Show your maps in this thread. Any map you've ever done for a campaign, post it here. It will be an excellent way for others to get advice and/or inspiration. Cheers!
-Ish
Here's my first map of Shadowfell; I'm working on some prettier ones currently.
[spoiler=Shadowfell Map]
(http://www.shadowfell.org/newImages/alsaEru.jpg)
[/spoiler]
Dude lol I just started one of these this morning *oops* hehe
EDIT: Moved that thread to here unless anyone has a problem with it.
Nice map Ishmayl, although I am having trouble deciding whether you colored this by hand or by CG? Personally, when I color by hand it sucks when I scan it in, so yeah.
This is a "highly acclaimed" piece from The Fænaëd Chronicles that can be seen in other threads as well. Without further ado, I give you North Galetea:
[ooc]
Method: For anyone that was wondering, this map was done on lightweight graph paper with 9mm soft lead. First a rough outline was drawn based on the world map (not shown) and then traced over darker and with as manny fragmented edges as possible. Next was added simple outlines of trees/mountains which were then shaded appropriately. Trunks and cast-shadows were added to trees and finally the waves were drawn in. Easy-peasy lemon squeezy![/ooc]
[spoiler]
(//../../e107_files/public/1153398008_123_FT9542_northgaleteaformattedsm.gif)[/spoiler]
Holy crap, So-Keher. That's a beautiful map. Reminds me of the frontispiece maps from Tolkien's books, in terms of general style and look. Maybe it's the trees.
Questions: Do the graph paper lines show up when you scan the map, or is that the scanner-invisible sort of blue? Also, have you tried inking maps, and if so, how has that worked for you in projects like the one pictured here?
Edit: Seeing as how there are now two threads for essentially the same thing, maybe a mod could tank the other one to avoid confusion?
Actually, Tolkien was a big influence on my series of maps for the Chronicles, good guess!
Answers: Unfortunately, the lines are not scanner-invisible like I had thought. And yes i have tried inking. I did the map for Astraea in ink I'll post it up.
And yeah tank the other one. I started it without realizing Ish already made one *beat me to it*
As requested, an inked map (and thankfully not on graphpaper). No, this one was done on 80-lbs. paper with an Archive-type inking pen (sounds fancy but they really aren't) for my Astraea campaign setting.
[spoiler]
(//../../e107_files/public/1153399273_123_FT9542_astraea.gif)[/spoiler]
This is a local area using Bryce 5.5
[spoiler](http://www.angelfire.com/rpg2/altvogge/images/plaetinonmap.jpg)[/spoiler]
This is the map of Luna, using FM7
[spoiler](http://www.angelfire.com/rpg2/altvogge/images/luna.png)[/spoiler]
WOw that bryce map is pretty cool. Any chance you could make the other one a little smaller? It is ENORMOUS
Yeah, I suggest all maps should be placed is spoilerblocks or linked to off-site. That'll keep the page size down literally and digitally.
Quote from: So-KeherNice map Ishmayl, although I am having trouble deciding whether you colored this by hand or by CG? Personally, when I color by hand it sucks when I scan it in, so yeah.
Only the rivers were done by hand.... everything else was done in PSP.... my new map I'm working on will be completely computer-drawn, except that I'm also going to make a So-Keher-style map as well... or at least, try to ;)
[spoiler] (http://www.raelifin.com/phaedoras/pictures/Map6.png) [/spoiler]
This is my official Phaedoras map. Over time it's gone through several improvements but never been re-drawn.
I started with #2 pencil on blank printer paper. After I had gotten the basic shape I was looking for, I inked it heavily. A big goal with this map was to give a good view of the world without borders or distinct terrain features. The purpose of this was three-fold. Firstly, as a bronze-age world I wanted to make borders very subjective. Secondly, I wanted to give a sense of unmapped-ness that is fitting for an unexplored world. Finally, I wanted to give power to the DM, allowing lakes, rivers or whatever as dictated by the plot.
After scanning it, I applied several distortions with the gimp to turn the inked coasts into a bloby, black line. Simple filling gave the ocean and basic green color. Extra layers on top of the background were added for the desert swamps and plains. The mountains were done by adding a layer and drawing with a semi-transparent brush.
Quote from: IshmaylQuote from: So-KeherNice map Ishmayl, although I am having trouble deciding whether you colored this by hand or by CG? Personally, when I color by hand it sucks when I scan it in, so yeah.
:hooray:
Oh boy, oh boy. Maps. Now I have to try my hand at it...this isn't going to be pretty.
Quote from: Raelifin[spoiler] (http://www.raelifin.com/phaedoras/pictures/Map6.png) [/spoiler]
This is my official Phaedoras map. Over time it's gone through several improvements but never been re-drawn.
