Oh! I almost forgot, there is one other thing I would LOVE to see... a 'point to point' fractalization option. We've all created regional maps where we are mapping a smaller portion of a greater land mass, so some of the land mass is past the border of the map. You create the land mass, pushing some of it right up against the map border. You then hit the fractalize button, click on the land mass... and it fractalizes not only the edge of the land mass that's easily visible, but also the landmass that isn't, ie. that portion that is up against the map border. You then have to hide the border and map screen, then go in and move each node, until you get it back to what it was before the fractalization.

It would be nice to be able to do, maybe a right click on the fractalize button, and do a point to point fractalize, where I can click on specific points of my landmass that I want fractalized, and it only works between those points, leaving the rest of my land mass alone.

Anyway, it's just a thought.

wow, if this is your first map, I can't wait to see what you do once you actually learn the program! This map is phenomenal!! I especially love your coast line, which is NOT easy to do in the Schley style. I know... I've tried.

I personally don't think it looks all that busy... but if you want to tone things down a bit, I do have a couple ideas of how you could do that. It may take a little more time, but I think it would get the point across.

I'm thinking that you believe that your forests are what is making this map look so busy. A way that you can make it look less so, but still show how massive the forests are, is in the use of different symbols, with a 'color wash' underneath them. I made a small little map to show you what I mean. It also shows you what effects can do for your maps, as I have some glows, transparencies, and edge fade inners, on various parts of this map.

thanks everyone. I have missed everyone here. I'm so sorry for such a depressive post, I didn't realize how bad it was until I reread it. I didn't mean to be. I was just trying to explain why I haven't been here.

The absolute truth is that I've been existing numb for over half the year. It's a defense mechanism I developed during my childhood... where I shut down emotions and feelings so that I don't appear to be doing too bad. I didn't even realize I had done it, until recently.

Unfortunately for me... I need my emotions and feelings to be creative. Which is why I haven't been for a while. But, like I said, I'm trying to restart myself, and this goes along way toward doing that. Reconnecting with people, and letting their energy kind of rekindle mine. :)

I will admit, it's good to be back.