Ninja Makes Maps

[Ninjadeadbeard]

So. I got maps. I love maps. Love making them. Even if for no other purpose than making them.

So I thought: Someone might like them. Maybe. So here's some.

WARNING: Very large pictures!

http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s231/sithlord7/empire2geofull.jpg

Same map, different everything
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s231/sithlord7/Skara2.jpg



Bad scaled city:
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s231/sithlord7/IcarusCity3Old2.jpg

Greyscale
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s231/sithlord7/necromap2.jpg

A couple of continents
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s231/sithlord7/otherelecor1.jpg

Magic Ireland-style campaign
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s231/sithlord7/hobbpolold.jpg

From my posts about Orcs
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s231/sithlord7/ORCFINAL1-2.jpg

A village
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s231/sithlord7/village4.jpg

So, what's everybody think?

[Elemental]

They're good.

Initial nitpicking...
A lot of your rivers are very straight looking or follow very regular curves.
Not all of them, but those that do look rather artificial.

On your city map, you forgot to mark the gates.

Marking forests like you did in maps one and six, while a good idea in theory, can be rather annoying.
It needs to be done consistently, or it looks confusing.


Other than those points, they're good.

[Ninjadeadbeard]

My rivers always suck. I try, but what can you do? Besides do better next time, I mean. :smalltongue:

The city map I've been re-drawing lately to actually be closer to scale (it's supposed to be like 5 square miles) but that won't be done soon. I drew the whole thing with erasers (the buildings are what's left of a layer) and then stroked everything.

Forests are always hard to do on maps. On the first map, I tried to mix several types of forest to show the latitudes, but it looks a little garbled. The Sixth map was my first attempt at doing forests, so no surprise it was terrible/inconsistent.

Nitpicking helps me. Thanks for the feedback!

[Elemental]

Yeah... Trying to get forests done is the worst part of map making for fun and/or profit.
I usually just find an easy method that still manages to look good.

[Story Time]

I...

I would like to add my support to this thread and to Ninja. I like maps too. Most of what I saw in the first post was good. More maps would also be good as would for Ninja to practice making them.

My only real suggestion for improvement is to post the images with links rather than spoiler tags. Not every-one has a large monitor size for such artistic endeavors.

Keep making more. They are worth looking at.

[Savannah]

Personally, I suggest not posting as links -- you tend to get a lot less feedback with just links, as people are often hesitant to click on a link they don't know.

You should check out the Cartographers' Guild (http://www.cartographersguild.com/forum.php) -- they have a lot of cool mapping-related stuff (including a whole thread about rivers (http://www.cartographersguild.com/showthread.php?3822-How-to-get-your-rivers-in-the-right-place) :smallwink:).

[Ninjadeadbeard]

You should check out the Cartographers' Guild (http://www.cartographersguild.com/forum.php) -- they have a lot of cool mapping-related stuff (including a whole thread about rivers (http://www.cartographersguild.com/showthread.php?3822-How-to-get-your-rivers-in-the-right-place) :smallwink:).

I originally used the Cartographer's Guild as my go-to place for tutorials when I started mapmaking. To be honest, I'm awfully intimidated by the stuff they got there. I didn't see that post on rivers though, so thank you! I'll look that over straightaway.

@Elemental: So...does that mean you know an easy method of making forests? Cause that would rock.

[Elemental]

@Elemental: So...does that mean you know an easy method of making forests? Cause that would rock.

It's easy in that it doesn't require me to do any more drawing that I usually would for a map. But it's not particularly descriptive in which a person can just look at a map and say; "Oh look, trees."

The main advantage to the style I use is that it's easy to do, doesn't clutter the map and you can add things inside the forest.

I'll see if I have a drawing somewhere I can post.
Just be warned, I'll have to photograph it, and my photography is terrible.

[Ninjadeadbeard]

It's easy in that it doesn't require me to do any more drawing that I usually would for a map. But it's not particularly descriptive in which a person can just look at a map and say; "Oh look, trees."

The main advantage to the style I use is that it's easy to do, doesn't clutter the map and you can add things inside the forest.

I'll see if I have a drawing somewhere I can post.
Just be warned, I'll have to photograph it, and my photography is terrible.

Awesome. You rock! :smallsmile:

[Elemental]

Awesome. You rock! :smallsmile:

It's nothing awesome or anything.
Hardly professional or fancy looking.

[Ninjadeadbeard]

It's nothing awesome or anything.
Hardly professional or fancy looking.

Same could be said for my maps :smallwink:. And most of my map making is just taking bits of other map making styles and mixing them up until something looks decent.

Speaking of Maps:
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s231/sithlord7/Kaldon-1.jpg

This one I was using for a story idea that didn't pan out. Think Lord of the Rings meets Last Airbender, and then make humans = Cthulhu.