I started with #2 pencil on blank printer paper. After I had gotten the basic shape I was looking for, I inked it heavily. A big goal with this map was to give a good view of the world without borders or distinct terrain features. The purpose of this was three-fold. Firstly, as a bronze-age world I wanted to make borders very subjective. Secondly, I wanted to give a sense of unmapped-ness that is fitting for an unexplored world. Finally, I wanted to give power to the DM, allowing lakes, rivers or whatever as dictated by the plot.
After scanning it, I applied several distortions with the gimp to turn the inked coasts into a bloby, black line. Simple filling gave the ocean and basic green color. Extra layers on top of the background were added for the desert swamps and plains. The mountains were done by adding a layer and drawing with a semi-transparent brush.
i like your creative use of layers and filter maps
very cool
and can everyone put your maps in spoilers like he did? the page is expanded so wide we can't read all of the text without scrolling. :)
Quote from: Black Jack DaveyOh boy, oh boy. Maps. Now I have to try my hand at it...this isn't going to be pretty.
just do your best, everyone started out somewhere
even me :)
Good thinking; everyone whose map is larger than about 480px should put it in {spoiler} tags
Here's a link to my maps page (http://www.freewebs.com/red_valor/maps.htm).
And here's my most recent map for Project 1301. (http://webzoom.freewebs.com/red_valor/1301%20Map%20Large.jpg)
The original map was handrawn, scanned and colored in Photoshop. Since I only do political maps, it's fairly easy to redraw boundaries in PS-- it's like using a high-powered rifle to shoot a target at point blank range. Overkill, yes, but it looks sharp.
I won't post it here because it is too frigging huge (3200x2400 pixels), but here (http://juergen.the-huberts.net/dnd/urbis/img/DetailMap.jpg) is a link to the detail map of Urbis...
Oooh, mappage.
I love maps.
Shame I have no scanner :(
Still, they all look pretty damn good, especially So-Keher's stuff!
Quote from: KindlingOooh, mappage.
I love maps.
Shame I have no scanner :(
Still, they all look pretty damn good, especially So-Keher's stuff!
Thanks!
And super doritos i like your maps. The lines flow nicely and seem like the country borders were adapted rather than created on the spot. very nice. any chance you have maps with geographical features as well? I would like to see those.
While we're on the subject of maps, I think I'll point out my favorite fantasy map ever. It's for the World of Khoras:
http://www.khoras.net/Khoras/Maps/Worldmap/World-High.jpg (http://www.khoras.net/Khoras/Maps/Worldmap/World-High.jpg)
There's also a section on how he did it:
http://www.khoras.net/Khoras/Maps/Notes/How%20The%20Maps%20Were%20Created.htm (http://www.khoras.net/Khoras/Maps/Notes/How%20The%20Maps%20Were%20Created.htm)
Main site:
http://www.khoras.net/ (http://www.khoras.net/)
Quote from: Jürgen HubertI won't post it here because it is too frigging huge (3200x2400 pixels), but here (http://juergen.the-huberts.net/dnd/urbis/img/DetailMap.jpg) is a link to the detail map of Urbis...
Or should I post it? It's 630 KB. Ishmayl, what's your call on this?
i'm not ishmayl but I would put it in photobucket or something and then link to it.
Quote from: So-KeherAnd super doritos i like your maps. The lines flow nicely and seem like the country borders were adapted rather than created on the spot. very nice. any chance you have maps with geographical features as well? I would like to see those.
Thanks. Unfortunately, all I have are political maps, and I'm somewhat unskilled a geographical or topographical map contsruction. Any tips or pointers would be most welcome.
~Elven Doritos
Superhero Extraordinaire
I could help you? What is your main problem?
I just don't have a good eye for it at all-- I honestly have no clue where to start when it comes to geographic features.
Well, I start with the coastline. Then, I map out the mountains (use an atlas to find out how they follow coastlines), then the hills around the outskirts and passes, and finally i do the forests
Heck Jurgen, post it if you want, doesn't matter to me at all; just make sure you use the spoiler tags, cuz with that size map, we'll be scrolling right for about 30 minutes to get to the end ;)
Oh, and I love those Khoras maps as well.
Well, all right then.
Here is a map with the regional boundaries:
[spoiler](http://juergen.the-huberts.net/dnd/urbis/img/PoliticalMap.jpg)[/spoiler]
And here is the large map with all the details:
[spoiler](http://juergen.the-huberts.net/dnd/urbis/img/DetailMap.jpg)[/spoiler]
Wow jurge nthat is a LOT of cities. That is a huge map. Sure to hold hundreds (if not thousands) of exciting adventures! Are there any forests or swamps and the like?
Quote from: So-Keher, Professional Spaminator of the CBGWow jurge nthat is a LOT of cities. That is a huge map. Sure to hold hundreds (if not thousands) of exciting adventures!
