Ideas for an atlas have been thrown around a lot. The general premise is that you'd somehow craft multiple maps into one item. How this would be done tends to be vague, or kind of unwieldy.
Here's my own unique take on how an atlas could work that does not involve crafting maps together at all.
The Atlas
You'd be able to hold an atlas and look down at it just like a map, but it would work quite differently than maps do.
First, an atlas would always be centered on you instead of where it was crafted. As you move the land shown on the atlas would change.
Second, atlases themselves do not record the land. Instead their terrain data is drawn from every map currently in your inventory combined. If the land around you is on any map in your inventory, you can see it in the atlas. If you either don't have a map for your current area, or that area on the map isn't explored, it will appear blank in the atlas. If you aren't carrying any maps your atlas will always appear blank.
No crafting maps together is required. You can carry more maps, or remove them from your inventory as needed, and that will change what your atlas can display. It's also easy to use. There are no pages to flip, if you have a map of your current area it appears on the atlas.
Atlases would also be useful for exploring areas that are covered by more than one map. When exploring a new area, holding an atlas would fill every map in your inventory that covers that area. It would save you the trouble of having to switch to hold each separate map in turn. Just hold the atlas.
SUMMARY and SUM UP
The atlas would not store data. Instead it is just a way of combining the data of every map currently in your inventory into a map centered around your current position that changes as you move.
An atlas like this would be very useful. However it would not replace maps because in addition to needing them to make the atlas work, you would still want to look at individual maps to see your position relative to where they were crafted. A map centered on your current position, and a map that shows your position relative to a fixed spot, serve different purposes and both belong in Minecraft.
Alright, it's an interesting take on the Atlas. I can see the usefulness.
Crafting recipe? Book + compass? Book + map?
I'd say book + compass. Maybe a compass surrounded by books the way a map is a compass surrounded by paper.
What I really like about this is that unlike other atlas ideas this doesn't destroy any maps. They're still separate items, so you can give them to other people or use them yourself without the atlas. I wouldn't want the crafting recipe to destroy a map either.
At first it sounded like a mini-map idea, that somehow erases and re-draw itself over and over.
This would do the same thing, but if you haven't used a map on the area, it doesn't work. On problem might be getting the maps to align correctly. I guess this could be done with an imaginary "grid" that places the map image on the corresponding coordinates.
Man... you should really make a thread that has links to all your ideas as most of them are totally awesome, this included.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Want some advice on how to thrive in the Suggestions section? Check this handy list of guidelines and tips for posting your ideas and responding to the ideas of others!
At first it sounded like a mini-map idea, that somehow erases and re-draw itself over and over.
This would do the same thing, but if you haven't used a map on the area, it doesn't work. On problem might be getting the maps to align correctly. I guess this could be done with an imaginary "grid" that places the map image on the corresponding coordinates.
Worst case scenario, there would be a slight blank area between your map areas on the atlas if you didn't craft the maps so they align perfectly. The safe thing to do would be to just craft each map while still visible on the border of the last map. That way you're guaranteed there's some overlap and the maps should join pretty smoothly.
Question: Would it be better if atlases did show map borders? It could look like a thin transparent white line marking the boundaries of each map the atlas is using.
This would only apply when two maps have overlapping areas. The border of mapped land and mapless land would always appear like a stark line between mapped terrain and uncharted white, where the map abruptly ends.
Question: Would it be better if atlases did show map borders? It could look like a thin transparent white line marking the boundaries of each map the atlas is using.
This would only apply when two maps have overlapping areas. The border of mapped land and mapless land would always appear like a stark line between mapped terrain and uncharted white, where the map abruptly ends.
I personally don't see a difference either way. It really wouldn't matter unless it said what map was being used for the current location you are in. That way you would know where to start a new map if there is a blank space or some overlap.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Want some advice on how to thrive in the Suggestions section? Check this handy list of guidelines and tips for posting your ideas and responding to the ideas of others!
I personally don't see a difference either way. It really wouldn't matter unless it said what map was being used for the current location you are in. That way you would know where to start a new map if there is a blank space or some overlap.
Cool.
Another question. Notch mentioned the idea of adjusting the zoom on maps.
What if right clicking while holding an atlas changed the zoom on it? Large size would show the same area as a normal map. Medium would show 1/4 that area, still centered around you. Small would show 1/16th.
I was doing some exploring at sea today and stopped when I found land to make a new map. I realized the new map was intersecting with the old one, and had a similar Atlas idea to yours.
I was thinking more along the lines of crafting 9 blank maps, then 9 blank maps in the crafting table = an Atlas. After that the Atlas works like a normal map with some exceptions:
- It's essentially 9 maps in one item. Right-clicking with the map would zoom out to a larger view, showing all 9 maps. Right-click again and it zooms into the map of the area you're currently in.
- It starts filling out the centre map (out of 9). If you move out of that map, it starts drawing on one of the adjacent maps (the one which covers the zone you moved into).
So in essence, it's just a larger map. The profit would be that you'd have a larger and more coherent map. An alternative to the 9 maps recipe would be 1 map in the centre and 8 blank pages, as you'd really only need one compass... that would also allow you to continue with a map you'd already started on. Anyway, the core of my idea is that the centre of the first map is also the centre of the Atlas (which I suppose is rather different to your topic title).
ps. Also, please forgive me since this is a bit off-topic, but it'd be nice to be able to place flags similar to signs, but instead of having the text on its face (like the sign), the text is shown as a marker on your maps.
