[Zamastan]

CLICK HERE FOR OFFICIAL MAP

Hello, everyone! I am [nation]Zamastan[/nation], the [region]International Democratic Union[/region]'s Cartographer. Along with the Associate Cartographer, [nation]Gardavasque[/nation], we intend to use this map as a way to bring a new sense of enjoyment and immersion to our region! The map is still a work in progress - there is a lot to be done! Plenty of additional features will be coming soon!

To apply for a spot on the map, please click on this link and place a reply in the forum that includes your nation(s), capital city name(s), and single-sentence description of where you want to be placed. If you are requesting a space that borders another nation(s), ask the other nations(s) to indicate their consent by commenting "Yes."

Some of our map details:

• FOUR CONTINENTS

• Constantly updating for additional:
  ISLAND CHAINS,
  COASTAL INLETS,
  LAKES,
  and other GEOGRAPHIC FORMS

• Inclusion of CAPITAL CITIES

Here are our answers to the following questions that determine the rules of our map and the eligibility for being placed on the map:

What determines a nation's eligibility to be granted a place on the map? (Ex: Does IDU ejection = automatic removal from map? Is there a residency requirement? Does residency correlate with size of nation? Does residency correlate with preference of map placement?)

[box]A nation can be placed on the map regardless of how large or small their NS population is or how much they participate in IDU affairs. However, their nation needs to have been in the IDU for at least a month before being placed on the map - we want the IDU to be an active region! Part of how you can help your chances of being placed on the map more quickly and more acutely to your preferred spot is to be active! Use the RMB! Post in our forums! Otherwise, simply make a request for where you'd like to be placed, and we will do our best to accommodate you. Length of residency will affect how large your nation is, unless deemed otherwise by the Cartographer and Associate Cartographer.

If at any point your nation is ejected from the IDU, however, for proven wrong-doings, your nation will be removed from the map.[/box]


Are puppet nations limited differently than main nations? (Limit to number of puppets? How frequently can a main nation change their puppet placements?)

[box]4 Puppets are allowed (total of 5 nations), but not all at the same request. 2 nations of yours can be allowed in each request, and after that, you'll need to wait for at least 4 months for a change.[/box]


How does a nation's CTE status affect their eligibility for map placement? (ex: remains until claimed by another player, CTE = removal, Cannot be removed, Specifies at time of map designation)

[box]If your nation ceases to exist, the cartographers will wait for at least a month to remove you. We understand that real life takes priority over roleplaying online, and as such, we don't want to penalize you for not being active.[/box]


How much influence will a user have to determine their map location? (ex: applicant specifies a pre-determined plot, applicant specifies a desired feature, applicant gives approximate latitude, Applicant just takes what they get)

[box]The map is completely open, with no plots. That said, the cartographers will deem what is realistic and reasonable for nation size. Over-sized nations are typically going to be denied if nations are brand new and haven't participated much in the region.[/box]


How much influence will a user have to determine their national boundaries? (ex: boundaries drawn at time map is released, boundaries determined at time of map placement, applicant determines boundaries, cartographer determines boundaries?

[box]Make a request for where you would like to be placed, and if you would like to border another nation, make sure to name which nation you intend to border.[/box]


How will unclaimed areas on the map be thought of (ex: wild-lands?, indigenous lands?, unexplored?, existing non-player nations?, existing non-IDU nations?, Not explained?)

[box]We as cartographers consider it to be wild-lands and unexplored territory, fit for modification once a nation claims territory.[/box]


How to manage naming of Oceans, Continents, etc. that would be common to all players (Ex: reuse old names, vote for new names, cartography commission nominates)

[box]Zamastan and Gardavasque will host voting sessions and polls that will sponsor various names for geographic locations.[/box]


ZAMASTAN - CARTOGRAPHER


GARDAVASQUE - ASSOCIATE CARTOGRAPHER

[Libertas Omnium Maximus]

Thank you for doing a great job of getting things set up so fast. I also thank you for the effort that has already gone into my nation and all of its intricacies. There are, however, a couple of things I might ask.

Resizing: My nation is presently about 5-10% smaller than I envisioned. I’m not asking to re draw the nation. Simply scale it up a bit larger. This might cover up some of the real estate between LOM and Laeral’s southern region. Fair warning.

Resizing: Bjeorg. I can’t actually tell you its status as that would ruin the plot of “Chaos on the Western Front” so it isn’t a statement about that. What this is an inquiry about is pertaining to Bjeorg’s size. Bjeorg is simply too large. I like it’s shape, just scale it down please. Thank you.

