The Campaign Builder's Guild

Samples of my work?

Here's a continental map, I am completed with for a private client - who also requires 12 or so regional maps, 24 or more city maps (10K to 200K populations), complete continental underdark maps, a dozen or so sites of interest maps, and finally once initial regions and cities are created, tactical scale maps (1" = 5' scale) with useable geomorphic properties, one a week for at least a year.

 Continent of Edara map

If you want to see a sample of a hand-drawn castle map for a lich-priest...

 

 Lair of Lhessadrak (full size)

Here's a link to my June Map Challenge Entry at Cartographers' Guild (though I won't win this one, its still a nice map!)

 Town of Darkovia, map illustration

GP

Fig. 1: "Mainspring" educational world map, Iskite

Though superficially resembling any dendronautical world map found in the Clockwork Jungle, this particular example is clearly one that belonged to an Iskite pupil.  The map has only a few navigational points, between which a few angles and mathematical calculations have been scribbled; this was likely a practice map for a hunter or canopy scout pupil which never saw much use.  The map is of the "Mainspring" type, designed with both mathematical and cultural instruction in mind.  The 14 Harmonious Virtues of the Mainspring Analects are printed around the heptagon, and in the center is a stylized glyph for 2Ï' (also an ideogram for "world," one of the only ideograms in the Luminous Tongue).

Mainspring maps are not restricted to educational purposes, and in fact the well-known Etzaszik "Authority Map" shares the Harmonious Virtues and the central 2Ï'.  The Etzaszik map, however, has thousands of navigational points, not something that Iskite pupils would require for their day-to-day studies.

[spoiler=Figure 1][/spoiler]

Carp: I'm jealous, that's a neat little map with a neat little concept! Hmm, maybe I should try something similar for my next map (i.e. doing something weird and cool that isn´t really just another standard European-style Map).  

Thanks.  I think "weird" maps can be really helpful in exploring how a culture views the world they live in - in the case of the Iskites, they see their universe as mathematically and geometrically consistent.  Of course, nobody has ever been to the "edges" of the world, but in the Iskite imagination a heptagon is the obvious way to represent the world.  Think about medieval T-O maps, with the continents arranged in a T shape and Jerusalem at the center - Jerusalem might not have physically been at the center of the earth, but it was at the center of the medieval Christian mind, so that's how the world was depicted.

I don't like making really detailed world maps because I seldom want my characters to see the whole world; such maps are for my benefit only, so they don't need to be fancy.  Instead, I make a lot of local maps and a few "thematic" or "special" maps like the above.

Quote from: Polycarp!Thanks.  I think "weird" maps can be really helpful in exploring how a culture views the world they live in - in the case of the Iskites, they see their universe as mathematically and geometrically consistent.  Of course, nobody has ever been to the "edges" of the world, but in the Iskite imagination a heptagon is the obvious way to represent the world.  Think about medieval T-O maps, with the continents arranged in a T shape and Jerusalem at the center - Jerusalem might not have physically been at the center of the earth, but it was at the center of the medieval Christian mind, so that's how the world was depicted.

I don't like making really detailed world maps because I seldom want my characters to see the whole world; such maps are for my benefit only, so they don't need to be fancy.  Instead, I make a lot of local maps and a few "thematic" or "special" maps like the above.

That´s actually a briliant solution that, I honestly hadn´t thought of... It keeps the players from asking too many questions about other cultures beyond the 'player zone' but at the same time doesn´t feel limiting and etc...! I suppose my biggest questions would be, (1) do you provide your players with the above map and an english version, or just the above one? And (2) do your players like the idea of using the above map instead of a normal one?  

Quote from: Map Translations[table=The 14 Harmonious Virtues]
[tr][th]Self[/th][th][/th][th]Others[/th][th][/th][/tr]
[tr][td]Knowledge[/td][td]IshEngo[/td][td]Wisdom[/td][td]unÉngss[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Industry[/td][td]szIkÉl[/td][td]Excellence[/td][td]kazIj[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Orientation[/td][td]Ilassk[/td][td]Humility[/td][td]ssewa[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Discipline[/td][td]jÉngEsh[/td][td]Honesty[/td][td]tzutze[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Courage[/td][td]szussÉ[/td][td]Duty[/td][td]s'alEj[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Tranquility[/td][td]a(s')ngE[/td][td]Gravity[/td][td]Esthak[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Respect[/td][td]asskÉw[/td][td]Solidarity[/td][td]Éngs'Ij[/td][/tr]
[/table]
The map starts with the Virtues of Self going clockwise from the top and continues with the Virtues of Others on the left side, so each virtue is opposite its counterpart.  Knowledge is internal; when it is rightly shared with others, it is wisdom.  One who has the self virtue of industry shares it with others through excellence in their work.  One who knows their place in the world (orientation) expresses it to others through humility.  You get the idea.
[/spoiler]

Quote from: Polycarp!That's a good reason.  Here are three more of mine:

*snip*

I like the ´Doesn't burn out' part... Sadly that is exactly what happens to me, which is why I have never actually-factually posted a real campaign setting on the CBG (none are detailed or complete enough to deserve such an honor). I think, I will try this 'context map' out, when I get back home (in 4 days, woot!). I´d make one now but you´d be suprised how many Internet Cafe computers don´t have the basics, like you know Photshop CS3 and MSWord, or even (heaven forbid!) MSPaint and Notepad!!!  x.

This is the latest map for my campaign setting Wetra. Most of the work was done by one of my players, since I am Photoshop-illiterate.

http://picasaweb.google.com/neubert/Wetra/photo?authkey=0z5cogYCuPY#5219469900626046786

It's a nice looking map Neubert, some of the rivers strike me a little odd, but I like the overall design of it.

Here's a map from a large island intended for a generic-ish stand alone campaign setting for my first 4e campaign. The map is from an earlier design point so most of the names have changed. Still its a nice map... even though Photobucket raped it and made it small... I'll update it with the correct names and size when I get home (just 3 more days!).

[spoiler=The Map of the Isle of Canumbra (tentative name)] [/spoiler]

Odd in what way Ish?

EE - I thought you could select the various sizes on Photobucket, after uploading it? I used google photos, good if you have a gmail account anyway. link
It says you can download Picasa, but that is not needed.
You can also choose if it should be public or not.

Quote from: NeubertOdd in what way Ish?

EE - I thought you could select the various sizes on Photobucket, after uploading it? I used google photos, good if you have a gmail account anyway. link
It says you can download Picasa, but that is not needed.
You can also choose if it should be public or not.

Its a VERY large file but, when I get back I shall look into Photbucket more (maybe I'm doing something wrong).

I think the google one allows 1 gb of pictures.

Lol, I must have taken a wrong turn at Albuquerque... Anyways, I'll try Google's hosting site when I get back home (3 Days, w00t).

Anyways, not to derail this thread on a tangent... Neubert, I like your map, its ver cool. It has a nice handdrawn 'I could use this map' feel to it! I'm unfamiliar with your setting, will you eventually include cities (?) or is that for a different map (I've known people that do such things).

I want to have a handout like that, just to show the general lay of the land. Then make a copy and turn it into a political map with some cities. Since each square on that map is 300 miles, I will only include major or important cities.