EDIT: I just realized the flag-thing would be brilliant if NPC-towns spawned with unique flags so the towns showed up on your maps.
I support every use that could be given to books, an Atlas would be espacially sweet, though :smile.gif:
If there is ever going to be a zoom level on map with less resolution (bigger area) I'm going to suggest a telescope, which solely use would be that it doubles the filling range on maps when placed in the hotbar :smile.gif:
That should help a lot when exploring oceans !
Here's my own unique take on how an atlas could work that does not involve crafting maps together at all.
The Atlas
You'd be able to hold an atlas and look down at it just like a map, but it would work quite differently than maps do.
First, an atlas would always be centered on you instead of where it was crafted. As you move the land shown on the atlas would change.
Second, atlases themselves do not record the land. Instead their terrain data is drawn from every map currently in your inventory combined. If the land around you is on any map in your inventory, you can see it in the atlas. If you either don't have a map for your current area, or that area on the map isn't explored, it will appear blank in the atlas. If you aren't carrying any maps your atlas will always appear blank.
No crafting maps together is required. You can carry more maps, or remove them from your inventory as needed, and that will change what your atlas can display. It's also easy to use. There are no pages to flip, if you have a map of your current area it appears on the atlas.
Atlases would also be useful for exploring areas that are covered by more than one map. When exploring a new area, holding an atlas would fill every map in your inventory that covers that area. It would save you the trouble of having to switch to hold each separate map in turn. Just hold the atlas.
SUMMARY and SUM UP
The atlas would not store data. Instead it is just a way of combining the data of every map currently in your inventory into a map centered around your current position that changes as you move.
An atlas like this would be very useful. However it would not replace maps because in addition to needing them to make the atlas work, you would still want to look at individual maps to see your position relative to where they were crafted. A map centered on your current position, and a map that shows your position relative to a fixed spot, serve different purposes and both belong in Minecraft.
I'd say book + compass. Maybe a compass surrounded by books the way a map is a compass surrounded by paper.
What I really like about this is that unlike other atlas ideas this doesn't destroy any maps. They're still separate items, so you can give them to other people or use them yourself without the atlas. I wouldn't want the crafting recipe to destroy a map either.
This would do the same thing, but if you haven't used a map on the area, it doesn't work. On problem might be getting the maps to align correctly. I guess this could be done with an imaginary "grid" that places the map image on the corresponding coordinates.
-
View User Profile
-
View Posts
-
Send Message
ModeratorWant some advice on how to thrive in the Suggestions section? Check this handy list of guidelines and tips for posting your ideas and responding to the ideas of others!
http://www.minecraftforum.net/forums/minecraft-discussion/suggestions/2775557-guidelines-for-the-suggestions-forum
Worst case scenario, there would be a slight blank area between your map areas on the atlas if you didn't craft the maps so they align perfectly. The safe thing to do would be to just craft each map while still visible on the border of the last map. That way you're guaranteed there's some overlap and the maps should join pretty smoothly.
Thanks! Glad you like them. I might do that eventually, although I'll probably leave out a few ideas I don't like as much anymore.
This would only apply when two maps have overlapping areas. The border of mapped land and mapless land would always appear like a stark line between mapped terrain and uncharted white, where the map abruptly ends.
-
View User Profile
-
View Posts
-
Send Message
ModeratorI personally don't see a difference either way. It really wouldn't matter unless it said what map was being used for the current location you are in. That way you would know where to start a new map if there is a blank space or some overlap.
Want some advice on how to thrive in the Suggestions section? Check this handy list of guidelines and tips for posting your ideas and responding to the ideas of others!
http://www.minecraftforum.net/forums/minecraft-discussion/suggestions/2775557-guidelines-for-the-suggestions-forum
Cool.
Another question. Notch mentioned the idea of adjusting the zoom on maps.
What if right clicking while holding an atlas changed the zoom on it? Large size would show the same area as a normal map. Medium would show 1/4 that area, still centered around you. Small would show 1/16th.
I was thinking more along the lines of crafting 9 blank maps, then 9 blank maps in the crafting table = an Atlas. After that the Atlas works like a normal map with some exceptions:
- It's essentially 9 maps in one item. Right-clicking with the map would zoom out to a larger view, showing all 9 maps. Right-click again and it zooms into the map of the area you're currently in.
- It starts filling out the centre map (out of 9). If you move out of that map, it starts drawing on one of the adjacent maps (the one which covers the zone you moved into).
So in essence, it's just a larger map. The profit would be that you'd have a larger and more coherent map. An alternative to the 9 maps recipe would be 1 map in the centre and 8 blank pages, as you'd really only need one compass... that would also allow you to continue with a map you'd already started on. Anyway, the core of my idea is that the centre of the first map is also the centre of the Atlas (which I suppose is rather different to your topic title).
ps. Also, please forgive me since this is a bit off-topic, but it'd be nice to be able to place flags similar to signs, but instead of having the text on its face (like the sign), the text is shown as a marker on your maps.
EDIT: I just realized the flag-thing would be brilliant if NPC-towns spawned with unique flags so the towns showed up on your maps.
If there is ever going to be a zoom level on map with less resolution (bigger area) I'm going to suggest a telescope, which solely use would be that it doubles the filling range on maps when placed in the hotbar :smile.gif:
That should help a lot when exploring oceans !