Well, that's the plan. ;)
QuoteAre there any forests or swamps and the like?
Yes - for example, Avareen and Tuvareen are almost entirely forest, and Malundi and the Snake Kingdoms are mostly jungle.
But I haven't put them on the map yet because I first want to nail down the location of every single city on the map - including cities I haven't even thought of yet (there will probably be another fifty or so...). Once that is done, I can create the details.
Wow another fifty? phew
That is a lot of cities. Will you eventually include information on all of them?
This is the map of Celeriat, using FM7
[spoiler](http://www.angelfire.com/rpg2/altvogge/images/celeriat.png)[/spoiler]
And Altvogge, using the same.
[spoiler](http://www.angelfire.com/rpg2/altvogge/images/altborders.jpg)[/spoiler]
As for scale, Altvogge is a sphere with a circumference of 12,000 miles.
Luna (in previous post) has a circumference of 800 miles.
And Celeriat, a circumference of 400 miles.
Quote from: So-Keher, Professional Spaminator of the CBGWow another fifty? phew
Look at the map again. My plan is that each region should have about 7-12 cities - so there is still some room to "fill in the white spots"...
Quote from: Black Jack DaveyThat is a lot of cities. Will you eventually include information on all of them?
That's the plan. All the cities currently on the map already have some information in the regional sections, and you can expect a similar level of information for the new ones, too.
*Casts Raise Thread*
Here's the main map of my campaign thus far. I'm starting small, but I'm hoping to post the contiental map once I have a chance to work on it a bit more.
[spoiler]
(//../../e107_files/public/1154931438_99_FT9542_eriandor_.jpg) (//../../e107_files/public/1154931438_99_FT9542_eriandor.jpg)
[/spoiler]
I'm currently redoing the map with Inkscape (http://www.inkscape.org/) - you will see improved versions of my map sometime soon.
And I really can't recommend Inkscape highly enough - together with a graphics tablet, drawing maps is easy, quick and fun!
Well, I've been exercising with Inkscape and GIMP, and here is the latest version of the Political Map of Urbis that I have created. Click on the image to enlarge it - the whole image has a size of 1622x1094 pixels.
[spoiler](//../../e107_files/public/1156249647_100_FT9542_politicalmap_.jpg) (//../../e107_files/public/1156249647_100_FT9542_politicalmap.jpg)[/spoiler]
Pretty soon, I should have an updated map with all the individual cities...
And here is the Detail Map. Warning - the whole image is 1.32 MB!
[spoiler](//../../e107_files/public/1156265799_100_FT9542_detailmap_.jpg) (//../../e107_files/public/1156265799_100_FT9542_detailmap.jpg)[/spoiler]
I've created a new version with all other places mentioned in the main text. Since I don't want to post another massive image here, I'll just link to it (http://juergen.the-huberts.net/dnd/urbis/img/DetailMap.jpg)...
My first attempt at a map. Hand drawn entierly in photoshop. Banged my head on the keyboards for a couple of days trying to figure out a way to do mountains, and eventually setteled drawing them in with the pencil tool. If anyone knows a better way to do mountains, tell me!
It's for a new campaign I started. Still need a name for it :-/
[spoiler] (http://www.routinedelirium.com/images/map2flat.jpg) [/spoiler]
Very nicely done for a first attempt. And way to revive an awesome thread... I'm pretty tempted to sticky this one.
Welcome to the Guild!
I need to completely redo my world map but, unfortunately, the guy who was doing most of my artsy map making has kind of fallen off the face of the Earth (read engaged). These are a couple of the things I've done without him.
The main continent I'm working on, minus anything worth pointing out -
[spoiler](http://www.colabore.org/CaerdenModern)[/spoiler]
Aelthiur, the big country in the middle, which I'm spending a lot of time on (note that this is incomplete) -
[spoiler](http://www.colabore.org/AelthiurMinute)[/spoiler]
And Suulrai, a little nation in the corner, which I'm showing off only because I'm proud of this map -
[spoiler](http://www.colabore.org/Suulrai)[/spoiler]
This is the Map of Avayevnon. I drew this out on Paper a year ago and recently a friend of mine scanned it and used his mad Photoshop skills to make it as you see it now.
[spoiler](http://www.torrentialmuse.com/images/avayevnon.jpg) [/spoiler]
PS: I second the motion to sticky this thread.
Seraphine, what's your stance on drawing maps for fellow Guild members? ;)
Quote from: IshmaylSeraphine, what's your stance on drawing maps for fellow Guild members? ;)
Seriously, sign me up! That's freaking awesome.
Well, my friend is the one with the photoshop skills. I could ask him if he'd like to get together and work on a map or two, but what's in it for us? ;)
Love, Adoration, and a very handsome Silver Tortoise!
