Thread: Legends

More special symbols! More keys and legends! I think that most people overlook this part as they're just using simple dots for things and then they run out of free space to put a big square in a corner to help peeps figger out what's what. I know that I've been guilty a time or two of forgetting one and now that I think about it I forgot to put roads in my key for my latest map.

I'm also thinking that sometimes we get so focused on making a pretty map that we forget all of the informational stuff that we need to put on an image...think of how many times you've heard "what's the scale?"

Maybe we need to make a checklist and put it in a sticky "Things every map needs to have".

1. a map
2. a scale
3. a compass
4. a key (for roads, towns, borders, parks, airports, etc)
5. a legend (for terrain features like forests, mtns, swamps, etc)
6. cartouche (box to contain the above info)

Optional

1. title
2. frame
3. grid
4. artists name, date, etc

I may have gotten key and legend backwards here but you get the idea.

Dammit, I thought several times, "I need a scale on this Map Of Ceres" ... and I never put it on! Well, at least I have the planet's radius, so the scale is indicated to some degree. But still. Meh.

I had no clue there's a difference btwn Legend and Key. Hmm.

I don't really know either...just seems kinda weird to lump them all together under one name. Maybe someone who does those real world maps can answer that, I know there are a few here.

Originally Posted by töff

Dammit, I thought several times, "I need a scale on this Map Of Ceres" ... and I never put it on! Well, at least I have the planet's radius, so the scale is indicated to some degree. But still. Meh.

I had no clue there's a difference btwn Legend and Key. Hmm.

Toff...the man who is trying to improve on perfection...bah!

Ceres is perfect.

perfect.

All of mine get a scale and a compass before declaring complete... unless they're battle maps... and even some of those get a scale...

As for a Key... when I finally finish a map well enough to have roads and such on it... yea I'll probably ad that... right now my maps don't even always have borders...

Originally Posted by ravells

the man who is trying to improve on perfection

Wanna kick a man in the ass to do something, tell him he can't do it.