wip: regional campaing map based on annual b/w template

Greebo · October 2008

I am currently working on a regional overland map for our newly started fantasy campaing. The map shows two neighbouring countries, one based upon medieval Oultremere, the other on ancient Mesopotamia.

I used the annuals nice b/w template, but I am not really happy with the map as it is now.

Greebo · October 2008

One of my biggest problems is, that I am not sure how to depict agriculturally used areas within this style.

Highland_Piper · October 2008

You don't need to pack the symbols in. If it is unused then just put a few grass or tree symbols in the area, but don't overcrowd those areas. That will nicely fill in the blank areas without distracting from the rest of your map.

It looks good so far. Well done!

Ralf · October 2008

I would try to form more ranges of mountains instead of spreading them out over a large area like that. Perhaps try to arrange some paralle north-south lines of peaks.

Greebo · October 2008

Thanks for the input. I´ll redo the agricultural area and try to depict it with less symbols.

Regarding the mountians: The area is part of a mayor mountain range that crosses through large parts of the campaign world (similiar in range and altitude to the Andes, Rockies or the Himalayas) and I wanted it to show. So i used different symbol scales starting from the central peaks outwards. Maybe I should redo them as well.

Ralf · October 2008

The scaling of the mountains is actually fine I think, but they look just a bit too evenly spaced across their area. Mountain ranges typically form ridge lines or other patterns, and showing that with symbols helps the map look better in my experience. Here's a picture of the Alps and thair relief pattern.

Greebo · October 2008

Ok, I tried a new approach to the agricultural areas in the upper part of the map.

I´ll redo the mountain ranges as soon as I find the time (only a few weeks to finish my PhD thesis...). Oh, and please ignore the strange name versions in the lower part. I do not have the cuneiform fonts on my laptop.

Greebo · November 2008

I took a few minutes to give the mountain ranges another try.

Highland_Piper · December 2008

That looks much better. Nice map.

Greebo · December 2008

Thanks.

Rob · December 2008

last map is a lot better Greebo.. I use the hand drawn style alot, as some here know, what I find is that:

1. Make mistakes on the map..

This might seem a bit counter productive, but there is a reason for it.. a hand drawn map will never be 'perfect' even the best drawer makes mistakes and those mistakes add to the feel of something being real..

2. Less is some times more..

Not really an issue here, but something to keep in mind unless your doing a really really highly detailed map, less can often be far better then more.. It's taken me a lot to learn this but especially with older maps.. the information on those maps was gathered from existing maps or eye ball accounts.. so there are often wide area's that are missing etc..

3. Fractial/Wonkyness is your friend..

Another one that isn't always understandable with out seeing or trying it.. very very very few maps done by hand which is what I consider the B/W map to be btw.. are 'perfect' when it comes to lines etc.. not to mention nature itself very very rarely makes a 'perfect curve' with CC the fractual ability gives you a real easy way to get around this.. as you can quickly add 'jitter' as it's called in 3D to a line.. thus making it look like the hand had a faint 'shake' to it or that the river etc etc has small twists and turns.

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I'm not picking on your map which btw as mentioned the last one is great I just figured I'd post those up where people could see them.. there talked about in other places.. the Tome etc..

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wip: regional campaing map based on annual b/w template

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