of course - either way, it will be a single map that will be displayed, similar to how the Haven and WWIV maps are done.

And don't forget to resize your browser to a width of 750 pixels max, so you can see only that small part of the map. (The ingame-view don't not allow for a bigger picture-width.

You can open a game of your choice, resize the browser so you can just see the smallmap of that game, and than load the picture without resizing the browser to get a feel how the new map will load ingame.

I'd try to reduce the number of territories. I look at Spain and Portugal, for example, and there are just so many territories there. 3/4 of the map is very dense. But as far as viewing, even if the map is as-is, if it's done like the WW IV map, no problem. But you'd have to have that level of magnification.

It's not my variant so I can't really go about altering the map per se, I'm only transcribing it to be playable for us @ vdip.

but thanks for your input g-man.

So at 100% zoom, its too large.
Some of those land and sea territories are quite large and at 100% zoom they take up the whole screen. (Particularly southern sea/java sea (bottom right) and Tun, Kyr (top right)) Not very playable.

When I zoom to 65% or so, it seems a much more manageable. The smaller territories aren't too small zooming in this much. (compare to a map like fantasy world diplomacy for example).

Just my impressions. Looks like a really interesting map/variant!

would you play it as it is?

But in 901 weren't know southern Africa.

:) but they knew themselves I suppose.

I would but I'd try anything including USA diplomacy... hehe, just kidding.

The variant itself (901) looks really interesting. If you can zoom the map I think it'd be much more playable but it's not unplayable as is.

@Kaner
TROLLING MODE: ON
But also America and Oceania peoples knew themselves, didn't they?
TROLLING MODE: OFF
:D

I'm kidding

"Is the map too large?" Well, no. I think it's just as manageable as Haven or WWIV, like you said.
Very interesting map, I have to say.
If you are just adapting a known variant for Vdip, it's a matter.
But if you intend to create a new variant, then some suggestions, like the one G-Man did, came to my mind. But perhaps it's better I wait to know which/how many Powers will be in?

In 901, is it realistic to consider Tang Dynasty China as an equivalent power to the Eastern Franks or the Abbasid viziers in Egypt or Kievian Rus or the semi-nomadic Khazars?

I find the Canal hoo-dad quite complex

Ooops...looks like I didn't see the complete map :)

You should look up the Known World example game in Diplomacy World, that's how I first learn of the map,

I'd play. How does the canal function in practice? Is it ever worth sacrificing a build for?

I have to voice a couple of reservations,
1. Mecca isn't an SC and Socarta is.
2. The Canal rule makes complicates a simple rule system that is Diplomacy, so is rule 4
3. China is very powerful in theory with two SCs tucked in the northeast corner for him (hetalia!) and Tibet
4. World maps are very hard to balance, now adding a FoW element it would be extremely hard to stop a "superpower" just due to the problems with line of sight and cooperation would be.
5. The Med, too many neutrals
But, what do I know?

6. The Turians not only lack ocean accessable hom SC but is also in effect surrounded by four powers with good reasons to chop the Turians up, China, India, Persia, and Khazarias.
7. Pre-Indonesia=Wicked Witch of the East
8. Russia if you look actually has a perhaps, easier position then others, Denmark will be more than likily west bound because of the abundence of SCs in that area and they are a comfortable distance away, Germany is also comfortably far away only leaving the Khars, distracted by Byzantine, Persia, and the Turians in the First Contact Wars

It's 15 players + 1 neutral, and I've dropped the canal rule for the purposes of simplicity (plus I think it is just overly complicated). As for SCs all of them are defended by an army - so at most you can expand only 2 units in the first year, or co-operate to get more (hence the advantage of European density here).

anyway I'm not trying to defend the variant, only to discover if people would play the variant if I make it.

Well I'll start coding it as is. And begin thinking about Gopher's idea for a sequel.

Nice. Please add some river in the sequel. Maybe 2-3 per Contininent?
And maybe some more sea.
And perhaps many more territories in bottom Africa, with at least one more Power (The Hereroes? The Zulus?). :D

Lots of African Peoples:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/49/Africa_ethnic_groups_1996.jpg

ok thanks Guaroz, I'll keep this in mind