(http://www.shadowfell.org/pics/badges/st.gif)
(Yes, I'm bribing you... I'm the Overlord, I can do that)
;)
A Silver Tortoise?! Sweet! I would be honored. It all depends on mi amigo, but I will definitely ask him.
random japan-esque map i did when i was bored...[spoiler]
(//../../e107_files/public/1167352134_93_FT9542_japan_map_.jpg) (//../../e107_files/public/1167352134_93_FT9542_japan_map.jpg)
[/spoiler]
for some reason, its coming out much grainier then what i really made....
Quote from: Phoenix KnightQuote from: IshmaylSeraphine, what's your stance on drawing maps for fellow Guild members? ;)
Seriously, sign me up! That's freaking awesome.
I must regretfully announce that there will be no further maps made. My friend does not wish to get caught up in a sea of map requests that will kill what time he has. The map he made for me was an early Christmas present, and he does not want to cheapen it's value. While this is not meant with any disrespect to those who requested maps, I repect my friend's wishes and will stand by his position.
Real quick: http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l241/Jaerc/nordgardmajorlabels.jpg?t=1167378935
Here are better things.
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l241/Jaerc/scan0002.jpg
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l241/Jaerc/scan0001.jpg
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l241/Jaerc/undearth.jpg
New map.
Not entierly happy with this one either, too crowded.
[spoiler] (http://www.routinedelirium.com/images/maztacontinent2.jpg) [/spoiler]
It looks nice, Mina... what are you using to draw it?
Quote from: MinaNot entierly happy with this one either, too crowded.
Looks gorgeous to me. I stand impressed.
Just photoshop. I usually set the pencil tool for 3 pixels and draw the borders. Like so;
[spoiler] (http://www.routinedelirium.com/images/globe.jpg) [/spoiler]
Then I create a billion layers. Every color on the map except for the rivers and labels is a solid color layer, usually with a texture added to it or heavy use of filtering. Then I use a mask and pretty much makes things show where I want them to.
I use the outline I drew for use with the selection wand/tool so I can keep the various layers in a neat line. Water comes afterward generally, like so;
[spoiler] (http://routinedelirium.com/images/try2.jpg) [/spoiler]
Add in everything else one by one.
I have no idea if this is an efficient method at all. I've learning half of what I'm doing on these maps as I'm doing them.
That's a very similar method to what i use (i love layers). Are you mountains a fill taken from a photo or something? For texture on my stuff i use very larger natural brushes with a slightly darker shade (on forests and swamps and deserts and stuff)
The mountains I got by rending a layer of black and white clouds, and then rendering difference clouds about a billion times over it till it was very psychadelic looking. Then I rendered a lighting effect over it with a texture channel. Then I copied that layer, and did a hue/saturation adjustment and colorized it to brown. The original black and white layer I kept for the snow on top of the brown mountain layer.
(http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/6730/newyuinarmap0gj.th.jpg) (http://img204.imageshack.us/my.php?image=newyuinarmap0gj.jpg)
Base map done in AutoREALM, then painted over in Paint Shop Pro X .
Wow, that's an impressive map. It's very moody, dare I say. I heavily appreciate the flags.
I suppose I should put in my own humble contribution. Done in GIMP with hand-drawn borders and help from here (http://www.zompist.com/howto2.htm) and here. (http://www.khoras.net/Khoras/Maps/Notes/How%20The%20Maps%20Were%20Created.htm)
Final Product. (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v220/stargate525/homebrew%20regions/ElvenHomelandRegionSmall.jpg)
Doh! I forgot to show off my new dymaxion globe pictures!
[ic=Map of Rilos][spoiler=Flat Map](http://static.flickr.com/122/310842688_02f2f85984_b.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=310842688&size=l)[/spoiler]
See the full globe here:[spoiler](http://farm1.static.flickr.com/138/377122813_1b2087032f_o.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/92013128@N00/377122813/)
(http://farm1.static.flickr.com/172/377122814_0696b2f012_o.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/92013128@N00/377122814/)
(http://farm1.static.flickr.com/145/377122816_ffd826ee80_o.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/92013128@N00/377122816/)
(http://farm1.static.flickr.com/185/377122817_8a8e0a8736_o.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/92013128@N00/377122817/)
(http://farm1.static.flickr.com/147/377122818_2af9df65f1_o.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/92013128@N00/377122818/)[/spoiler][/ic]
Very, very sweet thing Raelifin. I wish I had the foresight to plot mine out on a d20 base...
My latest work on the Kishar world map.
URL (http://members.cox.net/mattlarkin5/Kishar.jpg)
Quote from: Phoenix KnightMy latest work on the Kishar world map.
