Thread: Mountain help?

If you really want to get anal about the tectonics then there are some tuts and numerous WIPs that go into the subject. But for me, plausibility is good enough. First, I don't make mtn ranges that go in circles or squares or funky shapes...true it can be fun but I just don't do it. Second, I don't make them go all over the place...they follow a clear line and may have a few small branches. Third, I make at least one long mtn chain and a few other smaller mtn chains for "flavor". Fourth, I never put them directly in the middle of the landmass, it looks artificial, but by the same token I don't put them all by the coast either as not all places are fjords. Lastly, I know what other terrain is going in and roughly where I want that and make the mtn placement fit that...ie I'm not running mtns straight across a desert or swamp. In the end, you just sort of develop a feel for it after having done it many times.

I agree with Ascension... mountains arises where the tectonic plates come together and therefor happen in ranges... so concidering the size of your map you'll have a single range or more - and then a few to spice up the map here and there

I read somewhere (I can't remember where, so take it with a grain of salt) that mountains cover roughly 10% of a given landmass ... I usually try to gauge this as my ballpark of whether I've added enough.

Take a look at Expeditious Retreat Press' "A Magical Society: Guide to Mapping." It's a free chapter from their book A Magical Society: Ecology and Culture.