Hello everyone

[Eilathen]

May I introduce myself ;)

My name's Eilathen (Name's stolen from a book by Guy Gavriel Kay) and I live in Switzerland.
I study mathematics and am on my way to become a teacher for said subject (already teaching one class). I like to read, write and do sports (Tennis, Running and general fitness/workout-trainings).
Fantasy is a great hobby of mine. I read a lot of Novels (Top 4 atm are: Steven Erikson, George R. R. Martin, Scott R. Bakker and Michelle West) and i play in several RPGs.
I am a total map-addict. Be it in a book or an rpg, i always locate the map first (and a book that has no map is only half a book for me)

I am often surfing around the internet for maps and this is where i found this forum. A lot of great work on here, I am in awe!
My own maps are nowhere near this quality (I still draw most of my maps by hand). Over the last couple of years I started work on 3 Worlds but so far, i never finished one, unfortunately. I have some maps lying around but i do not have a working scanner so i cannot show you the maps atm.

Ups, already rambling :oops:

Just wanted to say hi...so... "Hi!"

Looking forward to all the map-goodness that is coming my way 8)

Cheers
Eilathen

[RobA]

Hi Eilathen!

Welcome aboard. There have been quite a few nice hand drawn maps popping up here, and always provide some insight, inspiration, or a bit of nostalgia.

-Rob A>

[ravells]

Welcome Eilathan!

Please do scan your maps and let's all have a look! It would be great to see your work!

All the best

Ravs

[pyrandon]

Welcome!

And let me say, with the world of the internet and computer graphics apps at your figertips, not being able to draw is no longer a valid excuse! :) It's fairly easy to turn even the worst maps into usable pieces of which you can be proud! Don't cut yourself short! :)

Once again, welcome!

[Eilathen]

Thanks guys, for the warm welcome :)

@ ravells - I try to scan the map i have lying around as soon as i have access to a working scanner, promise.

@ pyrandon - lol...your words in god's ear (a saying in german, don't know if it makes sense in english ^^ ) ... some of those computer-tools seem to be very difficult (Photoshop for exmaple) and such a lot of work to get into...well at least from my perspective...but maybe i am a bit computer-lazy :lol: But i will read the tutorials you have on here an who knows, maybe I will get into it...

[Midgardsormr]

Welcome! The phrase translates well into English as "From your lips to God's ear."

Photoshop and other graphics suites can, indeed, be intimidating, but they're well worth learning, and you can learn quite a bit by just fooling around with them. And if you don't have the cash to lay out for Photoshop, take a look at the Gimp: a freeware paint and photo editing program--lots of folks in these parts use it very successfully.

[pyrandon]

some of those computer-tools seem to be very difficult (Photoshop for exmaple) and such a lot of work to get into...well at least from my perspective...but maybe i am a bit computer-lazy :lol: But i will read the tutorials you have on here an who knows, maybe I will get into it...

Great! And don't forget to request a tutorial or ask anytime you need help!

[Torq]

Welcome Eilathan. I'm sure you''ll find exactly what you are looking for here, just ask. You mentioned your novell preferences, I just started getting into Steven Erikson and I'm loving it. Great stories, but IMHO he should have browsed around here before adding the maps to the beginning of the books, and maybe got Ravs or Pyrandon to do them ;)

Torq

[jaerdaph]

Welcome, Eilathen! :)

[NeonKnight]

Welcome to the group. With the plethora of computer mapping aids out there, you will certainly find one that suits your needs.

[Eilathen]

Thanks guys :)
I have CC2 on my computer but so far I haven't gotten around to acctually finish a map with it. As i said...i am computer-lazy :oops:

@ Torq - lol...yeah, they both would have done a more sophisticated map, i am sure. But i still think Erikson has nice maps in comparison to 95% of the other books...i am still amazed that there are so many fantasy-books out there which don't have a map at all. I mean come on, how can you try to "sell" me a new and foreign world without giving me a map... *shakes head*