Sorry for the huge post, but it's worth reading!
I think it's better to leave real-worldish CAW worlds for other people to make. I mean, it's quite obvious that someone will eventually make their country in CAW and put it in the Exchange, because it requires almost no creativity to make it (since you have geographical references) and just as much patience as any other world.
What we should do, in my opinion, is make a world similar to Sunset Valley (as it was shown in another topic to be the most played one) in shape, with mountanous limits on one side, and water on the other. Beachy lots such as the community one, and some ocean-view residential ones are essential. There is no need to make rivers that cross the land itself, or lakes here and there, because we can just add small ponds with such as Pinocle Pond on lots with 60x60. Any decorations should be placed with Edit Town, and customized locations for the spawners. Lots that touch the road/street should be placed in CAW, though, considering that they tend not to attach to the street if you make them in Edit Town.
We would need dug-in areas, such as the mine-like area, the ponds, the stadium, etc. An elevated area is, in my opinion, a must. Those 4 lots up the hill in Sunset, and the hill in Bridgeport help you have an idea of how to progress as you get money.
Making an island, in my opinion, is a major lack of creativity. Most people who use CAW make islands because of the unconciously-input to their brains that just because it has water all around it (as you open CAW), it must be an island. You can set the camera limits so that you can't see past the mountains (such as in Sunset Valley).
Repeating myself from a post above, I would be happy to help on creating a world for this guide/forum's people (including myself). Perhaps some PMs with e-mails or msns from people with skills in CAW could be a good start. Remember, I'm a perfectionist, it may take a little longer, but I can say it will be worth it.
A few problems that hit my head as I thought of "Our Own World" are:
-The name*
-Main terrain color**
-"Wouldn't it compromise the guide's progress? Because if we make a guide for only our world, then people who don't play it won't be interested, which could reduce or deaccelerate our reader growth."***
-Which expansion each person has, as that can affect the availability of the world.****
-How to update the world; New expansions bring new lots, such as AMB and LN, and I can't stop thinking of a 60x60 pet shop lot that would come with the Pets expansion.*****
*We could make a poll or something. No offense to Joria, but I think that a world named "C&P Forum" doesn't match.
**I believe we all prefer green, with rockish-gray on the hard mountains, and sand by the beach, but who knows?
***Yes, we could have people who would play on the other worlds until they get a full guide. Anyone up to it?
****Perhaps making 1 world for each expansion? (One for Vanilla, one with ambition lots, one with late night lots, and one with ambitions+latenight lots)
*****We could just tell people what lot to move where, so you can fit the new lot... Like a topic "Where to put the pet shop in our custom world", saying stuff like "Move the Cosignment Store to the lot over there *picture here* and then you will be able to put the pet shop", or something like that (it was just an example).