[Story Time]

...I saw the map...and it was made of win. :smalleek:


I'd...really like to learn how to do some-thing cool looking like that at some point. Is there a recipe?


Also, "Hi, Savannah!" :smalltongue: :smallbiggrin:

[Ninjadeadbeard]

I'd...really like to learn how to do some-thing cool looking like that at some point. Is there a recipe?

I'll probably post a short guide to how I do maps. But in the meantime:
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s231/sithlord7/Yueh1.jpg

A modified version of that last one (one or two posts ago). This one is a place I really want to run a Wuxia campaign through now. I'll put up a version with rivers and such later. I'm also trying to get a good wood grain texture for this one. I dunno. What do Ancient Chinese Maps look like? What are they made of?

[Story Time]

Parchment and ink? It depends on the area. It could just as easily be ink or burn-marks on the inside of an animal hide. Scrolls were made that way in rural areas.

[Elemental]

I suppose it depends on how much money is being spent on the map in question and exactly how ancient we're talking...

All I remember is that prior to the invention of paper, they used books and scrolls made out of pieces of bamboo tied together or silk scrolls.
They may have also used ceramic and metal, but neither is practical.

They may have had other things, but I'm pretty sure they didn't have parchment for some reason. If they had parchment, they would have used it because it combines the lightweight properties of silk with the relative cheapness of bamboo.

[Ninjadeadbeard]

As requested. This is how I roll. Also how I draw maps :smalltongue::


Open Photoshop (yeah, I have no idea about other programs) and Open a new file that is 2000x2000 pixels (3200x3200 is, I'm told, the professional standard), set Resolution to 300 pixels per inch, set Color Mode to RGB 8-bit (experiment here if you think you've found something better), and set Background to Transparent.
Make Black and White your main colors and click filter>render>clouds. This creates a layer of, well, black and white clouds. Duplicate this layer. Call the bottom one Ocean and the top one Base. Set Base's blend mode (via double clicking on the layer in the side menu or the drop down therein) to Hard Mix. Everything now looks like a Cow (very clear black and white).
Take a soft brush and start painting on Base. You should use White for Land and Black for sea, but there's nothing stopping you from doing otherwise. When you have the landmasses and seas where you want them, Duplicate Base and Call it Base 2. On Base, click Select>Color Range and pick Black. Set the Fuzziness to 200, hit delete and then deselect. Hide Base layer.
While on Base 2, Ctrl+click the thumbnail for Base in the side tray. Paint everything in the selection (On the unhidden Base 2) white. Select>Inverse. Paint this Black. This creates a permanent Black/White map rather than a collection of fuzzy clouds (which is what you'd get if you deleted Ocean). Deselect.


After this, you can either make the map more realistic or more ideological (political). I'll show you how to do Political, as you can find all the info I use for Geographic maps here (http://www.cartographersguild.com/content.php?116-Ascensions-atlas-style-in-Photoshop ).


Create a new Layer. Pick the general color of your map. This needs a bit more creativity. Once you have a color (tan or yellow or brown, or whatever) hit Edit>Fill>OK. Reduce the Opacity to 95%.
Create another layer. Pick a darker color (preferably similar but darker than the first color) and make Base a Selection. Then Edit>Stroke>2 pixels.
Make another layer. While still having Base Selected, Select>Inverse, then Edit>Stroke>5-8 pixels. Filter>Blur>Gaussian Blur>14. Now your map has outlines and shading on it's sea borders. Erase whatever looks wrong (like where land meets the edge of the map).
For aging effects, create a new layer (makes sure black and white are your colors) and Filter>Render>Clouds, followed by Filter>Render>Difference Clouds. Hit Ctrl+F a half-dozen times. Duplicate this layer and Filter>Render>Difference Clouds again. Ctrl+F another half-dozen times. Lower these layers' Opacity to around 10%. Adjust as you like. These should resemble stains. As an added touch, make another new layer and select all. Edit>Stroke>80 pixels. Then Filter>Blur>Gaussian Blur>80. This should make an impressive border.
For a Paper pattern, create a new layer, Filter>Render Clouds, Filter>Render>Fibers. Then stretch the fibers horizontally until it looks like paper.
As an added touch, I export the Jpeg and reopen that. Then I add a Pattern Overlay to the Jpeg, usually something to rough it up or look like something a map might be drawn on. You can also select Filter>Texturize and look into Burlap or Canvas. I had to make pattern myself, but that comes with experimentation.



That may not have been helpful. Uh...um...Another Map!
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s231/sithlord7/oldinkmap.jpg

[Ninjadeadbeard]

Another round of maps. Technically the same map. But there's three of them! These maps are for a Dark Ages setting where the "Roman" Empire went up in a Magic Mushroom Cloud. And the fallout makes reality and physics cry uncle. So that big blank spot on all the maps is like where Cthulhu goes to feel intimidated.

