[Citizen] danny X (Patron: SonofPeverel)

[SonofPeverel]

My Part

My fellow Councillors, today, I present to you a member I believe is worthy of the rank of Citizen. I first met Danny X when my map for War of the West developed a strange FOW problem (It wasnt my fault ) As usual I ran straight to Gigantus for help in the mod workshop. Once there, Danny X stumbled upon my problem and did his best to help me get it figured out. In the end, it was Gigantus who solved the riddle, but I was still impressed with danny and his helpful attitude and mapping knowledge. I began to follow his work and read through his posts in the M2TW mod workshop, and have now found him to be a high quality, helpful member. He has since joined WotW, to help finish smothing and polishing the map, and already proven to be an asset, with several great ideas. I know his work and attitude will speak for itself, so I introduce to you: danny X.

His Part

Hello to the Consilium de Civitate and its members,

My name is danny X and i am a 19 year old from England. I wish to attain the TWC award of Artifex, although my primary goal as a TWC user, will always be, and remain, as someone who wishes to help other TWC users as much as possible and release some mods in the process.

I joined TWC in April 2011 and I began modding M2TW in August or September 2011. I started with coding, I can code most files apart from scripting and traits which I rarely touch. I became a competent coder following tutorials and asking questions in the Mod Workshop. Eventually as time passed, instead of being someone who mainly asked questions, I became someone who mainly answered questions. When I started working on my Epic Recruitment Mod, it became apparent that I also needed to learn mapping too, I wanted a map that didn't include the Americas.

I started mapping in November 2011, it was something I had always to try and I picked it up quite quickly and easily. By about January 2012, I was well on my way to finishing the map for Epic Recruitment Mod and had started helping people in the Mod Workshop in the mapping section. I had started to consider myself a mapper first and a coder second. I was starting to become good at problem solving and had started to fix some maps for other TWC users in the Mod Workshop.

At about March 2012, I was asked to draw the map that would eventually become Road to Jerusalem map. I agreed and put my ERM mod on hold, it's a cross between KGCM and Stainless Steel so it wasn't too original. But this new mod, which I was to draw this new map for, was something that hadn't been done before, a sort of huge crusades campaign. Unfortunately, this mod soon died after about 2 months! By then though I was at a quite advanced stage with the RtJ map and decided that I would finish it. I started making inquires and sending pm's about to see if anyone wished to use the map in their mods. I came across Road to Jerusalem and pm'd Master Zuma, he was very interested in using the map, so we joined forces and the huge crusades campaign map became Road to Jerusalem map. The map is now finished and Master Zuma hopes to have a beta for public release in about a months time. The Road to Jerusalem map was a huge under-taking, it was something i've spent between 4 and 5 months working on, spending many hours chipping away at it. I'll create a few more maps from nothing, but this will always be the first one I've finished.

I guess the main reason I would like to become Artifex, is because, although I know I make some contribution to TWC, do other people know? It means something to me, in that it would show me that i am heading in the right direction and progressing, learning and expanding my knowledge is very important to me.

So how will TWC and its users benefit from me becoming an Artifex? I think things would largely stay the same, I would continue to help people in the Mod Workshop and will continue with mod projects, but there's always room for improvement and there are always areas to work on. I haven't tried unit modelling yet or explored the IWTE tool, so these are things I would like to atleast have a dabble with at some point.

Mod Workshop, Tools, Tutorials and Resources contributions:

Easy way to find a colour not in use for adding new regions Advice/Tutorial
My first modding contribution to TWC, also represents my first taste of mapping. I wanted to add some new regions to the Pro Deo Et Rege map and wanted to avoid any ctd's, so I used this method to workout that my rgb colours for the new regions weren't already in the descr_regions.txt file.

Barebones EDU Resource
I developed this for my ERM mod, I wanted to remove all units that weren't going to be used in the mod, so i could maximize the amount of new units I could add, mainly units from the Kingdoms campaigns. I released it as a resource as i thought other modders may find it useful too.

Working Basic Europe Map Resource
My first attempt at drawing a map, after finally plucking up the courage to try mapping! Due to finding Gigantus's Demis mapper, this map became redundant when I decided I could do better and started drawing the current ERM map. I released it as a resource incase any other modders could find a use for it.

Mapper Tool (Demis Mapper Alternative) Resource
This is where I got the starting mapping information for my Road to Jerusalem map. I added the link to the site in the Mod Workshop as other modders could find it useful too.

