Tales of Aethir
Dungeon Master Gaz
Traveler
Welcome, all, to The Tales of Aethir.
I'm Dungeon Master Gaz. Gaz. DMG. Whatever you prefer to call me. You're all my friends here. The reality is my name is Gary and I am, and always will be, a Dungeon Master, and the first Tale of Aethir that I will tell is my own.
I've mentioned before that I first saw adverts for Campaign Cartographer in role-playing magazines that I used to read as a teenager. I dreamt of the worlds I could create with this seemingly incredible software, but it wasn't until I was an adult that I was able to afford to buy the software and realise what a dungeon master I could be with such a tool at my disposal.
But, do you know what was the greatest thing about CC3 for me?
Almost ten years ago, once I though I knew how to use Campaign Cartographer, I submitted three maps for acceptance in the Profantasy Map & Catalogue Library - Tohrn: a campaign map made with my first attempt at custom symbols; Sapling Hollow: a town map that was my first try with City Designer; and Helgaunt -my first Cartographers Annual piece using the John Speed city style. andthe greatest thing about CC for me was that Ralf published them in the catalogue.
From that point I understood what a supportive, experienced, helpful and friendly community existed here.
Since then, life; computer problems; life; laptop explosions; failed external drives; life; waiting for all the annuals to be converted to CC3+ (lol), and life has meant that I have only lurked on this forum for a long time. Things are different now.
Now I see Ralf's always encouraging comments; Monsen's textbook tutorials; Dogtag's superb technical advice; Quentin and CWR's wisdom and imagination, and all the wonderful contributor's - too many to name - threads, WIP's, and support - and it's the whole community that I ultimately have to thank for the maps I make.
So, enough of my tale, and time for one of those maps that CC3, CC3+, and more than anything, this forum has unknowingly inspired and helped me to make.
This one's for Ralf. I know he likes my take on his Classic Fantasy style, so I I created a map of the island kingdom of Icara, from my world of Aethir, in this style as my first submission.
I hope to take anyone that's interested on a journey through the rest of my world In the rest of this thread as I bring you more Tales of Aethir.
DMG
I'm Dungeon Master Gaz. Gaz. DMG. Whatever you prefer to call me. You're all my friends here. The reality is my name is Gary and I am, and always will be, a Dungeon Master, and the first Tale of Aethir that I will tell is my own.
I've mentioned before that I first saw adverts for Campaign Cartographer in role-playing magazines that I used to read as a teenager. I dreamt of the worlds I could create with this seemingly incredible software, but it wasn't until I was an adult that I was able to afford to buy the software and realise what a dungeon master I could be with such a tool at my disposal.
But, do you know what was the greatest thing about CC3 for me?
Almost ten years ago, once I though I knew how to use Campaign Cartographer, I submitted three maps for acceptance in the Profantasy Map & Catalogue Library - Tohrn: a campaign map made with my first attempt at custom symbols; Sapling Hollow: a town map that was my first try with City Designer; and Helgaunt -my first Cartographers Annual piece using the John Speed city style. andthe greatest thing about CC for me was that Ralf published them in the catalogue.
From that point I understood what a supportive, experienced, helpful and friendly community existed here.
Since then, life; computer problems; life; laptop explosions; failed external drives; life; waiting for all the annuals to be converted to CC3+ (lol), and life has meant that I have only lurked on this forum for a long time. Things are different now.
Now I see Ralf's always encouraging comments; Monsen's textbook tutorials; Dogtag's superb technical advice; Quentin and CWR's wisdom and imagination, and all the wonderful contributor's - too many to name - threads, WIP's, and support - and it's the whole community that I ultimately have to thank for the maps I make.
So, enough of my tale, and time for one of those maps that CC3, CC3+, and more than anything, this forum has unknowingly inspired and helped me to make.
This one's for Ralf. I know he likes my take on his Classic Fantasy style, so I I created a map of the island kingdom of Icara, from my world of Aethir, in this style as my first submission.
I hope to take anyone that's interested on a journey through the rest of my world In the rest of this thread as I bring you more Tales of Aethir.
DMG
Comments
Thanks for sharing. I'm eager and excited for the tour and tales ahead.
Cheers,
~Dogtag
As you probably guessed, The Island Kingdoms of Icara are based on a classical Greek/Minoan civilisation, with Violanta having been destroyed in a local natural disaster that plunged all but the highest mountain peaks beneath the waters of the Gulf of Icara.
Violanta was the home to a city-state of dedicated warriors known as the Violantes - named for their brutal skill with sword and spear as much as for their homeland. Also, large areas of Aethir were changed and submerged during a cataclysm that rocked the ancient world, and creating this map was an experiment to see if submerged landmasses would work with this style in preparation for mapping other areas of Aethir that were lost to the sea. I was really pleased with the results, so I'm happy you like it too - Dogtag!
Tonnichiwa - The original .fcw map is 3000 x 2400, but I exported it as a 4000 x 3200 .png to preserve the detail when my player's went adventuring in Icara, and I've reduced the image size to a 2000 x 1600 .jpg for this thread to reduce the file size. It's lost some detail, but that's to be expected.