The first was an early test for one style I do now.
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s231/sithlord7/RimmOldmap.jpg

Different style, lots of extra filters. Some names different.
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s231/sithlord7/rimmdarkagegeographical2.jpg

Lol, all the names are wrong, or updated.
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s231/sithlord7/RimmGeopolit-1.jpg

[Story Time]

Neat! I still like the texture geograph maps. Thanks to this thread, and Ninja, I started messing around with making maps in G.I.M.P. I got places with it, but not very far, and nothing polished.

[Ninjadeadbeard]

You know, I only just started using this style and I already like it a lot!
Here's another!
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s231/sithlord7/geomodel.jpg

[Story Time]

I like it too! :smallbiggrin: I like it very much. Some-thing about that style appeals, though I'm not sure what it is exactly.

That kind of thing was the type of map I was going for; the style that I mentioned in my previous post.

That's just a good map, Ninja. Keep improving. :smallsmile:

[Ninjadeadbeard]

I still need to work on rivers. They curve more realistically, but they're too noticeable in that pic. And I still need to find a better way to do forests.

[Elemental]

I still need to work on rivers. They curve more realistically, but they're too noticeable in that pic. And I still need to find a better way to do forests.

Indeed. Your rivers are considerably better. And don't worry about them standing out. They are a significant geographical feature.

Also, my apologies, I can't seem to find where I put all my maps. But I am in the process of drawing one at the moment, so I should be able to photograph it soon.

[Ninjadeadbeard]

Used a new layer and a texturized brush to see if I could get a forest. Not sure if I like it. Any one else have an opinion?

http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s231/sithlord7/geoforesttry.jpg

[Story Time]

I think that I like it. The only real way to tell would be to texturize the whole map. It looks funky and odd currently, but I understand that it was a test. :smallsmile:

Try it, Ninja! See what it looks like all textured with blue rivers in the green forests. We all might be amazed. :smallbiggrin:

[Ninjadeadbeard]

Not as happy with this. I need a better water texture. Gonna experiment with some of the built in chrome/plastic-wrap textures this week.

http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s231/sithlord7/forestandland.jpg

And the rivers still suck! :smalltongue:

[Story Time]

It looks odd because you're only using three textures. The trees are dark while the land and rivers are light. My best suggestion would be to fill in all of the map with textures and then see what you feel over it. You probably are correct that the rivers should be changed. Balancing the contrast between the textures and colors while still maintaining some over-all homogeny in the map will be one of your next confrontations, I think.

Keep at it, though. :smallsmile:

[Ninjadeadbeard]

Made a new map for a Tippyverse setting I'm thinking up.

http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s231/sithlord7/continent1.jpg

[Elemental]

Your rivers continue to improve.
The only one I have issue with in this latest map is the one that dominates the south-western portion of the continent.
Despite meandering at a local level, it's practically a straight line for much of it's length. Which is particular jarring when one realises that it divides that large valley almost exactly in half.
Unlikely to occur naturally, but possible however improbable.

Though, you did describe it as a Tippyverse, so it could have been the result of magic used to settle a territorial dispute.

[Ninjadeadbeard]

The only one I have issue with in this latest map is the one that dominates the south-western portion of the continent.
Despite meandering at a local level, it's practically a straight line for much of it's length. Which is particular jarring when one realises that it divides that large valley almost exactly in half.
Unlikely to occur naturally, but possible however improbable.

Though, you did describe it as a Tippyverse, so it could have been the result of magic used to settle a territorial dispute.

Sure....let's go with that...:smalltongue: Most of the straightness is probably from some variant Disintegrate spell that someone tried to cut the planet in half with. Plus, I liked the mountains where they were in a large circle around that area, so I ended up with the water runoff all flowing roughly the same way. Is there another way I should have handled that one?

[Elemental]

Well, nothing says that valleys have the be a perfect V shape. They're just as likely to be asymmetrical.
All I can suggest is grabbing a piece of paper and a pencil and experimenting until you find something that looks natural. (bearing in mind that Nature is hardly geometrically perfect)

[Story Time]

That map is an improvement. Mountains, hills, and plains, each distinct. Good job.

I also noticed that there were lakes in the flat areas. That was nice. However, given the plains expanses, I expected a small sea found in there some-where.

Again, though, that map is superior to the previous topograph.

[MethosH]

Do you take map requests? :smallbiggrin:

[Ninjadeadbeard]

Do you take map requests? :smallbiggrin:

:smallbiggrin: Yeah, I suppose. What'd you have in mind?

