peak. In the middle of it is a tower that the players need to enter to control the glyphs of brandar which is part of the scenario.

Another idea was to put them exactly side by side, as if they were trying to swallow each other, with the scenario of Nilfeim and the Dzu-teh warring against Mimring, Brunak and the guards.

Like you said, its magical. So expect that the laws of physics and geology will be broken.

Whether its aesthetically pleasing is another issue. Whether its balanced and playable is again another one.

[Draconious]

Such an area does exist on earth, on Antarctica is an active volcano, Erebus. Due to the surrounding heat of the volcano, its hard for it to stay frozen up to the edge of the volcanoe so its often bare rock and even some grass surrounding the volcano.

Although not raw lava, some snowy Volcanos:

[LongHeroscaper]

Thank you!!! Well, the map in this discussion, I think, is mine. And like Draconious said, such volcanic snow peak can exist. Also, think about the map as an ongoing geophysical event. There are many volcanic activities that happened on a snow peak. The snow and ice are molten, creating laha, which is mass flow with water and sand and rock all mixed up. Nevado del Ruiz, a volcano in Columbia, is one example.
Again, talking about time scale, a battle does not last too long, so I guess thinking that the fight goes on as the lava erupts and melts the ice and snow is reasonable. That is also one of my criteria when I create a map: it must look natural and please the eyes.
Anyway, Rasputin, I am glad that you checked out our Central Arkansas' map thread, if you did . Otherwise, I am glad that I could add some argument to defense for someone else .

[AgentX-127]

Mt. St. Helens:


Iceland:


Lava flowing from Alaska's Mount Redoubt in 1990 melted much glacial ice, resulting in severe flooding in the valley below:

[nerdyninja]

no ice and lava touchy

[miniandmee7]

Originally Posted by nerdyninja

no ice and lava touchy

I agree completely




USE LOGIC PEOPLE

sorry if i disturbed anyone with my abnoxiosnous (spelling)

[DEATHWALKER]

Originally Posted by Rasputin

G'day All,

Is it me, or is there anyone else out in Heroscape land that cringes when they see a new map where the tundra meets the lava? Sure we're talking fantasy here and I have done so for many years but there must be a point where the laws of physics and geology are respected? I would appreciate any thoughts on the subject and thought by designers when next they think of placing bubbling, molten lava next to frozen wastes of snow and ice.

that's why I like to put water right between lava and ice... it makes it look cool!

[Renquist]

Originally Posted by miniandmee7

I agree completely




USE LOGIC PEOPLE

sorry if i disturbed anyone with my abnoxiosnous (spelling)

Or read the above posts. Snow and lava aren't an impossibility - they're commonplace fact.

[miniandmee7]

Originally Posted by Renquist

Or read the above posts. Snow and lava aren't an impossibility - they're commonplace fact.

I know but it's not logical

[johnny139]

Lava Field next to snow? I can imagine that. But putting a Molten Lava next to a frozen pond? That's... not possible.

[sgt drake]

I agree completely. Lava and snow should not touch but somtimes its fun to build maps that have tundra and lava together