I'll have time to work on this on and off throughout today, so I hope to make a bit more progress. Here's what I have so far. As always, this is subject to minor changes as I progress.
While I wasn't averse to the larger mountains, this does look much better. I'm already imagining what civilization might flourish in the "Australia-shaped" basin with the north-south river.
I've been dreading doing the massive northern mountain range. Mountains can be so tedious when there is a large range. I tackled this range today and while I'm not completely satisfied, I'm at least closer than I was.
Those northern mountains look awesome, Shessar. In particular I love the shape of the range, and the surrounding hills. Your selection of symbols is impeccable; it's very painstaking. The river valley is great and I can envision quite a prosperous civilization there.
@Barliman - I really liked the larger symbols too, but their size made the landmass seem smaller. I like using larger symbols on regional maps because they add drama to the scene, but it just wasn't working on a world scaled map.
@RoyalWolf & Dogtag - Thanks! I eat up compliments because they give me the energy to keep going. LOL Seriously though, I do appreciate the comments. They do let me know that I'm on the right path.
Here is the latest update. I still have a few things from earlier additions that I want to fix or re-do, but I happy with what I have so far.
Question: If I explode text, does this eliminate the need for other users to have it on their system?
Posted By: ShessarQuestion: If I explode text, does this eliminate the need for other users to have it on their system?
Yes, because it is converted from text to CC3+ primitives. Remember to use the actual 'Explode Text' [TEXPLODEMP] command though, and not the regular explode command. Note that once you do this, you lose the justification that was previously set on the text, so you may need to realign its position afterwards. Of course, you also lose the ability to edit the text afterwards, which is an important concern for anyone else editing the map. (And they also won't be able to add additional text in the same style). So, IMHO, exploding text is fine for creating a fancy map title, but not for the regular text of the map, like place names and such.
Love how the map is coming along. Looking really nice.
Posted By: Monsen Remember to use the actual 'Explode Text' [TEXPLODEMP] command though, and not the regular explode command. Note that once you do this, you lose the justification that was previously set on the text, so you may need to realign its position afterwards.
I did not realize that there was a different command for text; I have never used it before. Thanks!
Posted By: LoreleiI really have to get working on my tiny little island!!
Well, that would be tiny in the same scale as Greenland is tiny, because yours is just abut 10% smaller in area than it. I guess I should be vary if you ever suggest a tiny trip somewhere, I'm sure that would be something like Ralf's recent trip? ;-)
I had more time this weekend than expected so finished this up.
From the elves of the Feather woods in the west, to the Necromancers of The Scar in the east, the inhabitants of Alarius are as diverse as the land itself. It is not uncommon to see the glint of the sun off of metallic dragon hide high in the sky, or to hear the clash of orc and human armies among the deep forests and hills.
Who knows what creatures lurk among the tangled jungles in the south, or that creep from the deep caverns of the Hollow Hills? Who can say what beauty or what threat awaits those who dare to explore it vast terrain? It is even rumored that there are some who have been courageous enough to descend through the Deeping Portal to a place where men have gills and horses are really fish.
This is the continent of Alarius, a realm of high fantasy and strong magic.
Thanks Monsen. But an early version of the map is what comes up first (not the hi-res downloaded one though); which is why I thought the final version had not been uploaded. Sorry.
Posted By: QuentenThanks Monsen. But an early version of the map is what comes up first (not the hi-res downloaded one though); which is why I thought the final version had not been uploaded. Sorry.
Ah, that's probably your browser cache at work. Try to do a forced refresh (Ctrl+F5 in most browsers) when on the correct page.
Shessar, I have a few questions about your map (since I want to try to achieve your high standards for my next map of Continent F - Peredur). 1. I note you seem to have used the March and wasteland fills a fair bit, but from the context they are not that type of terrain (unless I'm wrong and they are). They do make very visually pleasing textures for grassland though - better than the actual Grassland fill. Can you confirm that that is what you did. 2. I love the lake surrounded by mountains in the Misty Lake. How did you do this? This map is so awe inspiring, I intend to learn a lot from it.