[MethosH]

Well.. This isn't actually a fantasy map. It's a real world map.

I'm with a new comic (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=13196725)

This comic has a future setting and the political divisions and countries aren't the same as they are today. I would love a map with all the political regions of the comic's world. Think you can do it? :smallbiggrin:

[Ninjadeadbeard]

Well.. This isn't actually a fantasy map. It's a real world map.

I'm with a new comic (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=13196725)

This comic has a future setting and the political divisions and countries aren't the same as they are today. I would love a map with all the political regions of the comic's world. Think you can do it? :smallbiggrin:

Sounds cool. What're the current divisions? Did you want a partly physical map or a primarily political one?

PS: The comic looks good!

[MethosH]

Sounds cool. What're the current divisions? Did you want a partly physical map or a primarily political one?

PS: The comic looks good!

Its a world map and I'm not sure how to best represent it.
In this setting the world is moving towards unification.

Canada took over USA and Mexico.

The South America is now entirely the Federative Republic of Brazil.

China took over the middle east, India and a few others.

I'll do some research and give you a more precise info on all current countries for this story : )

[Ninjadeadbeard]

Canada took over USA and Mexico.

:smallamused:. Heh. Good one. I'm almost worried to ask what happened to cause that.


The South America is now entirely the Federative Republic of Brazil.

Okay, but be sure to note how far it extends. Did Brazil take the Panama Canal? Is that the official border? Names like South, Central and North America get tossed around a lot, so it's sometimes ambiguous as to where one or another ends.


China took over the middle east, India and a few others.

I seem to recall something similar happening in the Ender's Game series.


I'll do some research and give you a more precise info on all current countries for this story : )

Sure thing! Let me know how this all looks.

[Ninjadeadbeard]

Sorry to double-post, but this here map is for MethosH. Just a preliminary, not a final map by any stretch. I just want to know what you think of the countries so far. (Since you know more than I, obviously!)

Warning, Big Image
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s231/sithlord7/mapforguy.jpg

[dehro]

Not as happy with this. I need a better water texture.

what you have now is a mud texture, by the looks of it :smallbiggrin:
that said, I truly wish I were able to do what you do..it's always been a pet desire of mine to make a decent map.. the few attempts have been..
less than satisfactory.

[MethosH]

Sorry to double-post, but this here map is for MethosH. Just a preliminary, not a final map by any stretch. I just want to know what you think of the countries so far. (Since you know more than I, obviously!)

Warning, Big Image
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s231/sithlord7/mapforguy.jpg

That is looking awesome. Some updates.

Brazil took Panama, but stopped there. Canada took Mexico and USA only. So all other central america countries are still independent. So Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and the other minor states of North America are still free.

Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Taiwan, Japan, the regions of Micronesia, Polynesia and Melanesia... all belong to The Great Empire of Indonesia.

All the remaining African countries are still the same, but the entire Africa is part of the African union (much like the European union)

Mongolia and Greenland are also a independent country.

Hawaii was given to The Great Empire of Indonesia by Canada in a gesture of good will

[Ninjadeadbeard]

Brazil took Panama, but stopped there. Canada took Mexico and USA only. So all other central america countries are still independent. So Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and the other minor states of North America are still free.

So, is Central America united or still a series of separate countries? Also, does that include the Caribbean like Cuba and such?


Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Taiwan, Japan, the regions of Micronesia, Polynesia and Melanesia... all belong to The Great Empire of Indonesia.

Wow. Okay, I'll look into that.


All the remaining African countries are still the same, but the entire Africa is part of the African union (much like the European union)

What about East Africa, such as Egypt and Somalia? Those are usually considered Middle Eastern.


Mongolia and Greenland are also a independent country.

:smallconfused: Mongolia. The same Mongolia that shares a border with the Chinese Pan-Asian Empire? With a Pop. of 2 Million.


Hawaii was given to The Great Empire of Indonesia by Canada in a gesture of good will

I gotta know what happened to make Canada take over.

[MethosH]

So, is Central America united or still a series of separate countries? Also, does that include the Caribbean like Cuba and such?

Central America is a series of separated countries. Caribbean like Cuba and such are north america countries, and they are still separated. In North America Canada only took control of USA and Mexico.




Wow. Okay, I'll look into that.


Sweet : )



What about East Africa, such as Egypt and Somalia? Those are usually considered Middle Eastern.


I'm still looking into africa. I gotta decide who is who. But Turkey belong to UNE instead of People's Republic of China. And Egypt is still separated. China couldn't get pass the red sea before breaking into war with UNE.



:smallconfused: Mongolia. The same Mongolia that shares a border with the Chinese Pan-Asian Empire? With a Pop. of 2 Million.


