Contour lines for the map

[languid vigil]

The current map makes it very hard to tell where hills and valleys are. Making it look more like a proper topographic map would make planning flight paths a lot easier (especially for chicanes)
I feel like that the current color system does a poor job at conveying terrain shape

[cold hemlock]

That would be neat !
It only requires to change the background image of the minimap, should not be too hard to do.
Could even have several different styles to chose from : default, elevation, topographic etc...

[jaunty falcon]

I mean I personally use my eyes to see where hills and valleys are but eh call me old school then

[simple patio]

if there are plans for a larger map, being able to plan your route to avoid radar detection ahead of time is important. Contour lines are a cartographic standard for a reason

"old school" pilots use maps with contour lines to navigate. Maybe you're an old school driver? /shrug

[jaunty falcon]

I mean yeah you could do that but simply playing tends to give you a better idea of routes and ways to attack without getting spotted in basic terms memorizing the map

[simple patio]

"play the game more" is not a great way to justify not adding contour lines

[jaunty falcon]

But on the other hand adding contour lines that tend to be heavily over looked because people end up memorizing the map seems like adding things just to add things btw I'm not trying to be mean by any ways

[simple patio]

I think your comment about being "old school" had a different impact than your intent, then.

Relating to the suggestion itself, it seems like the map might be generated by the terrain so if a contour line system gets added it might just be a simple automated update instead of having to rigorously create a new map by hand. No idea though, not sure how the original map was made. Contour lines would be great. Would let me know that there's two ridges ahead of me instead of one so I don't faceplant into why flying along the ground

[warm gust]

From my own experience I think the DEM model can be equally effective while also being easier to get used to for navigating on lower terrain. Colored spots = elevated - dark = low.

Plotting courses can still be done - a better aid for this would be waypoints.

[cold hemlock]

Of course we can memorize the map, it's just that I feel contour lines would give a much better understanding of the terrain, in order to plan an attack / evasion path, even by just looking at the minimap.
This is particularly important when flying during the night : the map could also adapt when NVG is on.

I'd also vote for waypoints to be shown on map (see Display mod, showing map markers 😉 ), that would be cool to have per unit instead of a faction wide Waypoint objective which makes little sense...

[full river]

map looks good

[full river]

what about your custom map?

[shy zealot]

additionally, can one of the blank MFDs please show the map? really zoomed in.

maybe a 10km mode and a 5km mode.

mostly for night flying tbh, high contour. maybe even with some steroscopic 3d or something.

[shy zealot]

i would call it an accessibility feature honestly.

or at least a feature to enhance accessibility.

[terse edge]

thats complicate. Or one 70mb image, or 16x 8mb tiles

[covert nova]

I would like that for night ops without NV (trying to rely on the equipment more than my eyes)

[shy zealot]

what does file size have to do with anything man?

[terse edge]

resolution

[shy zealot]

what does image resolution have to do with a dynamic minimap?

[terse edge]

you need render whole map in one time?

[shy zealot]

you could use overlayed tiles.

and the catcheing is a technical constraint, and idk if our input on such things is wanted or needed.

[terse edge]

Wdym

[shy zealot]

basically duplicate the map onto two grids, and offset one of the grids(without offsetting the image) 50% of the cell width up, and 50% left, so each tile overlaps its neighbors by 25%, and then the tiles can seamlessly switch out for each other.

[terse edge]

Why? Just use 16x 2k tiles. What the matter?