<p>
Man, when I joined (which wasn't really that long ago in the grand scheme of
things),
<a href="http://numa.notdot.net/user/astheoceansblue" title="astheoceansblue"><em>astheoceansblue</em></a>
was <em>the</em> mapmaker. At least, he was to my NUMA-ignorant brain-head. He
was like a minor deity. It was wild. The atob article is one of the first
things I remember reading on the N Wiki. Good times, good
times. <a href="http://numa.notdot.net/map/26775" title="Pagoder Ass-mylum.">Pagoder
Ass-mylum.</a>
</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>
Hyphens are pretty neat.
</p>
<p>
<strong></strong>
</p>
<p>
<strong>Tanner:</strong> Who do you make maps for?<br/>
<strong>atob:
</strong><a href="http://numa.notdot.net/user/Mechtradevil" title="Mechtradevil">Mechtradevil</a>
<3
</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>
<strong>Tanner:</strong> Where do you draw inspiration from?
</p>
<p>
<strong>atob: </strong>Everything I experience. My map
<a href="http://numa.notdot.net/map/7574" title="'Sleepy Hollow">'<em>Sleepy
Hollow</em></a>' was based on a dream I had of spider webs that tripped
memories of the Tim Burton movie, while 'Harold Weathervein' was a NED
translation of the lyrics for the song of the same name by the band Cursive.
Other times I glean inspiration directly from other maps or author styles. It
depends what my head's doing at the time.
</p>
<p>
<br/>
<strong>Tanner:</strong> Episodic or Standalone? Why?
</p>
<p>
<strong>atob: </strong>Standalone gives you more room to breath, I find, you
don't have to think about the flow of the episode or the worth of the gold to
such a degree: you can experiment more freely. Episodic is more rigid, and
much more of a challenge to get right as there's a great deal of stipulation
involved. Whereas an episode working as a standalone is a very subjective
thing, I find a standalone working as an episode to be much more objective.
I'm rambling a little, aren't I? The answer is: I couldn't possibly decide and
I think it would weaken me as a map maker if I tried to.
</p>
<p>
<br/>
<strong>Tanner:</strong> Do you feel like you've stayed relevant to the
map making and playing scene?
</p>
<p>
<strong>atob: </strong>I find the tone of this question is fitting to the
current feel of NUMA: it feels more like a contest rather than a collective at
times. Saying that, I've not failed to notice the impact of my presence here:
I see people emulating things I create often enough to realize my worth to the
community as a designer. I guess I'll stay relevant in that respect as long as
such things remain apparent.
</p>
<p>
<br/>
<strong>Tanner:</strong> What do you do with constructive criticism when
you're one of the most experienced mappers on NUMA?
</p>
<p>
<strong>atob: </strong>I lash out at the smallest person/animal near me with
the heaviest/sharpest thing to hand, then I take a deep breath try to take the
comments on-board and make my maps more than they are.
</p>
<p>
<br/>
<strong>Tanner:</strong> What did you think of that "Everyone loves atob, but
I want him to die"
<a href="http://metanet.2.forumer.com/index.php?showtopic=18260" title="topic">topic</a>
?
</p>
<p>
<strong>atob: </strong>Firstly, I would like to say the reaction to that
thread was massively unexpected and absolutely lovely.
</p>
<p>
It was an inevitable reaction - given the temperament of the aggressor - to
the way I handle myself on NUMA; I try my best to give worthwhile and
constructive criticism and that tends to go against the standard 'back
patting' mentality that seems to be rife on NUMA. I can see how it could be
construed as aloof and elitist, but that's neither the intent nor truth of it.
Some people just don't like the way I operate, which is fine and fair. Those
people are idiots, though ;)
</p>
<p>
<br/>
<strong>Tanner:</strong> What's on the horizon for atob?
</p>
<p>
<strong>atob: </strong>A couple of cool sounding projects. One of which is
very exciting indeed, but there's nothing I can give away without ruining it.
*winks at the
<a href="http://numa.notdot.net/user/Kablizzy" title="conspirators">conspirators</a>*
Other than that, I hope progression, evolution, innovation and as close to
fresh design as I can get.
</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>
<em>Editor's Note: </em>I'll give you very good odds that Kablizzy is somehow
involved. I'm so turning TSN into a gossip rag.
</p>