Yeap. All countries joinned China semi-voluntarious. Like "Join me. It will be great. You know... So I can protect you from myself."
Mongolia refused. China decide to take it by force but UNE send military equipment to Mongolia. Mongolia resists and UNE decide this is an act of war against an ally and joins the war. The war didn't last long and China gave up.




I gotta know what happened to make Canada take over.

Canada and the United Kingdom share the same Monarch. The USA decided that UNE is a bad idea for them and creates barriers for that. Some countries in Europe secretly join force to give Canada more military power through the United Kingdom. The surprise attack combined with a economic crises made the USE fall. Canada just got greedy with Mexico.

[Ninjadeadbeard]

I'm still looking into africa. I gotta decide who is who. But Turkey belong to UNE instead of People's Republic of China. And Egypt is still separated. China couldn't get pass the red sea before breaking into war with UNE.

They couldn't just go by the Sanai Peninsula?


Yeap. All countries joinned China semi-voluntarious. Like "Join me. It will be great. You know... So I can protect you from myself."
Mongolia refused. China decide to take it by force but UNE send military equipment to Mongolia. Mongolia resists and UNE decide this is an act of war against an ally and joins the war. The war didn't last long and China gave up.

Canada and the United Kingdom share the same Monarch. The USA decided that UNE is a bad idea for them and creates barriers for that. Some countries in Europe secretly join force to give Canada more military power through the United Kingdom. The surprise attack combined with a economic crises made the USE fall. Canada just got greedy with Mexico.

Um...okay. Not even remotely possible, but hey, Suspension of Disbelief (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief), right?

Also, what happens to Russia? Does it go Chinese or European? Or independent?

[MethosH]

They couldn't just go by the Sanai Peninsula?



Um...okay. Not even remotely possible, but hey, Suspension of Disbelief (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief), right?

Also, what happens to Russia? Does it go Chinese or European? Or independent?

They could, but they could generate conflict with countries that had territorial advantage while at war with UNE. And the war with UNE required most of their forces.

[Ninjadeadbeard]

They could, but they could generate conflict with countries that had territorial advantage while at war with UNE. And the war with UNE required most of their forces.

So Egypt is African. But what about Russia?

Edit: While I wait for more info, I re-did that last physical map.
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s231/sithlord7/continent.jpg

Changed the southern river system so it doesn't look like a straight line.

[Zefir]

Hi,

At first I have to say that is awesome work. They look like coming from an atlas.

If you don't mind i would make a request.

I would like to have a map of a big Island. From the size I thought something of 3 times of Germany.

The Island should be designed as a Y, splitting in into 3 different nations which are only connected in the mid to a small point.
http://i977.photobucket.com/albums/ae257/Goldmann-andreas/Land1.png
The image should make things clear.^^
Every nation has his own climax. One should be a moderate nation with many forests a few mountains and long rivers. Another one should contain many mountains and less forests. And the last one should be most dessert with many oases.

Thanks in advanced.

[Story Time]

Geological formations like that only have one real logical cause: Three mountains with shallow-land in the middle. One could use a single high land in the middle and slope it down, but the three valleys so close to the center gives a...problem geologically.

Artistically, it's a neat island idea. Who, or what, carved those valley trenches around the island, even if it was the ocean dragging away sand, becomes the question.

[Elemental]

So Egypt is African. But what about Russia?

Edit: While I wait for more info, I re-did that last physical map.
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s231/sithlord7/continent.jpg

Changed the southern river system so it doesn't look like a straight line.

That is much more natural looking. Good work.

[Zefir]

Geological formations like that only have one real logical cause: Three mountains with shallow-land in the middle. One could use a single high land in the middle and slope it down, but the three valleys so close to the center gives a...problem geologically.

Artistically, it's a neat island idea. Who, or what, carved those valley trenches around the island, even if it was the ocean dragging away sand, becomes the question.

I got an easy excuse for such a formation (which don't need to be so spiky. It was one a full round island, but after some kind of God war the landscape changed spiting people living there into three nations with different gods culture and landscape.

[ForzaFiori]

Do you mind if I use one of your maps? specifically, the 4th one you posted, with the two continent? It's perfect for a campaign world I've been working on (I just have to re-size the E continent to be a large island instead, and it's like your read my mind).

[Ninjadeadbeard]

Do you mind if I use one of your maps? specifically, the 4th one you posted, with the two continent? It's perfect for a campaign world I've been working on (I just have to re-size the E continent to be a large island instead, and it's like your read my mind).

Alrighty. I whipped this up quickly, and removed the names for you.
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s231/sithlord7/resizedcontinents.jpg

[Ninjadeadbeard]

I got an easy excuse for such a formation (which don't need to be so spiky. It was one a full round island, but after some kind of God war the landscape changed spiting people living there into three nations with different gods culture and landscape.

