Map of the Fortnight: Main Discussion Thread

[TheKutKu]

Something like the Franco-Scottish "Auld Alliance" or the Anglo-Portuguese Alliance are what come to mind for me. The "co-equal" is to exclude situations where one party is clearly dominant - something like the Warsaw Pact, for instance.

>Anglo-Portuguese Alliance
>co-equal

 

[Kaiphranos]

>Anglo-Portuguese Alliance
>co-equal

Maybe a little more so when it was drawn up back in the fourteenth century.

 

[Prince di Corsica]

Does it have to be two countries or would a more open alliance work?

 

[Kaiphranos]

Does it have to be two countries or would a more open alliance work?

There can be other countries involved as long as it is a relatively equal partnership all around.

 

[Comte de Dordogne]

Can the alliance be made with countries in light personal union?

 

[Kaiphranos]

Can the alliance be made with countries in light personal union?

Sure!

 

[Stretch]

As the original poster of the idea, I approve all rule clarifications made by @Kaiphranos

 

[Veranius]

The Beacons of Gondor: make a map showing a preindustrial long-range communication system, like the Beacons of Gondor or the Byzantine Beacon System.

 

[erictom333]

The Beacons of Gondor: make a map showing a preindustrial long-range communication system, like the Beacons of Gondor or the Byzantine Beacon System.

Made it less specific.

 

[Kaiphranos]

Congratulations to @The Humble Barn Owl for winning MotF 243 with a nifty map of an alternate Washington!

New threads are now posted:
MotF 244: Joined At The Hip - Voting Thread
MotF 245: Sic Semper Tyrannis - Entry Thread

 

[Stretch]

It's all about the Appearance, Darling

Make a map of a symbolic continuation of an event, whether it is a 'war' that has been carried on despite relations between the two sides having been healed over decades ago or a maritime hunting expedition that now catches fake fish. The event happening now must be peaceful (ie the 'war' could be with paintball guns or foam swords), but have some element of distastefulness having started the whole thing (the war having started with actual bloodshed or the maritime expedition having brought the species to the brink of extinction, for example)

Fantasy or science-fiction is acceptable.

 

[TickTock The Witch's Dead]

Here are my suggestions:

1. Game of Thrones: Make a map of a realm engulfed by an epic war of succession crisis (anything allowed)
2. The Lone Colonizer(s): Make a map of a world where only one (or two) country(s) colonized much of the world (no ASB or sci-fi, has to be realistic, starting time can be anywhere)
3. One Nation, Indivisible: Make a map of a country uniting an entire ethnic group into one nation (no ASB or sci-fi, has to be realistic, starting time can be anywhere)
4. God of War: Make a map of an area affected by a ruthless powerful warlord/general/army(s)/leader
5. Century of Blood: Make a map of an area/world for which at least a hundred years has been devastated by endless conflict
6. The Long Night: Make a map of an area/world that was devastated by freezing temperatures

Once again bumping this.

 

[RedBeret]

I'll try to get an entry in.

 

[Kaiphranos]

With only one entry so far, MotF 245 is extended until November 1, 2021.

 

[NeonHydroxide]

I wonder if it might make sense given we're in a period of low engagement to try to split the contest up to encourage new people to participate, like the /r/imaginarymaps people do. Maybe it would still be just one contest each round, but there could be two 'leagues' - one for people who have ~3+ wins and one for everyone else - and then have two winners each fortnight. The Map Thread is as active as ever, so clearly there isn't a real shortage of people who want to make maps.

Alternatively, maybe there could be a split from a single winner to something like 'best in aesthetics' and 'best in timeline concept.' There are a lot of people with great pixel map/QBAM skills on the forum, and they are some of the best format to tell the story of a timeline in a single image. However, they are very rarely submitted and AFAIK one hasn't won in years just because they usually don't stack up aesthetically.

 

[Kaiphranos]

Well, if anyone would like to take over running of the contest, they'd be free to try whatever reforms seem good to them. It's coming up on four years since I took over from Upvoteanthology; I'd be happy to hand off the role. The only qualification I'd ask is some assurance that the new contest runner would be willing and able to post the new threads reliably.

 

[Prince di Corsica]

With only one entry so far, MotF 245 is extended until November 1, 2021.

I actually forgot to post mine, I'll see if I can do it today. Sorry about that

 

[PobreCesar]

With only one entry so far, MotF 245 is extended until November 1, 2021.

I may have something on Sunday. It's a very hectic time here.

 

[erictom333]

The Faces of Evil: Make a map depicting a country or region commonly hated or feared.

This is Not Okie Dokie: Make a map depicting international response to a genocide, war crime, or other mass violation of human rights.
Goddammit, Mario!: Make a map depicting a country being "backstabbed" by a people, group, or other country.

Green is for World Domination: Make a map depicting an environmentalist movement.

Newspeak: Make a map depicting language reform.

 

[Kaiphranos]

Congratulations to @Reagent for winning MotF 244 with "The Turbot Wars", featuring Newfoundland and Acadia as long-time partners!

New threads are now posted:
MotF 245: Sic Semper Tyannis - Voting Thread
MotF 246: The Beacons Are Lit! - Entry Thread

(Shoutout to @Veranius for the topic suggestion!)

I do appreciate all the topic suggestions that have been put forward recently - if there are particular ones that catch your interest, please do mention them specifically! It helps me decide which ones to use.