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Map size

Started by Ravenspath, October 03, 2007, 08:49:46 PM

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Ravenspath

October 03, 2007, 08:49:46 PM Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Elemental_Elf
Since I am redoing Marit I thought I would redo the map. But I want some advice. I currently plan on having 10 or countries of varying sizes.

My question is this, how big should the map be? 1000 miles across? 3000 miles across? I'm not sure what a good scale would be. Any suggestions?

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Eclipse

#1
October 03, 2007, 09:00:26 PM
As large as needed.

Seriously - make it big enough to accomodate everything you want, but not so huge it become unreasonable. For 10 countries, I'd say no more than a 300 mile area, unless one of the countries is dominant in size (think Russia in relation to Europe.) If you're going for a whole globe, Earth is 5000 miles around at the equator (if I remember correctly) so that gives you a good 'baseline' size. However, Earth has around 180 nations on it of varying sizes, so fitting 10 there would leave for some /massive/ nations, unless the world is very much water dominated.
Quote from: Epic MeepoThat sounds as annoying as providing a real challenge to Superman: shall we use Kryptonite, or Kryptonite?

Raelifin

#2
October 03, 2007, 09:12:58 PM
I wrote a fairly mediocre article on this topic for the CBGuide issue #1. (Link in the CBGuide tab at the top of screen)

Regarding scale, it's actually quite important that you don't make it too big. If you haven't read this: http://www.io.com/~sjohn/demog.htm yet, I suggest you do.

For starters, how about you talk about the various sizes of the countries and post the map you have.

Epic Meepo

#3
October 03, 2007, 09:38:35 PM
When in doubt, consult a map of Europe.
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Eclipse

#4
October 03, 2007, 09:47:28 PM
Quote from: Epic MeepoWhen in doubt, consult a map of Europe.


QFT
Quote from: Epic MeepoThat sounds as annoying as providing a real challenge to Superman: shall we use Kryptonite, or Kryptonite?

Matt Larkin (author)

#5
October 03, 2007, 09:54:14 PM
Quote from: EclipseAs large as needed.

Seriously - make it big enough to accomodate everything you want, but not so huge it become unreasonable. For 10 countries, I'd say no more than a 300 mile area, unless one of the countries is dominant in size (think Russia in relation to Europe.) If you're going for a whole globe, Earth is 5000 miles around at the equator (if I remember correctly) so that gives you a good 'baseline' size. However, Earth has around 180 nations on it of varying sizes, so fitting 10 there would leave for some /massive/ nations, unless the world is very much water dominated.
The Earth (at the equator) has a circumference of 24,901.55 miles.

The state of Virginia, where I am at the moment, has an area of 42,774 sq mi, and it's not one of the largest states (Alaska is more than 600,000 sq mi, and Russia around 6 million square miles). I'd say 300 sq mi is pretty small.
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Eclipse

#6
October 03, 2007, 10:03:14 PM
Quote from: Phoenix
Quote from: EclipseAs large as needed.

Seriously - make it big enough to accomodate everything you want, but not so huge it become unreasonable. For 10 countries, I'd say no more than a 300 mile area, unless one of the countries is dominant in size (think Russia in relation to Europe.) If you're going for a whole globe, Earth is 5000 miles around at the equator (if I remember correctly) so that gives you a good 'baseline' size. However, Earth has around 180 nations on it of varying sizes, so fitting 10 there would leave for some /massive/ nations, unless the world is very much water dominated.
The Earth (at the equator) has a circumference of 24,901.55 miles.

The state of Virginia, where I am at the moment, has an area of 42,774 sq mi, and it's not one of the largest states (Alaska is more than 600,000 sq mi, and Russia around 6 million square miles). I'd say 300 sq mi is pretty small.

Wow, I had my facts wrong on circumference.

However, I did not mean a 300 sq mi area - that's roughly the size of new york city. I meant 300 miles across, which in retrospect, is still rather small - not much wider than the state of Missouri. 500-600 miles wide/tall should be a good area, in that case.
Quote from: Epic MeepoThat sounds as annoying as providing a real challenge to Superman: shall we use Kryptonite, or Kryptonite?

Ravenspath

#7
October 03, 2007, 10:07:27 PM
Here is the current map. The country names have changed. Right now I have the scale set at 1000 miles across horizontally.

 

Thank you for the advice so far and I look forward to more input!

 :-p
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Ishmayl-Retired

#8
October 03, 2007, 10:10:55 PM
I want to adventure in the "Rotting Lands!" :)

(good map)
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Eclipse

#9
October 03, 2007, 10:12:03 PM
I like the map.

If I'm reading it right, (which I've proven isn't that common) I'd say each of those countries is about the size of a medium sized American state, such as Ohio or Illinois. That seems like a reasonable size to me. :)
Quote from: Epic MeepoThat sounds as annoying as providing a real challenge to Superman: shall we use Kryptonite, or Kryptonite?

Raelifin

#10
October 03, 2007, 11:35:52 PM
According to your map, it'd take someone roughly three months to march from westernmost Hydar to easternmost Krilonna on a coastal road. Traveling through relatively straight roads on the mainland I'd say would take roughly the same amount of time.

That's not a bad travel time, though it could be a bit too large if you want to have tightly-knit nations. If you're going for what I think you are, I'd drop it to 4/5ths scale.

Epic Meepo

#11
October 04, 2007, 01:25:49 AM
Quote from: IshmaylI want to adventure in the "Rotting Lands!" :)
I concur. Is there somewhere we can find out more about the Rotting Lands?
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Modern System Reference Doument Copyright 2002, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.; Authors Bill Slavicsek, Jeff Grubb, Rich Redman, Charles Ryan, based on material by Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Richard Baker, Peter Adkison, Bruce R. Cordell, John Tynes, Andy Collins, and JD Walker.

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Jürgen Hubert

#12
October 04, 2007, 03:21:19 AM
Quote from: Eclipse
Quote from: Epic MeepoWhen in doubt, consult a map of Europe.


QFT

Thirded.

Too many Americans forget that the USA are really, really underpopulated when compared with the rest of the world, and a nation that large is really impossible to keep running without speedy communication and transportation. Base the size of your countries on Europe if you are going with a medieval paradigm.
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limetom

#13
October 04, 2007, 04:00:49 AM
Quote from: Eclipse
Quote from: A Map of Europe in 1328[/spoiler]

Matt Larkin (author)

#14
October 04, 2007, 09:53:14 AM
Nice find limetom.

Quote from: IshmaylI want to adventure in the "Rotting Lands!"  
You know, when I hear "Rotting Lands," my first thought isn't not "Wow, I want to go there!" Now if it was named "Paradise Valley," I'd be all over it.
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