Well, I wasn't sure how close to a Y you wanted, so I went with this:

Standardhttp://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s231/sithlord7/Ymaptest.jpg

Oldhttp://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s231/sithlord7/YOld.jpg

Geographichttp://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s231/sithlord7/Ymapgeo.jpg


Let me know if you need a more Y shape.

[Zefir]

Wow-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------*Bieb*

That is AMAZING
Is there a better word than Amazing?... No So I just say it again, but louder

That is AMAZING
((Currently i really thought od a strict Y Form but the way you did it is much better.))

[Story Time]

I agree! Ninja, your geography skills are improving in an obvious way. :smallsmile:

[ForzaFiori]

Alrighty. I whipped this up quickly, and removed the names for you.
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s231/sithlord7/resizedcontinents.jpg

That's amazing! You have saved me so much time (and my players so many bad maps)

[Ninjadeadbeard]

That's amazing! You have saved me so much time (and my players so many bad maps)

No problem!

Since MethosH hasn't answered my questions, I'll just post the map he wanted as is:
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s231/sithlord7/mapforguy-1.jpg

I'll mod it if he comes back.

[MethosH]

No problem!

Since MethosH hasn't answered my questions, I'll just post the map he wanted as is:
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s231/sithlord7/mapforguy-1.jpg

I'll mod it if he comes back.

Thanks for the map! Looking great :D

I've been busy this week, but I'll be back with a comic update this weekend.

Just one thing. The only country that you didn't added to The Great Empire of Indonesia was Indonesia itself :smalltongue:

[MethosH]

No problem!

Since MethosH hasn't answered my questions, I'll just post the map he wanted as is:
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s231/sithlord7/mapforguy-1.jpg

I'll mod it if he comes back.

Thanks for the map! Looking great :D

I've been busy this week, but I'll be back with a comic update this weekend.

Just one thing. The only country that you didn't added to The Great Empire of Indonesia was Indonesia itself :smalltongue:

[Ninjadeadbeard]

Thanks for the map! Looking great :D

I've been busy this week, but I'll be back with a comic update this weekend.

Just one thing. The only country that you didn't added to The Great Empire of Indonesia was Indonesia itself :smalltongue:

:smalleek: How did I...?
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s231/sithlord7/mapforguy-2.jpg

Hope that's better! Just started a new map. Might take me a while. It's big.

[Ninjadeadbeard]

New map. Tired. Soooooo tired. If anyone feels like commenting/critiquing, more power to ya. I'm asleep now.

Larger image than usual. Be warned.
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s231/sithlord7/Orlande1.jpg
Oh, incase anyone wants to know, that upper-middle "lake"? It's the size of the continental US. Scale is fun.

[MethosH]

Those "lakes" seems like reverse countries. A mass of water surrounded by land.

[Ninjadeadbeard]

Those "lakes" seems like reverse countries. A mass of water surrounded by land.

Hence the "". They're inland seas, the top middle totally isolate like the RL Caspian Sea. The other three have outflows into the greater ocean.

[Zefir]

Your skill is stillvery awesome especially on these high detailed maps. What programm do you use since I don't asume your drawing them by hand and then scan them.

[Ninjadeadbeard]

Your skill is stillvery awesome especially on these high detailed maps. What programm do you use since I don't asume your drawing them by hand and then scan them.

I use Photoshop. The actual shape of the landmasses are made through Cloud Layers stacked, with the top one set to Hard Mix. Most of the rest is also made through cloud layers that I go through and alter here and there until something map-like emerges. My methods evolved partly from Ascension's Tutorial (http://www.cartographersguild.com/content.php?116-Ascensions-atlas-style-in-Photoshop) at the Cartographer's Guild, where I learned how to use cloud layers and such. The rest of it was gained through experimentation and a few other tips at the aforementioned website. I should slap a video together sometime to show the process.

[Ninjadeadbeard]

I hate double posting, but in this case it seems to be the best way to post new stuff rather than editing older posts.

http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s231/sithlord7/Mundusfirst.jpg

Note about this map: This is a finalized map of an earlier one (I think the first one posted in this thread). Pretty soon I'll put this in the Worldbuilding section when I can put down the setting in words. At the moment, I need sleep.

[Elemental]

The use of the term Tyrrhenian leaps out at me.
May I enquire as to what inspired you to use that name?

One note: How volcanic is the region? You seem to have a large number of islands scattered throughout the sea that can't be reliably explained otherwise.

Okay, two notes: The method by which you've drawn your mountains leaves them rather ambiguous looking. Do they really contain as many inexplicable valleys and depressions as they appear to?

Aside from that nitpick, it's a great improvement over your earlier work. The rivers in particular look much more natural.