Lorelei - I'm no stranger to Cartographer's Block, haha! And I've learned that all things in moderation is a good thing, so don't worry. Kick back, and enjoy your other passions for a bit until you're batteries are recharged! You make some gorgeous maps too, so I look forward to seeing some more when you're ready
I did originally intend on creating this thread in the Show and Tell category, but I took so long writing the first post that the system logged me out. I've learned from this before, so I always copy my text before submitting, but when I logged back in and pasted the post again I forgot to change the category. So, future Tales of Aethir will appear in the Show and Tell category. Apologies for any confusion
DMG
FarsightX3 - Glad you like this map. Thank you. All my maps are 100% CC3+. It's more than capable of achieving the look or feel I want, so I don't need any image editing software to enhance or touch-up any of my maps. The inset world map is just created from the CC3+ world map I made with all the symbols, etc. hidden and then exported onto a new sheet in this map, and the three surrounding islands are actually part of the main map with just a border drawn between them to give the illusion of separate inset maps. The only work done outside CC3+ is simply re-sizing the final map and reducing the file size in GIMP so I can post it on here. The style I used is from the Cartographer's Annual Issue 101 - Classic Fantasy Maps. I just modified some of the sheet effects and added additional sheets to create the sea colour/underwater islands/etc., and give the map the look I wanted.
The heraldic shield was created using the Annual issue 15 - Heraldic Symbols, and again imported from there into this map.
DMG
I especially like the coastal waters and the segmented sections for the other three islands. :-)
I'm glad you all enjoy the map.
Charles - The more information I can pack into single map, the more valuable it becomes to my players. The inspiration for creating this effect comes from studying John Speed's maps of the English counties. I absolutely love those - especially if I come across one hanging from the wall of a country pub! His use of insets to map the prominent cities and heraldry of a region is where any credit belongs. It's a great technique.
Barliman - A wonderful compliment. Thanks, man. If I can create a map that appears real to my players I can suspend their disbelief of the fantasy world they're exploring and tell a story they will engage with on an understandable level - no matter how whacky the fantasy elements later become. It took many years of studying everything from the Times Atlas of the World to Gary Gygax's Worldbuilder - and everything inbetween - to create the illusion. Glad you appreciate the work. Thank you.
Ralf - My pleasure. Its CC and the Annuals that allow me to make these maps. They're everything I imagined they would be and more. You only have to see all the incredible maps, from talented and imaginative contributors, posted all over this forum to know that. Thank you to you and all the Profantasy team!
DMG
I missed seeing this earlier. This has to be one of my favorite maps on the forums to date. Wonderful!!!
So thanks for sharing, I love this forum for thinks like this.
Best, Jensen
Today I’m flattered and overwhelmed. Ralf did approach me to ask if he could include some of the design aspects of my map in an expanded and re-imagined version of the Classic Fantasy Annual style that he wanted to publish in an upcoming Annual issue.
Of course, I said yes! You can probably tell from my maps that the original style was high on my list of favourite Annual styles, so to be asked to help was a no-brainer.
Campaign Cartographer has allowed me to express my creativity as a dungeon master for many years, and the opportunity to give something back is an honour and a privilege. I don’t take any credit for the style. All I did was take Ralf’s original Classic Fantasy Annual style, add some custom sheets, played with some sheet effects, and hit on a result that you all appear to enjoy. Now, with the release of the August ‘17 "Parchment Maps" issue of the Annual – I can’t wait to see what you guys can create with Ralf’s stunning new style! I’m just so pleased that I’ve brought some enjoyment to the forum and helped inspire what looks like a gorgeous new style.
Jensen – You hit the nail on the head! I create my maps to inspire imagination, adventure, and storytelling for my own campaign. I’m very glad my world map of Aethir took you and your friend on an adventure too. You’re pretty much bang on with your observations about different cultures and locations, and I know I must have done something right if my map can convey that kind of information without me having to say anything. Thank you so much.
Dogtag – bigging me up as ever, lol! Your enthusiasm to promote my other discussions is very much appreciated. My gratitude goes out to you… Now crack on, and get that new Parchment Maps style creation finished, and let’s take a look!
Shessar, HadrianVI, Wyvern – Thank you, all! So happy you all enjoy this map.
Finally tonight, a question from me to you more experienced forum users…
…I do intend to continue my Tales of Aethir discussions, and share the other maps I’ve made detailing my world with you, perhaps once or twice each month – Is it better to create a new thread for each topic as the series progresses, or stick to this single thread? I’m not sure how manageable a very long thread would become. Your advice would be appreciated.
Thanks again, everyone ?
DMG
I understand what both of you - Monsen & JimP - are saying. I don't intend on bombarding the forum like a rampaging orc horde, and I've had similar issues where many maps are posted on the same thread and it takes forever for them all to load up and cause the thread to jump around as they do so. I wanted to find a good balance.
My intention is to post two or three maps that support the topic (maybe one or two more or less depending on the topic) and create a new thread on a different topic every month or so. It all depends on what free time I have.
DMG
Maybe it's just that everything on this map is just done very very right, and everything has a purpose. As Antoine de Saint-Exupery said: "Il semble que la perfection soit atteinte non quand il n'y a plus rien à ajouter, mais quand il n'y a plus rien à retrancher." (perfection is finally attained not when there is no longer anything to add, but when there is no longer anything to take away). I think this map quite nicely follows this principle.
And, of course, I apply my RPG map "litmus test:" does the map make me want to adventure there? And the answer to that question with this map is a resounding, if not deafening, "yes."