Jade Bight 7: Esens
The Jade Bight 7
Esens
Welcome back for a new installment of our journey through The Jade Bight!!
I do apologize for my brief absence from the CJ -- at least to those of you that enjoy looking in. I'm afraid "real-welt" matters have been taking up more of my time of late. There is, of course, the preparation for the coming Holiday -- a fun thing! But there is also the ever-present need to do mundane things like renewing my driving license and the distasteful task of paying my property taxes like a good little boy. To paraphrase Sean Connery in "Hunt For Red October" -- "I think a little revolution from time to time is a good thing -- don't you?" I usually start thinking about overthrowing the government when tax-time rolls around. Oh well -- the check is in the mail, so I guess the government is safe uuntil next year. (lol) (BTW -- If anyone from the Department Of Homeland Security is watching -- THAT WAS A JOKE !! A JOKE !!)
Another reason for my absence is the need to sift through the comments and feedback from the last few city entries. Let me thank all of you that make comments and I encourage you to continue to do so. And the more detailed and explanatory, the better!! Some of the city entries may begin to look repetetive, but I assure you they will be different in some way or other. I try to showcase as much new custom content as possible -- either downloads from STEX or LEX, or material I have re-lotted or re-purposed in the game. And I try to experiment with a new technique, or to perfect an experimental technique with each new map. Part of the purpose of this CJ is to learn how to integrate concepts that are new to me -- such as terrain and water Mods -- or to integrate old concepts (rail, for example) that I have not used before. I am also open to new ideas on how to "tie my city together" -- neighborhoods, business districts, etc. Consequently, much of my time off was spent bulldozing my next unpublished city (Norden) to incorporate some of the suggestions and advice you have been offering. In this way, I hope to gradually progress -- from city to city -- along my learning curve towards a more realistic and aesthetic city.
Esens, however, has not benefited from your remarks. The town is very small and had already been finished before your comments gave me enough material to consider changes. It would not have been worth the effort on such a small map to make drastic changes -- very little room to be "creative".
ESENS: Four Views
As you can see, Esens is a rather small, utilitarian sort of town. It's so small, one might call it a villiage. Positioned where it is, on this tiny peninsula, it might have been a fishing villiage some years ago, or -- it might possibly have sprung up around this convenient cove where smuggling no doubt took place back in the days when Nelson was a lad. At any rate, it does not amount to much these days. Even the offshore shipping keeps its' distance; "places to go and things to do". A concept somewhat alien to the locals. There are a few shops and houses, a bit of industry, and the all-important power plant and trash docks. The Esens town fathers were at least smart enough to encourage Norden to invest in these service industries. In return for a guaranteed 100 year contract, Esens will provide a source of power and trash disposal for it's wealthy neighbor. Not a bad deal -- unless the plant goes into meltdown! The coves and inlets tucked into the east side of the peninsula still offer shelter for the occasional small boat seeking refuge from the North Sea gales, or maybe just a place to take a quiet break in a hospitable little backwater of a busy world. Just the kind of place Childers might have tied up to write his classic novel.
ESENS: Close up - two views
Here are two closer views of the town. In the first one, you can spot one of the more adventurous residents hang-gliding over the Nuke plant -- something that would not be permitted in a less sleepy town. And in the second picture you can see the SS Bella Goth rounding the peninsula escorted on her journey by my friend Moby!
PHARE AR-MEN LIGHT: Three views
I provided three close-up views of the lighthouse for those that enjoy the detail. That hang-glider dude does get around! I may have to include an airship in some of these maps. I seem to recall "blunder" making a zepplin way back when. Might look nice out here.
HIGH RENT DISTRICT:
A shot of the high rent district -- such as it is. Nice little town -- but little it is.
INLETS & ISLANDS: Three views
My innovation for this map was to carry over the marsh idea from the Harlesiel map and see what I could do with it. I tried several different approaches to making a salt marsh, and wasn't satisfied with any of the results -- so I switched to a mini-fiord idea. The map's really too small for a classic fiord -- so it became a cove, or an inlet -- with islands. I had never tried this before, though I'd seen some very realistic islands in other member's pictures. After a bit of fooling around, what you see here emerged in full bloom. I rather like the inlets, if I do say so myself! I can think of no better way to pass a few days than being aboard one of those yachts. I'll be doing some more islands and trying other seashore effects in future city maps. I have not yet given up on the salt marsh idea.
S.S. BELLA GOTH:
I couldn't finish up without a good close-up shot of "Somy's" ship; a small bulk carrier, the S.S. Bella Goth. She is home-ported out of Nassau, as we can see from the hull detail. Now, 15 days out of Galveston, her hatches are battened down tight and full to the brim with mid-western grain bound for the dockside at Wittmund. A lovely piece of work by a master craftsman.
That pretty much wraps up our visit to the sleepy little town of Esens.
My next map will reflect several changes I have incorporated into it (fortunately, it was not too far along to bring in the bulldozers). With all the new details -- it promises to be a very "picture heavy" installment.
AS ALWAYS -- I solicit and welcome your comments, criticism, and suggestions. I appreciate those of you that tell me what you feel about the work -- but more importantly -- tell me WHY you feel that way. It helps me understand what it is your trying to say and may help me translate it into something of interest. It also saves me having to ask pointed questions. Making "vague" comments really offers nothing I can work with. And, sometimes, "pointed questions" may sound rude -- though that is never my intention. My intention is to understand -- and if possible -- to benefit from your help.
Next time:
Jade Bight 8: Norden
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