Outdoor.
2. Specifically what type of area - city, dungeon, forest, something else?
A small village in a streamside and roadside clearing in an otherwise hilly/rocky forested area.
3. Size of area artwork requested? (Remember that the game has size limitations.)
Large, probably full-size or nearly so (79x59 tiles = 5040x3776 pixels).
4. Where in the game will this area occur and which areas will it link?
The area location will be approximately as indicated in the attached image and it will serve as a worldmap link and hub area.
5. Should the area artwork have both night and day versions? (The artist will essentially have to create the area twice - think hard if you really need both)
[EDIT]Tentatively no; I want to experiment and see if the game will handle it the way it handles day/night with Umar Hills, Brynnlaw, etc. without needing a separate Night WED and such).[/EDIT]
6. Describe your vision of the area in detail! Give some backstory to the area, the intended use, a sketch of the intended area artwork...
The area is the outside map of Rookswale, a small village which originally grew up around an inn and trading post in northern Amn, in the foothills of the Cloudpeaks, consisting of the inn itself, several houses, a modest sized bunkhouse, and a shrine to Selune. Although the inn and the shrine are still maintained by their original proprietors and still see some business from occasional travelers, the reduction in traffic along this particular trade route and the strange, subtle sense of unease the location exudes have resulted in Rookswale being largely abandoned. Aside from the inn and shrine, most of the buildings have fallen into disrepair, though several have subsequently become home to vagabonds and the destitute. The party arrives shortly after a group of bandits have taken over the town, though they are using the existing buildings.
7. Will the artist have some freedom to compose the area, or should the request parameters be followed to the letter?
The number of functional buildings is fairly inflexible, as are any details given about them, but otherwise the artist's innovation is encouraged.
8. Are there any special features you need? (for example a statue that opens to reveal a secret passageway etc.)
The northern area of the map should be rocky and hilly, with a small cave entrance that is partially obscured by brush and hence not immediately obvious. A road runs through the area from east to west, at or south of the middle of the map; winding is fine. Somewhat north of the road there is a good-sized stream which cuts across the map, from about northeast to southwest. Between the stream and road are a series of buildings, including four houses/cabins, a bunkhouse(larger cabin), an inn, and a shrine. Cabin graphics should be drawn from those in wilderness areas in BG1 and/or in Nashkel ([EDIT] Ulgoth's Beard wouldn't be a bad source either[/EDIT]) or the like; the interior graphics will re-use some from BG1. The shrine should comprise a modest cabin adjacent to a small stone circle surrounding a flat stone, ideally with the symbol of Selune imprinted on it, and should have a sign of some sort, ideally with the symbol of Selune as well. The inn exterior should use the inn from Nashkel in BG1, as the corresponding interior map will be modified slightly for it, and there should be a well fairly close to the inn. The building should be fairly close together, and the set of buildings should occupy at most about 1/4-1/3 of the map. In addition to the functional buildings noted, one or two that are too broken down for use would be a nice touch. The area, aside from the stream and road, should be lightly forested (including the areas between buildings in this is fine), similar to what we see with Imnesvale, but there should be a few good-sized open spaces.
9. Any deadlines?
None.
10. What game and what mod is this for?
Arkalian, BG2/TOB mod.
11. Anything else you'd like to mention?
I will also need one or two modified versions of this map; I will decide exactly how to approach that once I've seen the original.
Edited by Azkyroth, 27 September 2009 - 10:40 PM.
