# Map-symbol clarification

**URL:** <https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/map-symbol-clarification/5597>\
**Category:** The Drawing Board\
**Created:** [March 25, 2014, 10:18pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/map-symbol-clarification/5597 "2014-03-25T22:18:07Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![KA101](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/278dde/32.png) [@KA101](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/KA101)\
**Post date:** [March 25, 2014, 10:18pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/map-symbol-clarification/5597/1 "2014-03-25T22:18:07Z")

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From the Announcements:

> [@Latest experimental features](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/latest-experimental-features/5582/4):
>
> I noticed there is a tendency now that old map symbols get reused: dojo and library are yellow, restaurant, fast food and café are purple, etc. etc. I don’t like this tendency. There is still plenty of room in the symbols which use a non-black color as background.

Can’t say as I blame Wuzzy there.

Tough part is working out a reasonable system so we know what colors/backgrounds go with what type of building  
AND  
making sure that everyone can actually get useful information from reading the map. Contrasts are an accessibility thing: without good information, people can’t play the game. D8

I’m thinking that perhaps having an archetype building, such as sporting-goods, be the colored (cyan, here) arrow and related buildings (dojo & gym) using that color as a background might be one way to work. I’m not sure how effective that’d be though.

Thoughts?

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**Author:** ![John\_Candlebury](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/john_candlebury/32/6437_2.png) [@John\_Candlebury](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/John_Candlebury)\
**Post date:** [March 25, 2014, 10:25pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/map-symbol-clarification/5597/2 "2014-03-25T22:25:55Z")

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IMO the best way to go would be to allow the game to display more colors, getting the game to recognize this list would be nice:

[-X11 colors](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_colors#X11_color_names)

That way you would also solve the zombie coloring problems (and get some missing colors into the game who come we cant display orange?). Get two birds with the same stone or whatever.

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**Author:** ![Rivet](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/rivet/32/11_2.png) [@Rivet](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Rivet)\
**Post date:** [March 25, 2014, 10:30pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/map-symbol-clarification/5597/3 "2014-03-25T22:30:59Z")

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Colored backgrounds sounds like a good idea.

A map legend screen might be a good idea as well.

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**Author:** ![i2amroy](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/i2amroy/32/909_2.png) [@i2amroy](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/i2amroy)\
**Post date:** [March 25, 2014, 10:34pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/map-symbol-clarification/5597/4 "2014-03-25T22:34:46Z")

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While giving the game more colors would be nice, remember that compatibility is required, and there is no guarantee that the terminal itself supports the full list of colors.

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**Author:** ![Wuzzy](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/wuzzy/32/41_2.png) [@Wuzzy](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Wuzzy)\
**Post date:** [March 26, 2014, 3:03am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/map-symbol-clarification/5597/5 "2014-03-26T03:03:00Z")

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If everything else fails, you still have the entire alphabet to discover! 🙂 May be an escape hatch for rare buildings.

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**Author:** ![Zireael](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/zireael/32/956_2.png) [@Zireael](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Zireael)\
**Post date:** [March 26, 2014, 9:17am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/map-symbol-clarification/5597/6 "2014-03-26T09:17:38Z")

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[quote=“Rivet, post:3, topic:5597”]Colored backgrounds sounds like a good idea.

A map legend screen might be a good idea as well.[/quote]

These are both great ideas!