Geographical theory.

[Zen Clark]

What can be used to find the right balance? The concept that the map is based on is still deep in the making, and I'm wanting to work on map that is both physically accurate along with being something that I can based some of the cultural aspects on.

[Hai-Etlik]

What can be used to find the right balance? The concept that the map is based on is still deep in the making, and I'm wanting to work on map that is both physically accurate along with being something that I can based some of the cultural aspects on.

A Magical Society: Guide to Mapping (Linked to above) uses the idea of being a lazy deity. You have the magic to make impossible things happen, but you don't want to waste it on trivialities. So if something doesn't need to be magic, it shouldn't be, but if you need an impossibility, you should include it, and then work the natural consequences of it out.

For instance: Rivers don't flow between oceans. Unless there's a good reason for magic to cause a river to do so. In that case, the river would have salt water. Unless there was a reason to invest further magic to desalinate it.

[Dogzilla]

I learned a lot from studying this map:
http://www.boqueteweather.com/images...limate_map.jpg
The patterns keep repeating--what happens at different latitudes, differences between East/West coast of continents, effects of mountains, how jagged coastlines are more likely in areas of high rainfall (esp. w/glacier effect at high lats), etc.
This of course assumes Earth cosmology. Change size/distance from Sun, orbit shape/period, planetary size/composition/density (gravity), axis tilt, etc., then you have to make a lot of educated guesses, this might help:
http://www.cix.co.uk/%7Emorven/world...dex.html#intro

[Zen Clark]

I learned a lot from studying this map:
http://www.boqueteweather.com/images...limate_map.jpg
The patterns keep repeating--what happens at different latitudes, differences between East/West coast of continents, effects of mountains, how jagged coastlines are more likely in areas of high rainfall (esp. w/glacier effect at high lats), etc. ...

That picture definitely is interesting. It should be fairly useful.

... this might help:
http://www.cix.co.uk/%7Emorven/world...dex.html#intro

That article is probably the best one I've seen on map creation. Not many articles go into that much detail, although one with even more would be awesome.