Nicely done. Next, the obligatory map question: what'd you use to draw it?
It was a pencil sketch to start with, scanned, then drawn over in black and white. The details were all added with Photoshop. It's my first Photoshop image, so I'm relatively pleased for a first attempt.
I've got two maps that I can share for my world, Tera (http://www.thecbg.org/e107_plugins/forum/forum_viewtopic.php?24955):
[spoiler=Map](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v619/khyron1144/map2evensmaller.jpg)[/spoiler]
[spoiler=map2](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v619/khyron1144/goodmap.jpg)[/spoiler]
Oh yeah and the KEy for that map:[spoiler=key]A: Human Empire of Tera
B: Freeland
C: Arcanum
D: Grand Khanate of the Halflings
E: Aelfheim
F: Known Goblinoid Lands
G: Beast Lands
H: Dwarven Mountains/ Svartaelfheim
I: Unknown/ Unexplored/ Undeveloped
J: Barbarian Humans (mostly)
K: Jotunheim
L: Fabled, Long- Sought Elven Homeland Across The Sea
M: Fabled, Long- Sought Human Homeland Across The Sea[/spoiler]
The second one is current and right as far as I'm concerned. I'm just posting that first map to kind of show the evolution of my world. I think as far as world design goes, I actually started by drawing the map and then trying to come up with history and culture and all that.
The maps are hand-drawn and then scanned and uploaded.
Sometimes I like computers so much I wanna be a Borg and other times I'm like: computers are the Devil.
It's not exactly a geographical map, but it is something related I'm working on.
[spoiler](http://www.routinedelirium.com/images/dungeon2.jpg) [/spoiler]
Ok, so I'm really only posting it because I want everyone to check out the awesome mace :p
Quote from: MinaIt's not exactly a geographical map, but it is something related I'm working on.
[spoiler](http://www.routinedelirium.com/dungeon2.jpg) [/spoiler]
Ok, so I'm really only posting it because I want everyone to check out the awesome mace :p
Nice mace. ;)
Here are the two maps for my homebrews.
The Marit map is still a rough with no cities placed. That is the next step.
(http://www.thecbg.org/e107_files/public/1176761832_293_FT28527_marit_main.jpg)
And here is an overview of Five Reams and how the Realms stack on each other.
(http://img393.imageshack.us/img393/1631/realmsmap3acopyrh3.jpg)
No where near as cool as many of the maps here, but I am learning and would love any suggestions. Both maps were made with Fractal Mapper 7.
This is the only map i've made that i have been really content with. I'm especially proud of the mountain chains which were quite hard to make, since i had to import and export from fractal world explorer a couple of times. Can't actually remember how i did it... Anyway, it's made in FM7.
[spoiler](C:\DocumentsandSettings\NajaBonnevie\Skrivebord\Khelderin.bmp) [/spoiler]
Hope this works... if it doesn't, then i would be glad if somebody could tell me how to upload pictures. Well, if it shows then i hope you like it.
The [img] tag only works for URLs. I don't know what is up with the uploading scripts atm though. While waiting for the techies to fix it, you could link to flickr, image shack or whatever.
[spoiler=Old Map] (http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/8589/adveriapoliticalbg7.jpg) [/spoiler]
I am thinking of replacing my Adveria main continent with this.
(http://img523.imageshack.us/img523/8459/world1preav8.png)
I've been working on it for most of the day, and wanted to see what people thought. Before continuing with this blasted forests.
I like the new one. What are you using to make it?
Paint shop pro.
I started with a fractal made map. Then made all the land a single color. The map I selected didn't fit with the theme of my world, because the landmasses were too close. So I deleted the landmasses I didn't want. There was still a problem of stray pixels,so I eroded the edges and ran it through a median filter to smooth out everything. Then I ran some rivers and made a mountain. I had to find a tree online because I didn't like any that I made. Copy and pasted the trees and mountains, and that is what you see.
The one it is replacing was hand drawn.
I really like your new map as well Poseidon.
Not just the graphics but the actual regions drawn up.
In particular I like that massive body of water you have in the middle, its very distinctive when combined with the different proportions of land masses around it.
Another thing I like about it is the shape of the overall east and west coastlines (assuming up is north), they also look quite distinctive, and if I pick any two coastal regions at random they both look very different.
Some of the mountain chains look a bit long and unbroken for my liking. They do look very realistic however, and this is more of a personal preference thing that has no real basis.
I would be interested to also see the region boundries you have/will decide on, either here or on your other threads.
