Community Atlas - Continent A - Alarius

Shessar · February 2017

I've decided to share my progress on developing my continent for our Community Atlas Project.

Step 1: Get the FT3 continent into a CC3+ Mike Schley template.
Step 2: Name the continent for ease of file naming. Alarius

There, that was easy!

Next up will be my rather humorous attempts at scaling a continent that runs from the equator to the arctic circle. Feel free to offer input as I go along. (or to laugh at the imprint of my keyboard on my forehead as I try to do maths using the half of my brain that rebels when it sees numbers)

Monsen · February 2017

Glad you found no. 2 easy, that is my weakness (well, one of them anyways).

Shessar · February 2017

Posted By: MonsenGlad you found no. 2 easy

Yes, but I still have all of the smaller islands to name.

So, after trying every available projection in FT3, exporting each to CC3, then measuring across multiple locations, I found a projection that works wonderfully if I use the globe to center continent A in the map.
Using the Albers Equal-Area Conic projection and a bit of scaling, I end up with a map that is only about 100 to 200 miles off across any two points. I doubt I'll get any closer than this across this large of a distance. I'm satisfied with this. Thoughts?

Monsen · February 2017

I was looking at that projection myself, and found the results quite acceptable. The only downside is that straight lines aren't straight in the map. But this will always be a compromise, so it's always a choice between the lesser of two evils. If you are happy with it yourself, I'll say go with it.

Shessar · February 2017

Yep, this projection does distort things a bit, but overall it is the closest I've come to actual distances.

I may still tweak the size of the southern islands. The Equirectanular projection seems more accurate near the equator, so scaling just those islands, or just copying them into the map, may be the thing to do. Obviously, I'm still playing with this, but I'm almost satisfied.

Loopysue · February 2017

Is it possible to use an Azimuthal projection and place the pole at the centre of the continent, and would that improve things any?

jslayton · February 2017

http://www.progonos.com/furuti/MapProj/Normal/TOC/cartTOC.html has a great deal of information on map projections. The page also explains the properties of different kinds of projections. I should probably include a way to generate a Tissot indicatrix generator for FT maps.

Monsen · February 2017

Posted By: jslaytonI should probably include a way to generate a Tissot indicatrix generator for FT maps.

That would be neat. It would be helpful to see the distortion quantified visually.

Shessar · February 2017

Posted By: Monsen
Posted By: jslaytonI should probably include a way to generate a Tissot indicatrix generator for FT maps.
That would be neat. It would be helpful to see the distortion quantified visually.

That would be extremely helpful!

I'm going to pause on this for the moment and go back to our main project thread where jslayton posted a link with some relevant thoughts.

Dogtag · February 2017

Tissot Indicatrix sounds like the name of a villainess. Just sayin'.

Shessar · February 2017

I think Dogtag just won the "Best Comment of the Month" award. I just laughed so hard that I snorted coffee out of my nose.

Congratulations Dogtag! ROFL

Barliman · February 2017

Posted By: DogtagTissot Indicatrixsounds like the name of a villainess. Just sayin'.

You beat me to it: I was thinking the same thing.

I am so using that name in a game...

Dogtag · February 2017

(My apologies for any coffee-related mishaps, though.)

JimP · February 2017

Posted By: Dogtag

(My apologies for any coffee-related mishaps, though.)

Yeah, don't let them tell you their keyboard being broken is your fault.

Shessar · February 2017

Now that I've finally settled on the Albers Equal-Area Conic projection, I'm finally able to get to mapping.

My first steps were to change the landmasses to the Schley style and to begin laying in a few basic contours. I've used the FT3 contours as a basic guide for where the highlands and lowlands sit. I'll probably fiddle with this a bit until I'm satisfied before moving on to adding symbols.

Thoughts and suggestions always welcome.

Shessar · February 2017

I've started laying in the symbols and rivers. Nothing is absolute yet since I tend to tweak and adjust as I go along.

[Deleted User] · February 2017

Love it. What scale did you use for the symbols? I have set mine at 0.1, which seems more in keeping with the continents

Shessar · February 2017

Thanks Quenten!

