I would try changing your political boundaries to different colors for each area. You can have two or more areas with the same color boundary but just not next to each other. That would separate the boundaries better and make it easier to see where the boundaries are. I would also use polygons for the area with a filled color and a sheet effect to just show the boundary edges. after you use the smooth poly tool to make the boundary. then use the smooth to straight command to turn the area into a straight poly then you can use the trace command to trace the border of the neighboring region. Once your all done you can leave them as straight or change them back to smooth polys by using the straight to smooth command.

Just an idea for you to think about.

sample below - not all done but this is what I'm currently working on

If you don't want to do all the work to recreate the map for your political boundaries you can easily do the political boundaries in CC3+ with sheets and effects also.

Think the suggestion would work for maps 1 & 3 but think about the parchment from darklands overlands style for the second. I would create a different overlay from the bloody one that comes with the style to more closely mimic the style of map 2.

Well I decided to post in this thread instead of creating a new one. I have finished the eastern portion of the world. I know this is a large map with way too much detail but that is what the person I'm doing this for wanted and it's too late to change now. He plans on printing a large format print with detail to hang in his game room. He created this world over 40 years ago and had very little of the world explored so except for the area he had already mapped out I'm able to have free rein over how it looks.

I still need to update political regions (turned off on this posting) and label the rivers but most everything else is completed.

Once the map is completed I add sea contours and a few islands along with scale and compass.

larger image in gallery

comments and suggestions welcome as always

Well now I need to make a map to use it but here is my first attempt at using this great tutorial.