I think you should randomize the orientation of the houses in the orc village. They don't all have to be aligned to the paths but they shouldn't all be facing the same direction either. (Doesn't seem very orc-like.)
Looking at your two maps above, but this kind of applies to several of your maps, but I would advice you to look over the position of the title, the compass rose and the scale bar. The title is often kind of smallish, and you have often used the same text size (or close to) for the map title as other elements in the map. You also seem to place the title, scale bar and compass rose wherever you can find an empty place for it.
Generally, the map looks much less cluttered if these the compass rose and scale bar goes into a corner of the map. As long as they don't obscure important elements, it generally doesn't matter if they are partially on top of a road, tree, wall, or other symbol. You can even make a little framed box in a corner to put them in if overlapping elements make a clutter.
Similar for the map title. It generally looks best if placed close to the top or bottom border (in a corner or centered is usually best) of the map, and use a text size visibly larger than the rest of the text in the map. If a map title is long, identify part of it as a sub-title, and place it immediately below the main title so it is obvious it is part of the title, using a smaller font. For example, you have a map on an earlier page titled "The Hidden Level 03 Area 5B" (broken down over several lines). Here, you could start by "The Hidden" in large text in the top left corner of the map, and then, immediately below it in smaller text, add the "Level 03 - Area 5B" (Probably as one line, with a text size so the line would be roughly the same length as the "the hidden" in larger text above.)
For the shadows to point south-east the sun must be in the north-west sky. That usually only happens south of the equator or in high summer near sunset in northern latitudes.
Excellent! A lazy summer afternoon in the northern hemisphere. (For some reason I keep thinking of orcs as nocturnal creatures. A moonlit nightscape could be interesting. )
The simplest way is probably to add a Wall Shadow, Point Light Finalize sheet effect to one of the last sheets in the list, check the Shadow Color is ambient light box and pick a nice bluish colour. That way you can turn the effect on and off.
Orc camp Chul left to do. It will also have the moonlight effect. Busy, the town, needs more work,.
Here is an update on the 5e exit for The Hidden Level 03.
1) continous cave area. A skeleton under debris.
1 B) a rock fall on a human skeleton, a campfire and cut wood nearby.
2) old guard room. Some signs of recent habitation.
3) more cave; the blue mushrooms glow on pixie holidays. The orcs have learned to not touch nor destroy them.
4) a cave with a campfire and a pile of wood. Defensive rocks at the entrance.
5) 3 rattlesnakes, an open treasure chest.
6) Wood debris, a painted pillar debris looks like it might have been dragged here. A treasure chest, view of it blocked by a pile of rocks. This could have been a retreat area, with a treasure. Why not behind the rocks in area 4 ?
7) pixie dance ring, not used due to the orcs
8) an area of some cover, could be used for ambushes.
Comments
That looks so much better
Thanks.
Orc town Wrgh. Some shade trees due to edict from chieftan, who likes to site in the shade, not the hot sun. Not finished, but mostly done.
I think this is finalized. My opinion is that there are too many foot paths to map... I could do a few 2' wide paths if needed.
If i have this thought out correctly, I need to finish The Hidden level 3, map 5E, an orc camp, and one more map in the Plains of Tur area.
That would be a total of 24 maps.
I'll see what I can do about a short history of the area and some other descriptions.
The Plains of Tur ( 1 map) done
Busy ( 1 map )
Lost Village ( 1 map) done
Busy is the new map. Bringing the total to 24. Sorry Remy.
The 150 above the scale bar is white on my computer. Only effect is an outer glow of color 15. Opacity 90%, range 3, Blur 1, Map Units.
Finish 5E and map an Orc camp left to go.
I'll work on them in a couple of days.
Yeah, they are a bit regular.
Looking at your two maps above, but this kind of applies to several of your maps, but I would advice you to look over the position of the title, the compass rose and the scale bar. The title is often kind of smallish, and you have often used the same text size (or close to) for the map title as other elements in the map. You also seem to place the title, scale bar and compass rose wherever you can find an empty place for it.
Generally, the map looks much less cluttered if these the compass rose and scale bar goes into a corner of the map. As long as they don't obscure important elements, it generally doesn't matter if they are partially on top of a road, tree, wall, or other symbol. You can even make a little framed box in a corner to put them in if overlapping elements make a clutter.
Similar for the map title. It generally looks best if placed close to the top or bottom border (in a corner or centered is usually best) of the map, and use a text size visibly larger than the rest of the text in the map. If a map title is long, identify part of it as a sub-title, and place it immediately below the main title so it is obvious it is part of the title, using a smaller font. For example, you have a map on an earlier page titled "The Hidden Level 03 Area 5B" (broken down over several lines). Here, you could start by "The Hidden" in large text in the top left corner of the map, and then, immediately below it in smaller text, add the "Level 03 - Area 5B" (Probably as one line, with a text size so the line would be roughly the same length as the "the hidden" in larger text above.)
I don't really like obscuring symbols, but I can do that.
The Hidden is now size 16 instead of 15, and the next line is 10 instead of 15.
I'll look over the other maps.
Orc village. I took out some of the thatch houses and added in vector Orc houses. Changed some orientations.
I used Wall shadow, directional. Global sun direction.
Greyed out it says 0 degrees.
I changed it to 45 degrees.
So, how would I give it a moonlit look ?
The simplest way is probably to add a Wall Shadow, Point Light Finalize sheet effect to one of the last sheets in the list, check the Shadow Color is ambient light box and pick a nice bluish colour. That way you can turn the effect on and off.
I'll check into that. Thanks !
You're welcome, Jim :)
This is a darn sight easier than the old way, but it's only been available for a few months, I think, since the second last update.
Saved the graphic to my computer and the text to a file.
I might do this to more maps.
Here we go, but it would likely look better if the text, scale, and compass rose wasn't effected.
Just move the relevant sheets down to the bottom after the screen sheet.
Here ya go.
That's quite green, Jim. Maybe pick a more purplish blue?
Hmm... looked blue... I'll fix it tomorrow.
color 75.
That looks better :)
This is colour 60 on my own map.
this is 60 on mine. A darker blue might be better.
Jim, I think that looks about right
So do I :)
Okay.
Orc camp Chul left to do. It will also have the moonlight effect. Busy, the town, needs more work,.
Here is an update on the 5e exit for The Hidden Level 03.
1) continous cave area. A skeleton under debris.
1 B) a rock fall on a human skeleton, a campfire and cut wood nearby.
2) old guard room. Some signs of recent habitation.
3) more cave; the blue mushrooms glow on pixie holidays. The orcs have learned to not touch nor destroy them.
4) a cave with a campfire and a pile of wood. Defensive rocks at the entrance.
5) 3 rattlesnakes, an open treasure chest.
6) Wood debris, a painted pillar debris looks like it might have been dragged here. A treasure chest, view of it blocked by a pile of rocks. This could have been a retreat area, with a treasure. Why not behind the rocks in area 4 ?
7) pixie dance ring, not used due to the orcs
8) an area of some cover, could be used for ambushes.
Orc camp, Chul. A once peaceful village was here, they attacked on market day.
200' x 150'
edit: I'll probably put another area map in the Plains of Tur.
We found out my ISP is on a 'access by demand' settings. So my ability to connect to anything outside the house varies considerably.