Overall, its a sweet map. :)
Poseidon, it seems that in your old map there has a desert. For there to be a desert in your new map , that would have to be very small scale map or you would have to get rid of some of the central lake. This seems to be more of a large island than a continent. Also you might want to add a few more tributaries running to and maybe 5 or so from the central lake
i am also thinking that for your oldmap, if you decide to keep it, tou may want to make the desert slightly smaller and put it below the mountains in the Tirein region. Your whole new continent has no part of the land untouched by water. anywherre without a lake or river is small and near the coast. I would suggest adding some more land. I do think it's a great map though
The Red Desert (which was not naturally created) is going to be in the lower land bridge.
That isn't a lake. It's more of a landlocked sea. There is less land to facilitate the sea-faring natural of some of the (yet posted) nations.
If you would like to discuss this more here (http://www.thecbg.org/e107_plugins/forum/forum_viewtopic.php?15955.0#post_15958). Under geography.
this is a map from my current homebrew The World of Felyaern. Done in photoshop. First one i ever made
(//../../e107_files/public/1185513999_411_FT9542_map_of_felyaernpolitical_copy_.jpg) (//../../e107_files/public/1185513999_411_FT9542_map_of_felyaernpolitical_copy.jpg)
I like the new map Poseidon. You might consider adding the shallows look to the giant lakes (seas?) as well; I really like how it works with that inner sea.
Here's my campaign world map: http://ogy.cc/CC3Final.JPG
It only has the country listings. The details (cities and region names) are on another map I am still finalizing.
WARNING: it is about 5 megs. For those with slow connections, be warned.
Hey, that's neat. :D
It reminds me of the big fold-out Greyhawk map.
Behold the Northern Continent.
[spoiler](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v220/stargate525/homebrew%20regions/NorthernContinentsmall.jpg)[/spoiler]
I'm probably going to redo all my maps in this style. Note that this is the small version. The one In intend to print out for me is twice this size.
That's one BIG map. :)
How did you create it?
Quote from: IshmaylThat's one BIG map. :)
How did you create it?
This thread (http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=174110) mostly. The outline was done on paper, then scanned in about a dozen or so times and combined.
Oh yeah, and patience, lots and lots of patience.
Map updated with major cities:
http://ogy.cc/CCFinal.jpg
Moniker--amazing job. professional quality.
Awesome map. What did you make it with? (If you say MSPaint or equivalent I may have to destroy you with a flood, out of jealousy of course. :P )
I use Campaign Cartographer 3, and added text with Photoshop.
I am attempting to make a user-clickable map now with HTML. However, PBwiki seems to hate cellpadding and cellspaceing=0 settings. It keeps overriding them in my wiki: http://deismaar.pbwiki.com/Sandbox
Ah-hah! Finally figured it out, I had to use CSS to get it to conform and override PBwiki's CSS settings.
Clickable map for countries. I plan to add click areas for cities as well in a future version:
http://deismaar.pbwiki.com/
Very nice map. On the site, however, it is broken by horizontal lines (at least on my FireFox).
Now that my players have seen it, I can post this here. It's not a map per se either, they're made for use in openRPG.
[spoiler] (http://www.routinedelirium.com/images/cavenofire.jpg) [/spoiler]
Oh, I love your maps Mina! I wish I could do that.
I guess I'll just have to settle with this:
(//../../e107_files/public/1186941865_9_FT9542_nobanu.png)
Very nice Rael. I like the shades of blue. Will you be zooming in and adding detail to the land?
Yes, I hand-drew the landmasses and then scaled the whole image to 1/4 the size.
For the ocean, I tried a new technique. Instead of expanding around landmasses (which would have made the keys just as shallow as the islands), I hand-drew various layers of light -to dark elevations and then set the layer mode to 'soft light,' causing them to subtly lighten the base sea color. It helped because it let me change the water color without redoing the entire thing. Further quality was added by blurring the layers, changing their opacity and finally applying a texture to the stack.
Oh, I miss-read your question. (Oops)
No, I won't be creating lower-level maps, as I feel that regional maps impede DM creativity.
Rael the DMG does say that a DM can add a town in or tweak the location of a town or city any time they want, doesn't it?
Of course you still don't have to make regional maps, but I personally see them as a way to spur on creativity (More details=more things to work off of)
One of the world's most prolific explorers has returned after twenty three years abroad. He brought back with him the technological wonders of the sextant and presented new vistas represented by cartographic wonders of the Southern Empire.
(delete please)
Quote from: RaelifinOh, I love your maps Mina! I wish I could do that.
(http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c265/hador_goldenhead/35pix_college_01.jpg)[/spoiler]
If you look closely, he's got like three shadows on the door! I don't know how he gets such detail to show up on such small items, or how he gets everything to look right.
Quote from: Seraphine_HarmoniumRael the DMG does say that a DM can add a town in or tweak the location of a town or city any time they want, doesn't it?
