In my opinion,
This map does not belong in the final forge. The graphic quality of the maps coming out of the foundry these have been increasing, and with that, the minimum standard of graphic quality keeps getting raised. The minimum standard is not in the rules or some definite line, rather its an ever changing consensus of whats acceptable to be played on Conquer Club.
I must say that this particularly flavorless map is quite below that standard, for many of the reasons already posted. Quenching this map would be a step backwards in terms of graphical quality.
Why haven't I brought this up? Frankly because I didn't care. The Puget Sound? Talk about a micro-niche. Initially I saw the first draft and thought it was pretty basic and would never go anyway without some radical changes. Well the changes were less than radical, and here the map is, almost in live play.
I will also say that due to the high quality maps that are making their way into live play, and the high quality standard that has been established, it unfortunately excludes those who are not to experience with a graphics program yet still have as much heart and desire to make a map as anyone else. This is unfortunate, but its the case none the less.
Many map makers have cut their teeth in photoshop or image making in general by struggling through one or more map failures before their skills were up to snuff. Some have struggled enough with one map not to let it fail and gotten the map to a high level with constant refinement. Gimil, Cairnswisk, DiM and Johloh are good examples of cartographers who have pushed a map into play by the sheer dedication.
Take my
Siege map for example. I certainly had some photo shop knowlege but had never made a map before. The first workable draft I thought was suitable was this:
I thought it was sufficient enough to play on. I was wrong, very wrong, and the foundry let me know. That map went through 51 drafts in almost as many pages to finally end up at this:
And the process was slow and piece by piece. Small changes and refinements. Seriously, look through the thread. My pushing my self and being pushed by others I created s nice map and gained an in credible amount of experience with map making and photoshop.
Perhaps the foundry did no push you enough, or you didn't push your self enough. Either way this map looks like its halfway done, or that its from 2006.
Stick with it and give it another 20 pages or so of comments and changes. Your last draft was on page 15, now take a look at the threads of quenched maps of other recent first time map makers, you will see there is no less than 30 pages there, often twice that, AoM, Eastern Front, Doodle Earth, etc.
So slow down , take a deep breath and keep working until you feel your map can stand proud with the others already in live play.