man, the 3D map and workshop ('tile' building designer) is really awesome.  As a tease (blame CaptWinky if you don't like being teased) I'm going to talk about it.

The 3D map is about what you'd expect.  I am sure when we get the beta, we'll be able to get an idea what the 3D map will be like based on whats on it.   The game is really pretty though when you actually get your hands on it.    And in the demo at PAX you quickly get around the fact that there are like only 4 buildings you can actually build, and "rations" don't really seem to do anything because it is really pretty!  It makes me understand why Brad constantly calls the UGLY CLOTH MAP by that name, because even though it looks pretty nice.   It does pale in comparison to the 3D stuff.  I mean, the 3D stuff still has problems, and I guess it means its going to be especially nice when they DO give it to us, but still.   I'm almost envious of all who didn't go to PAX, because you won't understand the pain of being restricted to the UGLY CLOTH MAP.  If anything I think it makes it evident that the UGLY CLOTH MAP needs to have a bit of work done to it to show terrain and do justice to the in-game objects.

The part that REALLY blew me away, was the building/tile editor though.   I mean, it looks pretty much already done.   They have you able to place, rotate, and everything else your building pieces.  You can add in particle effects and scale them to fit your scene.  It works really well (well, except for when I somehow crashed it by clicking one of the buttons, but its alpha or something, I can forgive that.   I didn't expect to have the particle system functioning in it so well).   It has a pretty healthy list of objects, which means its only going to be more insane by the time of release.  To give an example, somewhere out there should be a video of Boogiebac building a house, and setting it on fire in the tile editor.  If somebody can find that photage, I think

And its going to be like Jan (or whenever Beta 2 is) before we get to play with it for more than an hour or whatever T_T   But man, its going to be worth the wait.   There are likely some features still missing from it (like I don't think I saw anything that helps you actually implement your new tiles, but they're still fun to make)

I'm sure I could go into a lot more, and perhaps I will later.   But the PAX doors are going to be opening again soon, and I don't want to waste time talkin' to you guys when I could be having fun at PAX.