Castle Ruins

[psyekl]

I've been working on a new series of maps detailing a ruined keep used in one of my games. As with all of my drawings, this map is meant to be offered for sale eventually so I can only post an unfinished image of one level. The drawing itself is pretty much completed; what is missing on this particular map are labels and descriptions, but it gives a good representation of my style. Enjoy

[tilt]

that looks really good, one thing sticks out though - the threes seem out of place since they use a much thicker line that all the other elements on the map

[Aval Penworth]

that looks really good, one thing sticks out though - the threes seem out of place since they use a much thicker line that all the other elements on the map

Prolly just the default line width of the CAD program. Architects (my dad was one) often seem to represent fat edged trees FSR.

Looks very nice tho. It actually shows where everything is, something we sometimes overlook in the name of artistry.

[Steel General]

That castle outline seems familiar... did you base it off of a real plan?

[psyekl]

The overall shape of the plan is from the keep of Caernarvon Castle in Wales. I have a couple of books of castle plans that I often reference, unfortunately the plans in the book are extremely vague so I take a great amount of artistic liscense in creating whatever layout that suits me. Starting out with a general outline that I find pleasing is a common technique I use when creating plans. In this case, I didn't stray too far from the original inspiration.

As for the trees: They are intended to be symbols of the tree's locations, not actual artistic renderings of trees. I purposefully made their outlines bold so that they would stand out against the plan to avoid any confusion. In drafting it is more important to maintain clarity and legibility than seek to maintain artistic quality; I guess old habits are hard to break lol.

I did forget to mention that this is hand-drawn. No digital editing has been done other than to patch together the multiple scans of the 13"x19" original. I do plan on using Photoshop to add text and to do a little "cleanup".

[tilt]

As for the trees: They are intended to be symbols of the tree's locations, not actual artistic renderings of trees. I purposefully made their outlines bold so that they would stand out against the plan to avoid any confusion. In drafting it is more important to maintain clarity and legibility than seek to maintain artistic quality; I guess old habits are hard to break lol.

but in mapping your minor elements shouldn't steal the attention from the main ones

[psyekl]

but in mapping your minor elements shouldn't steal the attention from the main ones

That is definitely a valid opinion, and looking at your graphic design work I can see that you do know a thing or two about composition. I have to say, however, that I still prefer the way I have drawn it here. The tree symbols were intended to "stand out" from the plan, and they do it nicely

My train of thought for the way the trees are being represented here is that at this level of the plan the trees pass through the cutting plane. On the next map of the uppermost floors the trees will be drawn artistically as viewed from above, using a thinner line.

[tilt]

That is definitely a valid opinion, and looking at your graphic design work I can see that you do know a thing or two about composition. I have to say, however, that I still prefer the way I have drawn it here. The tree symbols were intended to "stand out" from the plan, and they do it nicely

My train of thought for the way the trees are being represented here is that at this level of the plan the trees pass through the cutting plane. On the next map of the uppermost floors the trees will be drawn artistically as viewed from above, using a thinner line.

Thank you ... and in the end, what ever you like will be right for your map - its as simple as that

[Steel General]

The overall shape of the plan is from the keep of Caernarvon Castle in Wales. I have a couple of books of castle plans that I often reference, unfortunately the plans in the book are extremely vague so I take a great amount of artistic liscense in creating whatever layout that suits me. Starting out with a general outline that I find pleasing is a common technique I use when creating plans. In this case, I didn't stray too far from the original inspiration..

I thought it looked familiar, I think I've used that one myself.

[ravells]

That's a really beautiful drawing. I was wondering how you got such wonderful hatching and tiles and thinking that it looked hand-done (too nice to be computer generated). Great work, psyekl!!