Posted By: QuentenShessar, I have a few questions about your map (since I want to try to achieve your high standards for my next map of Continent F - Peredur).
Aw geez, thanks Quenten! I'm not really artistic like Sue and Lorelei are. I've just been using ProFantasy products for so many years that I've got methods figured out to make each type of terrain work. It still took me five tries to get the northern mountains to look right.
1. I note you seem to have used the March and wasteland fills a fair bit, but from the context they are not that type of terrain (unless I'm wrong and they are). They do make very visually pleasing textures for grassland though - better than the actual Grassland fill. Can you confirm that that is what you did.
Yes, I use fills by how they look, not by what the words say, but Mike Schley style is pretty spot on. The Marsh fill looks to me like that long moist grass that grows near river banks, so I use it to represent wetlands, which can be marshy or just lush and fertile. Most of the map is done with the Land and Plains bitmaps because they look good on their own and they are what they are. I used the Scrubland fill for the velt (think Africa during the dry season) and for bordering the dessert which used the dessert fill. I also used the mountain and hills background fills for what they are. So you see, nothing really different here.
2. I love the lake surrounded by mountains in the Misty Lake. How did you do this? This map is so awe inspiring, I intend to learn a lot from it.
Lay down a diamond shape of mountains/hills with a gap between them, then put the water fill on a sheet below them. Hope this makes sense.
@Quenten - You are free to copy techniques as you like. That is why I occasionally create a tutorial describing how I do things. I love simple methods that are quick to draw and that look good too.
Comments
I'll have time to work on this on and off throughout today, so I hope to make a bit more progress. Here's what I have so far.
As always, this is subject to minor changes as I progress.
also I prefer the current version with the smaller mountains as well
@RoyalWolf & Dogtag - Thanks! I eat up compliments because they give me the energy to keep going. LOL Seriously though, I do appreciate the comments. They do let me know that I'm on the right path.
Here is the latest update. I still have a few things from earlier additions that I want to fix or re-do, but I happy with what I have so far.
Question: If I explode text, does this eliminate the need for other users to have it on their system?
Note that once you do this, you lose the justification that was previously set on the text, so you may need to realign its position afterwards.
Of course, you also lose the ability to edit the text afterwards, which is an important concern for anyone else editing the map. (And they also won't be able to add additional text in the same style). So, IMHO, exploding text is fine for creating a fancy map title, but not for the regular text of the map, like place names and such.
Love how the map is coming along. Looking really nice.
I've added more details and started thinking about naming regions/features.
I had more time this weekend than expected so finished this up.
From the elves of the Feather woods in the west, to the Necromancers of The Scar in the east, the inhabitants of Alarius are as diverse as the land itself. It is not uncommon to see the glint of the sun off of metallic dragon hide high in the sky, or to hear the clash of orc and human armies among the deep forests and hills.
Who knows what creatures lurk among the tangled jungles in the south, or that creep from the deep caverns of the Hollow Hills? Who can say what beauty or what threat awaits those who dare to explore it vast terrain? It is even rumored that there are some who have been courageous enough to descend through the Deeping Portal to a place where men have gills and horses are really fish.
This is the continent of Alarius, a realm of high fantasy and strong magic.
Thanks again for supporting this Monsen!
1. I note you seem to have used the March and wasteland fills a fair bit, but from the context they are not that type of terrain (unless I'm wrong and they are). They do make very visually pleasing textures for grassland though - better than the actual Grassland fill. Can you confirm that that is what you did.
2. I love the lake surrounded by mountains in the Misty Lake. How did you do this?
This map is so awe inspiring, I intend to learn a lot from it.
The Marsh fill looks to me like that long moist grass that grows near river banks, so I use it to represent wetlands, which can be marshy or just lush and fertile. Most of the map is done with the Land and Plains bitmaps because they look good on their own and they are what they are. I used the Scrubland fill for the velt (think Africa during the dry season) and for bordering the dessert which used the dessert fill. I also used the mountain and hills background fills for what they are. So you see, nothing really different here. Lay down a diamond shape of mountains/hills with a gap between them, then put the water fill on a sheet below them. Hope this makes sense.
@Lorelei - Thanks!