Biome Map Resource
After spending many hours searching the internet for decent Biome information, to help me get the Road to Jerusalem map as accurate as possible, I finally stumbled across this map. As I believe it's very handy for it's purpose, I made a thread in the Mod Workshop so other modders could benefit from it too.

Understanding the map_heights to battle map conversion limits Research/Tutorial
I've always tested my maps as i've gone, to increase the maps quality. While starting work on my most recent map, Tormented Realms, a map that is to be audacious in design, I was testing some terrain and become concerned that mountains weren't appearing in the distance of a battle map when they should be. I also noticed some similar concerns in a TATW thread about the TATW map. After doing some more testing, I contacted Gigantus to see if he had noticed anything similar, he had, but implied that very little about the limits was still largely unknown. So I felt this was my chance to get to a conclusion about these limits, for the benefit of other mappers aswell as to help myself in developing the Tormented Realms map.

Completed Mods and WIP's:

Strat map texture mod This is completed, it was an update to Kingdoms for an already released mod, I have added some textures and recoloured some old textures also. Here gives an indication of the need for an update for Kingdoms compatibility.
Road to Jerusalem Map The map is finished, some background coding to the map is still a WIP and should be finished soon. E.g strat map resources still need to be added. However a beta for the parent mod is planned to be released in early September 2012, which will ofcourse include the map.
Epic Recruitment Mod Currently not being worked on due to other modding commitments, I would hope to get back to it at a future date.
Tormented Realms A recently started project, which is progressing quite rapidly now and I expect to complete within the next 2 months. Its a map that will be included for The Holy Pilgrim's TATW sub-mod, Call of Warhammer vs Third Age Hybrid

Mods, that i know of, where i am mentioned in the credits list:
The Medieval World: My contribution: some strat map textures and mapping advice. Beta Released.
The High Road: The Jacobite Era: My contribution: i smoothed the maps coastlines. Still WIP.
Extended Rome: Total War: My contribution: some strat map textures. Still WIP.
The Sundering: Rise of the Witch King: My contribution: mod workshop help and mapping advice. Beta Released.

Where i am a member of a modding team:
War of the West http://www.twcenter.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=1814
some mapping duties and I'll also see if i can help with strat map textures too.

Road to Jerusalem http://www.twcenter.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=310
I am the sole mapper, I've created some new strat map textures and am helping with some coding too.

Future mod projects:

Rus 2
Within about 3 months time i will start drawing a map for this mod, for my Road to Jerusalem colleague: Master Zuma.

New Coastline Tutorial
I would also like to draw a small map for the Mod Workshop, the main aim of this map would be to show my method of smoothing coastlines. Smoothing coastlines can be a time consuming and tedious job for a mapper, so its good to see a method to it. You may wonder why the Mod Workshop needs another smoothing coastline tutorial, but i believe I have worked out a system to smooth the coastlines with the minimal of fuss using just a few rgb colours. It's the same method that I've used on the Road to Jerusalem map and Tormented Realms map. The map would also express other areas of mapping, such as what the different climates look like and what all the different ground types for the climates look like in a game environment.

I have helped a few TWC users in the mod workshop, these, for me atleast, are my main helpful contributions.
TWC users whose maps i have fixed, these are the threads:
Heathen Storm and Blip99
Samar
Jackboot
AETelcontar
Kolwen
Here is a good example of me trying my best to help a new modder in a clear and concise way

Thankyou, danny X

[Ybbon]

Well I like the chap already: "it became apparent that I also needed to learn mapping too, I wanted a map that didn't include the Americas." - quite right too, damn colonials

A very well presented application. Time to dig into the details...

[Navajo Joe]

Firstly I want to say, a first class application, I have been following WotW for some time now, all very exciting. What initially strikes me, is the willingness to help and share his work with others.I look forward to my research, but first impression is I like what I see.

[Aikanár]

The Applicant.

[Ybbon]

Well at first glance it looks impressive, but there are quite a lot of beta and wip entries. If the Road to Jerusalem mod is going to be released in September it may be that this would have been better delayed for a few weeks. That said, his help threads really are very helpful and he appears to make corrections and then provide reasons why he's done it to help people along which is heartening.

Still digging though, any of the modders have any opinions on the work he has completed?

Oh, and very important, any infractions?

[Aikanár]

I have been following the Applicant for a while, from January on to be precise and I thought and think him being on the right track, but I as well think he's not quite there yet.