Moving: Can the Island of Sentinel be moved a little further south-west of the mainland?

Moving: Is there any way I could have Iustitia moved just a little further south?

Reshaping: Could you by any chance make the southern edge of LOM a little less jagged? It has a bunch of sharp angled peninsulas that don’t look quite right.

I’m sorry if this list is long. I understand that your time is valuable so I would encourage you to get to these points at your convenience.

Thank you again!

EDIT: Lumeniola is actually a city located between the U and the S of "Maximus" The city you have marked as "Lumeniola" is actually Portland. If you could switch that up it would be most appreciated. Thanks.

[Bears Armed]

So, what scale and range of latitudes are you using here? Does the 'horizontal' red line on the map indicate the Tropic of Cancer, the Equator, or what?
Are you using a one or another of the established 'projection' systems to show the surface of a globe as a flat image, here, or are you following my suggestion about the previous map and having apparent distances on this map be constant in terms of degrees (of latitude for N-S, of longitude for E-W) rather than in terms of miles or kilometres instead: the latter policy averts that topographical problem, but requires people to know their nation's latitudes so that they can use the available calculators (two of which I linked to in the post where i made that suggestion) to determine the actual distances...
https://theidu.us/forum/viewtopic.php?p=20166#p20166

Speaking in my 'Regional Ecologist' role, I would expect the two northern continents to have very similar fauns & floras, and the "south-western" one -- in its more isolated position -- to be the most 'individual' (possibly even as much so as RL Australia, or as RL South America was before the Panama land-bridge formed) in that respect. The way in which you've [apparently] reduced the distance between the two continents that had counterparts on the older map also means that their faunas & floras are likely to share more groups of animals & even plants (where those can extend successfully across the ranges of latitudes involved, anyway...) than I had previously been presuming was the case, too. Is there any chance of you widening that gap a bit, so it's more like it was? Close enough for there to have been occasional land-bridges in the past (even though the idea that Malabra was a separate land-mass that moved north between them no longer fits, as you haven't really left any space for that nation now...), and for migratory birds to cross via chains of islands, but not for wholesale expansion by entire families or orders of animals on a frequent & regular basis?

[Zamastan]

So, what scale and range of latitudes are you using here? Does the 'horizontal' red line on the map indicate the Tropic of Cancer, the Equator, or what?
Are you using a one or another of the established 'projection' systems to show the surface of a globe as a flat image, here, or are you following my suggestion about the previous map and having apparent distances on this map be constant in terms of degrees (of latitude for N-S, of longitude for E-W) rather than in terms of miles or kilometres instead: the latter policy averts that topographical problem, but requires people to know their nation's latitudes so that they can use the available calculators (two of which I linked to in the post where i made that suggestion) to determine the actual distances...
https://theidu.us/forum/viewtopic.php?p=20166#p20166

Speaking in my 'Regional Ecologist' role, I would expect the two northern continents to have very similar fauns & floras, and the "south-western" one -- in its more isolated position -- to be the most 'individual' (possibly even as much so as RL Australia, or as RL South America was before the Panama land-bridge formed) in that respect. The way in which you've [apparently] reduced the distance between the two continents that had counterparts on the older map also means that their faunas & floras are likely to share more groups of animals & even plants (where those can extend successfully across the ranges of latitudes involved, anyway...) than I had previously been presuming was the case, too. Is there any chance of you widening that gap a bit, so it's more like it was? Close enough for there to have been occasional land-bridges in the past (even though the idea that Malabra was a separate land-mass that moved north between them no longer fits, as you haven't really left any space for that nation now...), and for migratory birds to cross via chains of islands, but not for wholesale expansion by entire families or orders of animals on a frequent & regular basis?

The horizontal red line is the equator. At the moment, we are working on a way to show latitudes and longitudes in a way that allows users to see it overlay with the map.

In terms of fauna, I will still allow the nations on the map to claim their own fauna species, but I would appreciate if you offer your support and skills to any nation that has fauna that doesn't necessarily correspond with their placement on the map. As the map develops further, I'll answer and discuss more of your questions more in depth!

Thanks, Bears!

[Gardavasque]

Going forward, please direct map-related threads to the Official Map 2020 - IDU Ministry of Cartography thread: https://theidu.us/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=2174.
Thank you.