And yes, I know I said I'd post an image of a map, but I can't find any that are good enough to put up on the Internet and I find myself lacking the motivation to draw one.
It can, after all, take a while.

[Ninjadeadbeard]

The use of the term Tyrrhenian leaps out at me.
May I enquire as to what inspired you to use that name?

The setting is based on Late Antiquity, particularly the Roman Empire around the first century BC. Tyrrhenian was one among many names I grappled with looking for a good name for the "Roman" race. I eventually decided on it as the regional name (like how Rome was settled in Latium (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latium)). I basically used the same name as a sea by Italy named for the Etruscans.


One note: How volcanic is the region? You seem to have a large number of islands scattered throughout the sea that can't be reliably explained otherwise.

It's probably volcanic as all-get-out. The northwest is a lot like Mediterranean-coast Europe, so there's a few Vesuvius' there. I want to say that the continental plate is pushing into another plate, leading to high volcanism and explaining some of the mountains as the continent rippling and buckling, but I'm not a geology major and haven't taken such a class in years. Does this sound reasonable?


Okay, two notes: The method by which you've drawn your mountains leaves them rather ambiguous looking. Do they really contain as many inexplicable valleys and depressions as they appear to?

They're meant to be mountain ranges, so I'd say yes they do. They do look odd though in a certain light. I'd rather not redraw them, but if they look really unnatural I might.


Aside from that nitpick, it's a great improvement over your earlier work. The rivers in particular look much more natural.

Thank you :smallsmile:. I actually tried to vary the river sizes here and there, with smaller inland rivers leading and merging into larger sea-bound rivers.


And yes, I know I said I'd post an image of a map, but I can't find any that are good enough to put up on the Internet and I find myself lacking the motivation to draw one.
It can, after all, take a while.

I totally understand. A lot of my earlier maps were drawn over several months, and I only just posted in bulk. Still, if you have an idea for representing forests, I'm still all ears.

[Story Time]

The rivers seem to be improving. :smallsmile: I like that map, I think.

[Morph Bark]

New map. Tired. Soooooo tired. If anyone feels like commenting/critiquing, more power to ya. I'm asleep now.

Larger image than usual. Be warned.
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s231/sithlord7/Orlande1.jpg
Oh, incase anyone wants to know, that upper-middle "lake"? It's the size of the continental US. Scale is fun.

I so want to see the rest of the world map on this one, seeing as the land trails off on the side.

[Ninjadeadbeard]

I so want to see the rest of the world map on this one, seeing as the land trails off on the side.

I might sometime, but it wouldn't be much. The map trails off primarily into the Arctic and Antarctic regions of the world.

[Milo v3]

Your maps are awesome and I plan to try and use the method you wrote earlier in the thread.

If you are still willing to take requests, then I was wondering if you could make a map for my campaign setting.
I drew an amazingly basic map of it a year or two ago, would it be possible for you to make a map of your quality based off my bad one.

Here is a link to the image. (http://www.dandwiki.com/w/images/7/70/World_Keran.jpg)

[Ninjadeadbeard]

I drew an amazingly basic map of it a year or two ago, would it be possible for you to make a map of your quality based off my bad one.

It's honestly not that bad of a map. Just a question: What is Turvarn? Is it supposed to be mountains, desert?

[Milo v3]

It's honestly not that bad of a map. Just a question: What is Turvarn? Is it supposed to be mountains, desert?

Here is a section from the geography details on my setting (http://www.dandwiki.com/wiki/Geography_and_Environment_(Keran_Supplement)):


The Turvan is a huge set of Mountain Ranges. These mountains are so high that water frezes after a few minutes. The wind generally makes climbing these Mountains a fools task.

Dwarves and Durzites live deep inside these mountains, using the rich ore to build their cities. Because of the Dwarves and Durzites the Turvarn is riddled with maze-like tunnels. Many Creatures fill these caverns which causes most travelers to try and travel the Turvarn via Valleys on the surface. These valeys areas are all covered in a blanket of snow.

The Biggest City in the Mountains is the Durzite city of Ragna. Ragna utilizes Golems and similar constructs to expand on the city, without any danger to the Durzites themselves.