His Tutorials are ok and his attitude is fine, but the only other valid contribution is his Texture rework and that's based off of a predecessor and is not entirely his creation.

Everything else is just unreleased and only previewed WIP.

Personally I find it sad to see him brought before us too soon. And why a beta release of The Road to Jerusalem with his map included was not waited for is beyond me.

Edit: ybbon

[Empress Meg]

I would ask where this fellow was hiding but it seems he's been hoping all over the place. A clever ruse to keep those potential patrons off his trail indeed.

I look forward to seeing all that danny X has contributed. Looks like another stellar applicant.

Devoirs The Empress

PS @ ybbon66, Some of us are still Loyals; 200 years too late mind but we're here!

[MasterBigAb]

Too bad most stuff isn't released
Mhmm...

Oh and btw:

any infractions?

Zero.

@Aiki, thx for the profile link

[Aikanár]

@MBA: Welcome Bruder!

Maybe a case of interest in this regard: http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=529523

[Robin de Bodemloze]

It seems that he's done a lot, but the abundance of WIP work concerns me. Correct me if I'm wrong, but in essence this application boils down to positive posting and two completed maps?

I am told it takes a lot of work to map well in M2TW which encourages me to vote yes but not sure if two maps will be enough. If this was in September when his work has been released in some form it would have been very easy decision.

Aik: compared to Russian Gondor's application I'm not sure this one is much stronger tbh. Just my opinion though.

[Aikanár]

It seems that he's done a lot, but the abundance of WIP work concerns me. Correct me if I'm wrong, but in essence this application boils down to positive posting and two completed maps?

That's correct.

I am told it takes a lot of work to map well in M2TW which encourages me to vote yes but not sure if two maps will be enough. If this was in September when his work has been released in some form it would have been very easy decision.

Aik: compared to Russian Gondor's application I'm not sure this one is much stronger tbh. Just my opinion though.

Indeed!

I offered citizenship himself, and he accepted until SoP offered too, but now I see why, Im afraid Im a little ignorant.

I will certainly be voting yes, as I know this candidate's work well.

Are we now awarding Citizenship for "knowing" that the applicant works well without the work being released?
Hey I know somebody who thinks well, but he did not post it yet, deal?

[M D]

I offered citizenship himself, and he accepted until SoP offered too, but now I see why, Im afraid Im a little ignorant.

I will certainly be voting yes, as I know this candidate's work well.

[Mega Tortas de Bodemloze]

[Citizen] danny X (Patron: SonofPeverel)

*Looks up*

Whoops, looks like another modding appl. {Dives for cover}. I'll wait til the dust settles then come back...

....

[M D]

I think his mapping is sufficient for citizenship, along with his attitude in the forum, that is all.

[Ybbon]

Well maybe we've had some too easy applications recently, looks at current votes... so a bit of healthy debate will get rid of any cobweb's hmm?

I'm not sure there is enough here yet, as others have said, had he waited until the main mod with his map was released it would be a far bigger influence even if it was a public beta that would be good enough, but it isn't and thus we should be judging on what we can see now without loading mapping tools or downloading unreleased work to review. Right now, I am thinking not, but, assuming the mod is released by the time he re-applies, it would be a whole lot more positive then.

[MasterBigAb]

Hey I know somebody who thinks well, but he did not post it yet, deal?

That's no convincing comparison. If you have someone working as artist for a mod, as mapper, he DID the work, you saw it, it hasn't been released yet, but the work has been done. It could of course happen the mod project getting pulped, it happened before of course - like art was finished for it already completely, so all work by the artist was done, he just waited for the mod leader since that guy releases it all as complete project in public. While I don't say it's worth a "full contribution" it is completely different to what you say at ^this comparison.

[Aikanár]

The principle is the same.
The map has been crafted but not released.
The thought has been thought but not posted
You cannot prove whether or not the mod will be released in the future.
You cannot prove whether the thoughts will be posted in the future.

Just because the raw data is one somebody's hdd (mine, yours, a hundred peoples) does not make it a released mod.
Just because the raw data is in ones brain(yours, mine, a hundred peoples) does not make it a posted post.

Granted, my answer was a little provoking but seriously I do expect better from councillor's than just voting in favour or disfavour for or against somebody just because of "knowing" somebody.

This is about solid contributions, not about merely liking or knowing somebody.

I seriously have troubles with this sort of working attitude, because it's defying all former and future applicants who worked hard and contributed to reach their desire.

