How about a very tiny Edge Fade Inner sheet effect on those forests? The edges are very hard compared to the soft way the mountains blend into the background.
I like the first one best, as others have said. That said, I think it depends on what information you're trying to convey. If I interpret it correctly, the second map allows more precision in depicting certain terrain types. If that's important to you, then the second map would be better. From a purely aesthetic and not utilitarian perspective, though, I prefer the first.
I think the second map looks better. The forest fills are too harsh and distracting in the first one - as if they and their labels are the more important features, not the named lands. As already noted too, there's more terrain detail in the second map; in a weird way, it almost looks to me as if the second map is the first map, but with the Effects activated, or as if the first map was more of a trial run.
I notice too that you have three different water contours, but only two listed in the key. Maybe there should also be a distinction between the seas and inland waters (assuming the seas are meant as salt water, the inland waters as fresh, of course)?
Map needs a scale too, or will that be covered by the final grid (assuming the edge letters and numbers refer to a square grid across the map not shown here)?
You may need to rethink the size of the settlement symbols on the map, as at this zoomed-out scale, it's hard to say what's what, except for the cities, some of the castles and the one (?) tower.
Comments
How about a very tiny Edge Fade Inner sheet effect on those forests? The edges are very hard compared to the soft way the mountains blend into the background.
The fill on the trees looks more organic.
I notice too that you have three different water contours, but only two listed in the key. Maybe there should also be a distinction between the seas and inland waters (assuming the seas are meant as salt water, the inland waters as fresh, of course)?
Map needs a scale too, or will that be covered by the final grid (assuming the edge letters and numbers refer to a square grid across the map not shown here)?
You may need to rethink the size of the settlement symbols on the map, as at this zoomed-out scale, it's hard to say what's what, except for the cities, some of the castles and the one (?) tower.
The second, to me, is far more aesthetically pleasing. I'd want to spend a lot of time exploring it.