Of course you still don't have to make regional maps, but I personally see them as a way to spur on creativity (More details=more things to work off of)
If you have every single square foot of land mapped, it becomes harder for the DM to glue things in, of course, so I'm going to assume you mean that
some regional maps help things out. I think it depends on the themes of the world. Phaedoras is 80% wilderness and most of the land isn't mapped, but there are interesting things in the jungle, so I don't want to go down to regional mostly because there isn't much to show. Over those three big islands, there are only two major cities and two minor cities. A world with a more civilized feel, such as Avayevnon or Jade Stage, I'd want plenty of regional maps.
---
@ Mina: The compass was colored by me, but it was clipart before that. Thanks for the link. I'll check it out.
Strange place for a first post I know but maps are what I enjoy, so here are a bevy of unfinished maps I've done in the past.
Newish unfinished map (http://img232.imageshack.us/my.php?image=nonumbersqu6.jpg)
Semi-new playing. (http://img69.imageshack.us/my.php?image=workus1.jpg)
Goofing off and learning map. (http://img514.imageshack.us/my.php?image=funxa8.png)
My First map, Pern for my friend.
Pern map. (http://img72.imageshack.us/my.php?image=pern2xb4.jpg)
For a sci-fi setting.
Planetary System Map (http://img129.imageshack.us/my.php?image=planetarymaphb2.jpg)
First map that started trying new methods.
Old map 1. (http://img129.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mapteasermt1.jpg)
and its earlier version
Old Map 1.2 (http://img436.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mapteaserbj7.jpg)
Welcome to the CBG!
I'm a big fan of "Newish unfinished map" - I really like the texture of the land.
Is that Photoshop work?
A merger of sorts, first I create the shapes in photoshop, then I drop them into a terrain program for Terragen, render the terrain. After that it heads back to photoshop where I do the seas, and the like at my leisure. The map is a 20MB .psd photoshop file right now, a lot of the stuff is hidden but really cool as I've combined the terrain rendering softwares things with the photoshop map.
Great way to get started around here, Treslo. I can't wait to see more work from you. I agree with PK, the Newish Unfinished map has a very nice look to it.
Hehe, my favorite is actually the "goofing off" map.
I wonder if this is a good or bad thing. ;)
Yeah, I liked that one too, but I would like to see it larger.
Quote from: IshmaylYeah, I liked that one too, but I would like to see it larger.
Interesting thing about that map is that it is simply a different technique applied to the top map I described earlier. I took a portion of it, affixed it and blended it through photoshop to produce the effect. My edge blending could be better but it was a smash and grab job.
Warning very large animation of what would happen if the world flooded. (which was necessary for this world in that the beginning of the game was set with a earthshaking celestial event.) (http://www.freeimagehost.eu/image/2ecbe5436346)
Here's a map I've been working on lately :)
(//../../e107_files/public/1190234993_407_FT9542_map_.jpg) (//../../e107_files/public/1190234993_407_FT9542_map.jpg)
Nice, what program do you use and what kinds of filters? And what font is that?
Quote from: RaelifinQuote from: Seraphine_HarmoniumRael the DMG does say that a DM can add a town in or tweak the location of a town or city any time they want, doesn't it?
Of course you still don't have to make regional maps, but I personally see them as a way to spur on creativity (More details=more things to work off of)
If you have every single square foot of land mapped, it becomes harder for the DM to glue things in, of course, so I'm going to assume you mean that some regional maps help things out. I think it depends on the themes of the world. Phaedoras is 80% wilderness and most of the land isn't mapped, but there are interesting things in the jungle, so I don't want to go down to regional mostly because there isn't much to show. Over those three big islands, there are only two major cities and two minor cities. A world with a more civilized feel, such as Avayevnon or Jade Stage, I'd want plenty of regional maps.
---
@ Mina: The compass was colored by me, but it was clipart before that. Thanks for the link. I'll check it out.
Well yes, I can definitely see how a world like Phaedoras would not benefit from regional maps. Perhaps an occasional map of a village, but there is little point to mapping anything else (beyond an overall world map, just to have something, though it's not really important in such a world).
Quote from: IshmaylNice, what program do you use and what kinds of filters? And what font is that?
I'm using Paint Shop Pro (version 6! But it still does everything I need...)
All of the terrain was drawn with the various paper textures (mostly "Terrain," "Lava," and "Fruit Peel" for the land, and "Mist" and "Ocean" for the desert sands and water), then I used the clone brush to put in the mountains and treetops from a screenshot of some random fractal terrain.
The font for the terrain features is called "Carolingia."
The one for the cities is "Papyrus."
Hi, I'm new here but I thought I might toss my hat in and see what people think.
This is the map to a new campaign setting I'm making. The setting itself is in the early stages of production, so the map lacks names and scale :(
[spoiler=Anyways, here it is] (http://www.freewebs.com/ruengoya/Brown%20Sack%20Map.PNG) [/spoiler]
EDIT: just so you know, the map is more topographical, each color representing a thousand feet in elevation. :)
I've started to redo the map of Urbis - I want to do a color map in the style of 19th century maps.