[Ninjadeadbeard]

Took me some time to work out all the kinks Milo, but I think you'll like this:

First in my usual style:
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s231/sithlord7/Keranstyle.jpg
Second, a more familiar color selection:
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s231/sithlord7/Kerancolornames.jpg
And finally with no names
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s231/sithlord7/Kerancolor.jpg

[Milo v3]

Thanks those are perfect. :smallsmile:

[Gnomish Wanderer]

Your maps are amazing, I am very impressed with your work. The level of detail is marvelous. I'd like to see if I could make my own request for a map, if you have the time. I'm starting up a D&D game again and I realized I lost the old map, so I figured this might be a good time to completely impress my players. Let me know if you're available and willing and I can try to re-sketch it to give you something to work with ^_^

[Ninjadeadbeard]

Your maps are amazing, I am very impressed with your work. The level of detail is marvelous. I'd like to see if I could make my own request for a map, if you have the time. I'm starting up a D&D game again and I realized I lost the old map, so I figured this might be a good time to completely impress my players. Let me know if you're available and willing and I can try to re-sketch it to give you something to work with ^_^

Oh, absolutely! I love doing maps, but lately school has taken up the bulk of my time. With finals coming up, I'm about to get a lot more free time. Just post a sketch and a little background info like terrain and I'll get cracking.

[Gnomish Wanderer]

Thank you, thank you! ^_^ I will be forever in your debt.
Terrible Map, my sketchhttp://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh260/gnome_4ever/terriblemap.jpg

Description. I had to fight myself from spilling tons of unnecessary details that slipped in regardless. I sorry. The fertile lands are smack in the middle, revolving around the Kingdom of Hilltop surrounded by its grand walls.

To the north of Hilltop the ancient roads stretch upward to Crossroads, a tent town that sprang up within the edge of the swamp from demand, where the road splits into four. Keep following the road north and it'll stretch into the Sicori Forest, an impressive forest of thick trees that stretches out several days to the west and onto the peninsula that encapsulates an open-sea bay.

The road continues to the Mudin Mountains, the huge gash that separates the frozen dwarven war-plagued lands and holds out the cold. Here you'll find one of the only two safe passages through the mountains at the Dalatov Pass.

Back at Crossroads if you take the road going Northeast, you soon find the grasslands less hilly and becoming more thick, the grass seeming more choking here. If you keep following the road as it turns North you'll come to the Dwarven trade city of Dintag, the Mouth of the Dwarven Kingdoms where the two massive nations of southern Hilltop residents and Dwarven emissaries mingle. The only other known pass into the Dwarven Kingdoms.

Now on that Northeast road, before it turns more fully north to the Dwarven kingdoms, there is a strange trail bearing no grass. If you follow that for half a day, you'll find the City of Mirrors, Forudia. From the tallest tower of Forundia you can see the lifeless stretch of rocky infertile land that stretches to the east nearby.

The Southeast trail from Crossroads is quite a bit different. The hills stay constant for several days' journey, before finally the world seems to open up to a bleak rocky landscape that stretches to the east. It's within this lifeless zone you'll find Sartese, the ruins of an old civilization lost an era ago.

If you follow the road south life seems to be breathed into the land again as you reach the hot savannah, the trees and and grass sparse but larger animals less so. Here you'll find the town of Rovinspar, a wilder people only kept under Hilltop's power using force. And it seems not much longer the road becomes dotted with hills of rolling sand, barely visible in the near endless desert that stretches to the south and east. The road eventually becomes useless, which is why the kingdom far on the other side of the giant desert is rarely traded with.

Now if you were to take the south road out of Hilltop, the road is in much better repair and stretches south to the Mines on the outskirts of the savannah. The Mines themselves are a giant mining pit filled with rare minerals, a man-made gouge unlike the natural ones just to the west. The Dragonspire Canyons tear through the land, impressive rocky formations that sit maze-like in the land all the way west to the Shull Mountains, where the ancient Dragonborn kingdoms once sat. Streams of water snake through the floor of the canyons, providing yet another resource to both Hilltop and the Mines.

Just north of the Shull Mountains, when the land gets green and splentiful again, you run across the fishing town of Scaritha. Scaritha fishes the plentiful waters of the Roto Bay. They also get one of the impressive views of the Lifetree, a giant tree that roots in the middle of the mouth of the bay and stretches miles into the air.
I think that'll work, let me know if you want more detail. Perhaps I should have drawn the map at a smaller scale... Oh well. I really appreciate this!

[1whoscribbled]

Hi just wanted to say your awesome and I might have request for you soon. If you play Fire Emblem I would gladly do some sprites for you (any map, mug, battle, ect ..) in trade for you making me a map.

In any case your awesome :smallbiggrin:

[Logic]

Is it possible to make a request for a map, based on a real world location?

[META_mahn]

Hey, uh... I don't exactly have the time to make a map. So, can you build me a map? I'm not looking for much, maybe about half water and half land, and one continent needs to look somewhat like a dragon, and the other needs to look somewhat like a crescent. I'll need about five continents plus one subcontinent/island-Australia like thing.
I won't be able to play anything. Sorry. I'm a poor student. If I had a job I would pay. But then again, if I had a job, I wouldn't have to ration my money on Steam. :smallbiggrin:

Thanks,
Meta