I have my symbols set to 3.5, but my continent is 6000 miles across and since we want to be able to tell what things are when zoomed to extents I 'think' this is a good size for my map. I am, however, working on a laptop, so I know that my perceived visuals are a bit off since the screen is smaller than what others might be using.

Anyway, here's a zoomed out view of where I am so far.

[Deleted User] · February 2017

Mmm. I have set mine at 0.2. I might up that a bit

Shessar · February 2017

You have to do what looks best on your map. The truth is, now that I see mine zoomed out here, I'm wondering if I have my size too high. 2 or 2.5 might be better. I may try changing a couple of the smaller ranges to see what looks best.

I'm not used to working on a landmass this huge.

Barliman · February 2017

Posted By: ShessarYou have to do what looks best on your map. The truth is, now that I see mine zoomed out here, I'm wondering if I have my size too high. 2 or 2.5 might be better. I may try changing a couple of the smaller ranges to see what looks best.

I'm not used to working on a landmass this huge.

They looks a little large, but I like it: it has more of a .... I don't want to say "cartoony," but light or whimsical look to it.

Dogtag · February 2017

Posted By: ShessarI have my symbols set to 3.5, but my continent is 6000 miles across...

Great googly-moogly! That's nearly 2.5 times the width of the U.S. It's wider than Asia. You can probably make a nice map with much less detail, to be honest. Not necessarily as fun, though.

Shessar · February 2017

I've come to the same conclusion Dogtag. This is too much detail for the size of the landmass. I've never done a map this size before and I instantly went into "regional map" mode.

I've wiped all of the symbols and rivers and am starting again. It might take me a couple of tries to get it right. I might try out the CC3 style also to see if it would work better for this.

I'll post again when I think I've got it right to get input again. Thanks for everyone's opinions, it really helps!

JimP · February 2017

At this scale map, I decided to just show 'about' where the mountains and large kingdoms were. And the two cities because of their rivalry. Other overland maps i have done at this scale, I just used a marker for the 'about' location of a city. Or a gray area, and labelled, for mountains. District/region maps of about the size of Squeaker ISland, show the actual location of cities. That is why cities seem to move a bit between my hemisphere, then continent, and then country maps as I get closer in.

I am thinking about doing a closer in map of Fisher Isle and a map of the 3 islands to the lower right, but still not putting more than a minimum of info/detail.

Shessar · February 2017

I haven't even though about cities yet JimP. I''m considering just leaving those for the next level of regional maps.

I've reduced my symbol size down to 2.5. I think it's better. Opinions anyone?

[Deleted User] · February 2017

I like this better. My scale for Artemisia is 1, but the size of the island continent is 'only' 2200x1600 miles - much less than yours. It will be interesting to compare pics.

Loopysue · February 2017

Oh Shessar! This is looking gorgeous. You have a very artistic way of arranging the mountain symbols

CharlesWayneRobinson · February 2017

Posted By: ShessarI haven't even though about cities yet JimP. I''m considering just leaving those for the next level of regional maps.

I've reduced my symbol size down to 2.5. I think it's better. Opinions anyone?

It looks a lot better Shessar! :-)

I normally use a 0.4 for my regional maps but it was way, way too small for this project. I ended bumping mine up to a 1 for my continent, although mine is more like a Madagascar or Japan compared to yours.
The only settlements that I placed on my map were to clearly show the extent of Port Digby and to help set the "theme" for evil island in the far south. I did place one tower in the far north simply as and "idea generator" for anyone doing a regional map of that area. I am still finishing off a few things for my map.

JimP · February 2017

Now I feel like The Lone Mapper, putting cities in before their time... Or something similar. :-)

Anyway, I'll be making some closer in maps. Still not too detailed though.

[Deleted User] · February 2017

Jim, I too have put the main cities in, and the national borders and the 'uncivilized' areas. But still concentrating on completing the forests.

Shessar · February 2017

Thanks Sue.

Thanks everyone for your input too. I haven't had time to do much today, but knowing that everyone agrees that this is better will help me make more progress when I do have a few spare hours.

Everyone is fine putting in cities. It's just that I feel this landmass needs interesting places and defined kingdoms before I could even think about cities. LOL

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Community Atlas - Continent A - Alarius

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