So far I have the basic background - coast lines and political boundaries, including different colors for each region:
[spoiler](http://juergen.the-huberts.net/art/map/UrbisBackground.jpg)[/spoiler]
So far, it is huge and empty - but don't worry, it will fill up fast with the details...
Jurgen, you've gotten the feel you want, the '1840' europe look...if that is what you are looking for.
Quote from: LordVreegJurgen, you've gotten the feel you want, the '1840' europe look...if that is what you are looking for.
That was precisely what I was aiming for, and you'll see more of it in the future...
Nobody posted in this thread for the entirety of 2008.
Now, I will bump it up, just to demonstrate my total inability to do these fancy computer maps you youngsters make so well.
[spoiler=Geographical map of Attu](http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/9994/attumapgeogsmallsw3.jpg)[/spoiler]
I drew a lot of different pictures on graph paper to get to this point. First the outline, then the mountains and trees and such on a separate sheet. (Also, political borders and towns on a separate sheet, so the same coastline can be used for political and geographic maps.) Finally, text labels.
I scan all the components individually, then combine them with an image editing program, resulting in the utter mess you now see before you.
That there is better than most I have seen done on computer. *clap clap clap*
Since we're sharing handdrawn maps... here's a very, very old draft of Calisenthe:
(//../../e107_files/public/1230968705_794_FT9542_oldmapscan_.jpg) (//../../e107_files/public/1230968705_794_FT9542_oldmapscan.jpg)
The scan didn't quite capture the lighter shading work that I did, and I've shrunk it beyond any sense of utility. And due to the limit of my scanner, it's cut off on all four edges.
Ah well. It's the map showcase, and I've got a map, damnit.
You do very nice, detailed maps. You must put a lot of time into them.
I dig it, Acrimone. Is that colored pencil?
Quote from: Luminous CrayonI dig it, Acrimone. Is that colored pencil?
You youngsters? Baha.....
there is still a 64 color beryl primacolor set in my upstairs office.
Thank you, Ninja D!
ANd LC... It's a mix of colored pencil for all the shadings, ball point pens of various colors for most of the drawing, and felt tips for the water, forest, and mountain names.
And finally... I use Prang pencils. The Berols are nice though... and I heartily approve of Vreeg's choice.
I have a Prismacolor double-ended marker set that I use for special projects.
Luminous Crayon, only thing to improve this map (small thing) would be to erase (digitally) the graphic elements behind locations you place your text. So that one could read the labels more easily. Think of "Mirkwood" label on J.R.R. Tolkien's hand-drawn map of Middle Earth.
Make it so its a bit more open then the needs of each letter, not much.
It would only enhance a great hand-drawn, digitally composited map. IMO.
GP
EDIT: I am referring to your B/W linked map of Attu.
Yeah, that bothers me as well. What I did for the labels is put them in as a separate layer, then give that layer a soft, white border that overwrites the inked geographical features below.
It would probably be a simple trick to make those white borders "harder" by reducing the fading effect, or just making them bigger.
I don't know why it never occurred to me to study Tolkien's maps for this sort of thing, since (as you can clearly tell) I'm so strongly influenced by that style. Thanks for the advice.
Okay, I finally found the time to get back to this. Amusingly enough, I seem to have decided when I first made these maps not to keep the image editor work files, just the end-result jpegs.
This stupid gaffe meant I had to do this again from scratch, starting from the scanned raw elements. I think it's a better result than the first map, though, because doing it all from scratch gave me plenty of opportunity to focus on and to make use of Gamer Printshop's advice.
Judge for yourselves:
[spoiler=New Attu Map](http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/5364/attugeogmap2smallervs3.jpg)[/spoiler]
I also decided not to angle any of the text labels this time. I couldn't figure out how to curve the text naturally (my original intention), and decided the straight-line angled labels looked clunky and dumb. I'd love to get a second opinion on that, though. (Compare to the map I posted a few posts up.)
Yesterday I did the pen and ink stuff for a map of another continent. I'll try to get that scanned in and fixed up to post soon.
Hmm.
[spoiler=Degawa Political Map](http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/2024/degawapoliticalmapsmallkm1.jpg)[/spoiler]
The geographical map of the same continent has a couple of unresolved issues, but I'll get it done soon.
This map is the stomping grounds of an ancient dwarven empire's heartland, and the place is swarming with roads, bridges, aqueducts, and other infrastructure. I can't decide whether any of this needs to be shown on the map, or if so, how much. I don't want to fill it up with useless clutter, and I do want to leave individual GMs some flexibility with regards to where they need to place things.