[MasterBigAb]

The principle is the same.
The map has been crafted but not released.
The thought has been thought but not posted
You cannot prove whether or not the mod will be released in the future.
You cannot prove whether the thoughts will be posted in the future.

No, the principle is not the same. Making a map contains of three steps:
Thinking of how you do it.
Then actually do it.
Then publish it somehow.

While making good posts is doable in two steps:
Thinking what you wanna say.
Then posting it.

At the first one, the work or the main work aspect lies on the first two, while at posting the main aspect, the work lies in writing your actual thoughts down - so the weight is another one. While it could be said that there are some similar components in it, for me personally this comparison is invalid.

Just because the raw data is one somebody's hdd (mine, yours, a hundred peoples) does not make it a released mod.

No-one said otherwise.

Just because the raw data is in ones brain(yours, mine, a hundred peoples) does not make it a posted post.

Of course not.

Granted, my answer was a little provoking but seriously I do expect better from councillor's than just voting in favour or disfavour for or against somebody just because of "knowing" somebody.

I guess you rather missed my point then. Where did I say I will vote for him ? I do merely know the applicant, in fact never really had to do anything with him, why should I vote in favor cause I know him ?

I did not say anything what I vote yet, I might be voting no, I might be voting yes - all I disagreed with totally is the (imo bad) comparison

This is about solid contributions, not about merely liking or knowing somebody.

No-one questions that.

I seriously have troubles with this sort of working attitude, because it's defying all former and future applicants who worked hard and contributed to reach their desire.

If you are referring to the general attitude of voting for someone cause you like him agreed - if you are referring to me now I do take this rather hostile as I have not said (and btw not dug enough) what my decision will be I merely argue that (for me personally) there is a difference in just no work and unreleased work. (And again to not get it wrong, I don't say unreleased work counts as contribution, I rather judge it that way: It is a pro for attitude, a pro for being involved, and willing (proof to be willing to contribute) so I see it that way which doesn't mean it is worth nothing but isn't worth as much as a "modding contribution" once released either.)

[Aikanár]

No, the principle is not the same. Making a map contains of three steps:
Thinking of how you do it.
Then actually do it.
Then publish it somehow.

While making good posts is doable in two steps:
Thinking what you wanna say.
Then posting it.

I was not talking about how many steps a process takes to be concluded, but about the underlying basic principle of creation and this is the same. If I've failed to express myself conprehensible I'm sorry for that and apologise.
Lets say it's a rather long and well thought post and that the author writes a draft of it before publishing it.
The steps itself do not matter to the basic principle of creation which starts with a thought and ends with the finished product.
You can insert as many steps in this process of creation as you want to, the basic principle of it remains the same, just the techniques and steps change.

At the first one, the work or the main work aspect lies on the first two, while at posting the main aspect, the work lies in writing your actual thoughts down - so the weight is another one. While it could be said that there are some similar components in it, for me personally this comparison is invalid.

I've never specified what kind of post I was talking about, just in general, as I was talking in general about "work", but if the might help, think of the post as an article for any given publication or any other well thought post you would count as a valid contribution discussion- or debatewise.

Besides that I was not referring to you, at all. I was directly, including quote, referring to a statement of another councillor and was obviously referring in general to this.

I guess you rather missed my point then. Where did I say I will vote for him ? I do merely know the applicant, in fact never really had to do anything with him, why should I vote in favor cause I know him ?
I did not say anything what I vote yet, I might be voting no, I might be voting yes - all I disagreed with totally is the (imo bad) comparison

Have you noted the new paragraph and in this me adressing my answer to the other councillor which included my generalisation? How could I start a paragraph with "Granted, my answer was ..." and adress somebody with it I have not responded to prior to the post (you)?
I only could've been adressing you when I would've written something like "Granted, my answer is ..." which.

you are referring to the general attitude of voting for someone cause you like him agreed - if you are referring to me now I do take this rather hostile as I have not said (and btw not dug enough) what my decision will be I merely argue that (for me personally) there is a difference in just no work and unreleased work. (And again to not get it wrong, I don't say unreleased work counts as contribution, I rather judge it that way: It is a pro for attitude, a pro for being involved, and willing (proof to be willing to contribute) so I see it that way which doesn't mean it is worth nothing but isn't worth as much as a "modding contribution" once released either.)

See above.

[m_1512]

And there was a Poll.


Also, sorry for the delay. There was a small technical problem.