Tamriel WIP B&W style

jasales

I'm currently running a rpg set in Tamriel. I needed a continental map I could put a hex grid on for travel.

I saw this beautiful map: http://www.etsy.com/listing/129626650/made-to-order-handdrawn-map-of-tamriel?ref=shop_home_active

But then figured CC3 could help me create something better for my needs.

This is my work in progress. I've made several city maps and regional maps in the past but nothing this large. This is a screen grab of an exported png. I used many many province maps (and they seldome agreed and a really good map of roads and city locations. I still need to make sure everything is on the right sheet, and make sure all the symbols are scaled correctly (I see the anchors are different sizes) and then of course I need to add labels.

Pointers/Criticism welcome.

Leviathus

Awesome! I love the Elder Scrolls universe!

Great map! The few things that bother me: the thick black rivers. Maybe you could make them somewhat thinner. Especially at the start of the river flow (the mountains) and make them wider as they get closer to the sea.

And IMO the Throat of the World is a bit to big. Maybe you could shrink it down a little bit. Otherwise an awesome map! Man, you really did put a lot of work in this!

jasales

Thanks Leviathus.

Thick rivers - I've been fighting with them and have't figured out how to do what you suggest yet. I need to read up on this in the manual.

Throat of the World - I've been up and down on this (hah!). Bigger/smaller/BIGGER/SMALLER etc. I'll try smaller again. Thank you for the help!

I put in just about 18 hours in it so far. I think the only reason I was able to do it was that I worked on one province at a time with an eye for overlapping geographical features that extended beyond borders so as to make it all blend. I remember seeing skyrim/vardenfell and Cyrodiil done and thinking, "there is sooooo much more to do". Then I just started doing it.

Labeling is going to take forever! And I want to be able to see everything underneath. What do you think of semi transparent labels say in red like the province borders?

Also, do you know how to change the scale of several symbols at once? I haven't figured this out yet. Like those darn achors marking harbors. I want to be able to select them all and make them all the same size.

I see I need to turn the solid fill back on Summerset Isle.

Monsen

Posted By: jasalesAlso, do you know how to change the scale of several symbols at once? I haven't figured this out yet. Like those darn achors marking harbors. I want to be able to select them all and make them all the same size.

You can select multiple entities at once when you use the scale command. Just select all the desired entities before proceeding to the next step.
Also, you can also scale the symbol definition from the Symbol Manager. This will result in all instances of the symbol in the map changing scale.

jasales

Thank you Monsen!

Dogtag

Gorgeous map! Agree about the rivers but that's probably how the style lays them out, eh?

Really looks good.
~Dogtag

jasales

Posted By: DogtagGorgeous map! Agree about the rivers but that's probably how the style lays them out, eh?

Really looks good.
~Dogtag

Hey Thanks! I find I can't stop looking at it.

Exactly. So, I'm thinking I need to move the rivers to a new layer and give them a light color. Then while editing the water/rivers layer trace over them using different pen sizes to start small at the source and end big at the mouth. I still need to read up on how to do that.

Leviathus

Posted By: jasalesThick rivers - I've been fighting with them and have't figured out how to do what you suggest yet. I need to read up on this in the manual.

Well, with most styles, you can select the river width by right-clicking on the rivers icon. Or change the width with the "edit/change properties" tool.

Posted By: jasalesWhat do you think of semi transparent labels say in red like the province borders?

Hmmm, didn't even noticed the borders at first glance. Perhaps you could make it somewhat darker, but I don't know if it will be too distracting.

jasales

Here is what the borders look like a full resolution.

jasales

Ok, thank you Leviathus and Monsen. I finally found where I could rescale all the river sizes via the overall size of the map.

I think it looks much better. I've also changed the north arrow to something more appropriate. Now on to labeling!!! Huzzah!

Leviathus

The rivers are much better now! Awesome!

Still not sure about the borders though, but I think you can leave them as they are.
Perhaps you could use the Skyrim map as inspiration for the borders.

Dogtag

Fixing the rivers had a much bigger effect than I expected, personally. It looks absolutely fantastic.

~Dogtag

jasales

That's how this is supposed to work! I asked for comments/tips etc., you provided, and my map is better for it.

I've been tweaking it like crazy, little things here and there. Still looking at labeling as a HUGE task but I'll get there.

The borders. I'm ok with them for now. I have the map you linked. If I find something better but subtle I'll change them.

Thank you all again!

Joachim de Ravenbel

Truly magnificent map! And I agree with Dogtag about fixing the river.
The drawback of this style -and no fault of yours- is that the forests look very grid-like at this scale...

jasales

I'm very very happy with how the rivers turned out. I, like Dogtag, didn't think it would have THAT much change to the look. Big improvement.

@Joachim de Ravenbel
The forests don't look too bad except near the edges as the scale I want to print it, (see zoom above) but yes. The grid pattern is not quite what I want. But for right now I'm going to live with it. I did a test area by placing all the trees individually but the draw time was significantly impacted as one would expect (many more symbols). So, I think I'm stuck with it.

Are there instructions for making your own vector symbols (preferably not as part of an annual)? I'd like to make a symbol of the imperial city. And if I can make a vector symbol, will it be embedded in the fcw file?

Monsen

Posted By: jasalesAre there instructions for making your own vector symbols (preferably not as part of an annual)? I'd like to make a symbol of the imperial city. And if I can make a vector symbol, will it be embedded in the fcw file?

Check the Symbols and Symbol Management chapter in the CC3 manual. It provides the basics (The Tome of Ultimate Mapping has more details, but isn't required). And yes, vector symbols are embedded in the fcw file when you use them.

jasales

Alright Monsen! Thank you!