So my new coop game is taking shape! You can read about it in previous posts of Let's cooperate #1 and Let's cooperate #2, although I will try to make this post a standalone.
A map! A map! My kingdom for a map!
So I needed a map and also some kind of simple movement system. I always liked old maps that were drawn by hand, so I searched for one. It was not long until I hit the jackpot. It was in the shape of an old map of Naples or Napoli.
Why a jackpot you ask? The jackpot was the theme that came along with the map. Napoli is known for having mafia presence. What can be better than fighting together to prevent the mafia from taking over the city?
Don't answer, it's rhetorical.
All that was left is to divide the map into regions and create the movement system. The different regions got 4 different colors that will fit 4 different symbols in the game (symbol=color is inherently colorblind friendly, which is already great). After doing so I added little white rectangles at the intersections that the player pawns can move on. Simple: you move from one rectangle to another and a player can interact with any region the intersection touches. Also a player can interact with any other player with which they share a region.
Interactions will include passing cards between players and completing objectives together among other things. Players can be pretty far away from each other (map-wise) and still be able to interact, using a large common region. They can also move with less actions using the outskirts of the map, but while doing so they will have limited interactions with others since they are further away.
Underneath you can see the map. It doesn't have symbols yet, because I didn't decide on what they will be, but every region will have one that will match its color. The blurred out background will have more information on it, so there is no space left unused. I think that what makes this map good is that it appears not to be busy without being plain looking. Probably the textured colors do that.
For comparison you can also find the original map. It is not for commercial use, so don't take it from here and use it commercially! You can find such maps using Old Maps Online.
Next step - making the cards. There are 3 types of cards: the ones the players use, the ones that control the activity of the mafia and the objectives through which the players can score points.
In the picture is the map based on the old map of Napoli with the differently colored regions and the rectangle spaces where players place their pawns.
In the picture is the gorgeous old map of Napoli on which my map is based.