Paradoxically, it may be your high level of detail in the land outlines that makes one expect more detail in the way of names and topography. If there was a lower roughness to the coast, I might expect a simpler map; say, one for use inline in a Wikipedia article. As it is, maybe you could add area names as well as the city names you already show? Like Eledrian Empire, Wayu Tribes, Koria (Ele. vassal), Nameofdisputedislandrealm -- that sort? I understand if your people name realms by their principal city, you've pretty much done that already. Maybe a couple of more sea/ ocean/ strait/ bay names? It wouldn't be out of place to note right on the map something like "both realms claim the whole of Whatever Island"
That Hieran / Arthan river is looking implausible, by the way. In general, a river won't make a major split like that - sure, little diversions like deltas, and inline islands, but two far distant directions can't both be "most downhill" from the point of alleged split. One would in fact be a bit lower or steeper, and would capture all the flow, leaving the other way dry. If your story called for river contact between Arthan and old Heiran, maybe there could be a canal connecting two different rivers. If it doesn't warrant that much effort, just erasing a little bit of the rivercourse, say N of the Arthan border, you would be showing two separate rivers, both arising in presumed highlands between Arthan and Heiran., and both flowing downhill, one N to join the Heiran River and one S to pass the city of Arthan.
It's already a pretty map. I don't mind the bright colors, but neither would muting them hurt your look.
A simple border might put a finished impression on it - even a plain thin neatline.
You're right - a political map doesn't need topographic elements. River locations have a bit of interest, since they're often borders, they are vital for many cities, they indicate transport... but even they aren't crucial for a purely political map. The bodies of water are politically-related - people talking about the Korian Rebellion potential are going to talk about the impassibility or ease of transport across the seas between that and the main Empire lands - and the name folks refer to those waters by are thus apropos.
Political maps often indicate size and/or importance of cities.
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Originally Posted by jbgibson
), where everything it contains is there for a reason. dont get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with either way, it's just nice to see a more 'functional' map here.
