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100% Top-down Art - Examples Needed

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Sat, 12/04/2021 - 18:13
Rimmsolin
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I've always hated being on the sides or opposite of the art presented on a board game. You cant read anything if it has text and it feels bad looking at the wrong forced perspective. Obviously this is something that has plagued artists forever.

I've been searching for ANY board games (or classic 2D video games) that use a completely 100% top down look. Bonus points if it looks pretty good. This is without perspective that favors one side of the board over another. Doesn't mean it cant have 'depth' perspective that's universal.

Anyone know of any good examples?

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Sat, 12/04/2021 - 19:52
#1
questccg
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Wages of War ... Could maybe fit the bill...

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/moragames/wages-of-war-the-uncooper...

This game is designed by one of the older BGDF.com patrons (@BenMora). While you see that the two (2) camps on the LEFT and RIGHT ... But the bottom feature TWO (2) players. This leads me to BELIEVE that all FOUR (4) Players can be positioned below the board... You see how the top has all the resources and that the board is position facing the players.

I don't know if this is 100% what you were looking for... But I think it's PRETTY DARN CLOSE!

Maybe other Designers have other games that are exactly what you are looking for. I think "Wages of War" is a very close FIT. Watch the video to understand that the positioning is CHOSEN by players each round (in the Game Overview Section).

It's not like Player #1 is on the Right-most position and the there is a clock-wise order. No each position is chosen by players at the start of each of their turns in the Round. And there are five (5) positions and only four (4) players... Which means one (1) option stays open each Round. Cheers.

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Sun, 12/05/2021 - 00:02
#2
questccg
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Tokaido is another one...

Here is a preview from Rodney Smith (from Watch it Played):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoTRz1PC_MM&t=284s

I pointed you to the position in the video where he shows the players and the board and how the layout is done.

Same TOP-DOWN style of art ... Although I must admit, this is a more "abstract" kind of game. But it does satisfy the requirement of having a board that is top-down and the players on the bottom of the board, next to each other.

Cheers!

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Sun, 12/05/2021 - 20:44
#3
let-off studios
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A Few Examples

For tabletop games, there are a few that come to mind. Most would be considered "old skool" but that's what I have on my mind at the moment.

  • Agricola
  • Caverna
  • Carcassonne and any expansions you can find
  • Robo Rally (I think all versions would apply to this)
  • Tannhauser
  • Galaxy Trucker (plus any expansions)

In terms of 2D video games, have a look at the original Legend of Zelda or the import Sweet Home for the NES, or these more contemporary examples:

  • Sunless Sea
  • various tower-defense games (though many have that 3/4 view, "2.5D" art style)
  • Gauntlet, maybe? At least the older versions
  • Warhammer Quest
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Sun, 12/05/2021 - 22:06
#4
Rimmsolin
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Thanks Quest. Can always

Thanks Quest. Can always count on you to answer! :)

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Sun, 12/05/2021 - 23:05
#5
Rimmsolin
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Yeah, these are great! Can't

Yeah, these are great! Can't believe i didnt remember the first two!

Checking out sunless sea now and see how it feels.

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Mon, 12/06/2021 - 10:55
#6
pelle
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Almost all wargames have

Almost all wargames have straight top-down maps for this reason. There is a tiny minority that has art seen from one side, but as OP says that does not work well when you sit on different sides of the table.

For digital games the Close Combat series has beautiful top-down graphics (except for the very latest game in the series).

Difficult to do characters well top-down. They tend to look very ugly. Close Combat works because the soldiers spend so much time crawling around. Some car games and tank games in top-down 2D on computers used to look good, but I barely remember any titles. But anything with vehicles instead of humans were likely to be straight top-down, but as soon as human characters had to walk around almost all games switched to not having quite top-down but a bit from the side.

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Mon, 12/06/2021 - 17:31
#7
questccg
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What about ISOMETRIC views???

Something like Starcraft or Warcraft??? That's ISOMETRIC in that it is 3D converted to a 2D view. I'm sure all the units and building are rendered in 3D software and such ... But then saved as 2D sprites for use in the game...

I know you said 2D... So I wasn't sure if ISOMETRIC counts since it is 2D but looks to be 3D from the angles and such.

But when I think of 2D video games ... I classify Warcraft and Starcraft as 2D games using an ISOMETRIC view.

Anyhow that's my perspective... Someone might argue that 2D ISOMETRIC view is like a simulated 3D view (which in fact it is...) The argument can go both ways!

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Mon, 12/06/2021 - 23:53
#8
Stormyknight1976
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Isometric views

I've been drawing all of my play mats for Dymino Monsters in Isometric views.

I dont mind top down playmats. The artists work really hard to have top down graphics looking great. Looking down onto the world your characters are running through.

But, for me I decided long ago that I wanted to challenge myself to draw world views in isometric views by borrowing from isometric video games.

It's not difficult to draw in the X,Y,Z,W coordinates on paper or large 14" by 21" poster board like I'm doing.

Jesse

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Wed, 12/08/2021 - 10:18
#9
pelle
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The problem with isometric is

The problem with isometric is that it looks wrong when you sit on the other side of the table. Straight-down is neutral and looks the same from all angles.

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Wed, 12/08/2021 - 11:04
#10
questccg
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I guess I misunderstood the OP ... Sorry,

I thought the most important part was that everyone be on the SAME side of the board. That would make ISOMETIC VIEWS more user-friendly, no? I thought this was the whole exercise that was to be done?! We were trying to find games that allow the players to be on the same side of the table and still be able to play...

But now looking through the OP, I realize he wanted TOP-DOWN. Well Tokaido is still a valid game ... due to it's abstract nature. But Wages of War is not really TOP-DOWN but yet allows all players to be facing the castle and be able to play without any LEFT or RIGHT or BEHIND positions (plus positions are chosen each turn...)

Again sorry about that... I misread the OP!

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