The Northlander Pict campaign

[Gamer Printshop]

I'm changing things up a bit. I think I'd prefer to create more of a hand-drawn styled map for my regional, even though the style I did is perfectly acceptable. I think the barbarian world map deserves an older style.

I just created the first of my subregional maps in the hand-drawn style I plan to use now. This is the Isle of Eerie, site of a cursed Pictish king that is entombed here. One of the lost Pictish artifacts is said to lie within the barrow tomb at the islands center.

What do you think?

GP

 

Link to larger file:
 Isle of Eerie

[Gamer Printshop]

The Lands of Crae - hand-drawn map...

GP

 

Link to larger file:  Lands of Crae  

[Gamer Printshop]

Been doing some more thinking on this campaign setting - maybe even develop this commercially for Pathfinder RPG.

The Picts are illiterate. They do have a system of Runes, but not developed enough for an alphabet, rather symbols of power, used for arcane purposes or used to describe each clan. At first I thought - no wizards, though definitely no spell books. I wanted to introduce Pictish tattoos as being enchantments worn by all members of this society. Someone suggested giving Wizards a Celtic twist, by eschewing the spell books and replacing with tattoos. Complex knotwork, celtic styled beasts and Ogham runes comprise all the known spells a given wizard has access. Meditation at the start of the day allows the powers of each tattoo to become actuated and ready for use.

Of course there would be sorcerers (using Pathfinder sorcerer bloodlines) with all bloodlines except Elemental and Undead, though I might introduce a hag bloodline as well. There would be bards. Since the Picts are illiterate, as in old Celtic times, the Bard would be a significant member of the clan - as keeper of laws, cultural knowledge and sagas, songs of the Picts.

The Pathfinder (and 3.5) Druid doesn't depict well as a Celtic druid - something was lost regarding this between AD&D and 3.0. This setting would need an old style druid - divine spell caster with strong nature/agrarian/herder cultural applications. They too would serve as judges for various trials held in clan. Perhaps the new Oracle advanced class might be applicable toward a Pictish Druid.

Someone who is a developing an Iron Mage (hexblade) class for Pathfinder - think D&D Paladin, but wizard/sorcery powers actuated through the bearers sword, instead of divine powers. They said the seed idea was a type of Pictish hexblade wielder. This class might be introduced in my product if I make this commercially.

Other Pathfinder classes allowed (all of them basically): barbarian, fighter, ranger, rogue, though of the latter, there are no locks or many mechanical traps (or mechanical anything) so most of their skills would be used for scouting, sneaking, sneak attack - a dexterity based fighter more than anything else.

There is probably some room for other new classes, as well as Prestige classes (giant, ogre, hag and dragon slayers - among them).

Fey would have significant place in this setting as well.

GP

[LD]

Perchance did you submit to Paizo's open call for map designers (it's passed now, but there may be another in the future) or submit a portfolio as a freelance artist? Your maps are increasingly looking like some of Paizo's professionals' maps.

Your maps always look brilliant.
(Although one slight criticism=- the fort and the island hut look like clipart. They do not fit the map's aesthetic.) But the map itself looks very nice.

[Gamer Printshop]

I did submit to Paizo's Map Open Call, but they were looking for a "concept mapper" to create maps in a way that their own mapper could reference to create the actual published map. A foot in the door maybe, but not the kind of position that I'm looking for (not that I'm looking for a position.)

That Lands of Crae map is really a transitional stage into my current style of hand-drawn regional map - I agree the location icons look wrong, but I'm better at it now! :P

While I enjoy getting paid to create commission maps for others, more and more I'm looking to create my own published products using my own maps and multiple maps to make my product stand out over the competition who can't afford more than two or three maps, except for the biggest publishers. So map-wise I'm competing with the big guys.

Over time I will get better on the mechanics, I also seem to attract other brilliant creative types wanting to share their ideas and collaborate with mine for intended publication - I'm making lots of connections in the industry. Plus I enjoy the headache of deadlines, having to do everything, sharing the work when I can - its all good.

GP

[LD]

Ok. Thanks for the update.

I was sort of wondering why in the open map call the winner did not actually design the finished map himself.

>>While I enjoy getting paid to create commission maps for others, more and more I'm looking to create my own published products using my own maps and multiple maps to make my product stand out over the competition who can't afford more than two or three maps, except for the biggest publishers. So map-wise I'm competing with the big guys.

That is very interesting.
--
Out of curiosity, do you also do space-type maps of star systems and the like, or just fantasy-type maps?

[Gamer Printshop]

While I think I could successfully create a star map if I really tried, that's a bit out of my comfort zone. I'd more likely create a world, regional, space station, starship map, in fact I have created a few of those. I'm more a land based mapper - my skills fall into being on planet, not off it, so much.

GP