Thanks everyone for all your help, the map turned out quite... ahem... "nicely" doesn't seam appropriate, but I still go with that :D

I think Monsen is on to something. I increased the line width to something non 0 and it get's better. It's still not wysiwyg so I'll play around a bit more with line width and the effect strength.

Thanks for the hint!

Thanks to all your help I could make this awesome map:

unfortunately the export makes these two shadow bars on the top and on the bottom, and get's the shadows not quite right. so here is a screenshot:

Oh! that sounds lovely! Forest maps are my favourite! really looking forward to it :)

Will there be entrances into caves in the forest? like on this cliff symbol you have included in the picture above?

No worries, given the temperatures outside all I do constantly is supressing the panicky voice in my head that keeps screaming: OH NO! IT'S TOO HOT! FIND BETTER SHELTER! MORE WATER! MAKE IT COLDER! YOU GOTTA GET OUT OF AFRICA! THIS PLACE IS NOT MADE FOR US!

It just doesn't get that we're not in africa anymore, so that's not gonna help :D

But back to the problem: I think I'll keep it now. I have 3 layers set up now for short, medium and long shadows. So whenever I want to make these tree like shadows I just copy everything to the tree sheet and it's done.

I'm happy with that now, so next step is the interior design. let's see if what I've learned in the last few years makes it easier for me to get it right this time...