Unnamed Campaign setting map

[tves]

Right, me and my gaming group decided instead of picking an established campaign setting or having me the GM create one, we would do things collaborative and create a campaign setting collectively.

But eventually there was a need for a map, and I took that job onto myself, I've used Fractal Mapper 8 on numerous occasions, mostly just for idle fun and though. The program is far from perfect, but quite easy to use (a good thing as I found whilst trying to teach myself GIMP skills through many of the tutorials here on the site).

Anyway enough tell time for the show.



PS: This constitutes my first post here, so be gentle!

[Juggernaut1981]

No obvious river violations....TICK
Mountains come in Ranges... TICK
Location of terrain-types makes sense... TICK

Graphics could do with some hardcore tweaking... Learn GIMP and pester RobA, God of GIMP (he's the first Deity to have GIMP as a domain...)

Consider yourself gently treated and welcome aboard the Guild. *Ftang with Rep-Whiffle Bat*

[tilt]

well.. basicly .. what Juggernaut said .. good start on mapping and congrats on your first post. Now you've got the basics down, its time to work on the beautification of the map - and GIMP will do the trick so you can have some smoth looking trees and such. Mountains are of course edgy by nature, but the rest of the features are a bit pixelated

[tves]

Thanks for the kind words, and yes I've been trying to get a hang on GIMP in order to make this look a bit less like a kid cartoonesque map. Had Jeremy Elford's PDF tutorials, although they are for PS and was trying to make sense of the thing. I'll give it another go, and hopefully build on the "alpha sketch" that this map is.

[Juggernaut1981]

Biggest Points:

1) Do you like the "Sat Style" Quasi-Photo maps? If YES, go to this tutorial: http://www.cartographersguild.com/sh...gional-RPG-Map

2) Do you like the Tolkein-esque Pen'n'Ink type maps? If YES,
Go to this tutorial by Gidde http://www.cartographersguild.com/sh...ly-Challenged)
OR
Go to this tutorial by Ascension http://www.cartographersguild.com/sh...s-in-Photoshop

Or go to all three. Other guys to keep a good eye out for on the "Antique Maps" front are: Gamerprinter, Ravells & Ramah.

If you are having issues turning a PhotoShop Tutorial into a GIMP Image, ask RobA (Seriously he should be at least St Rob of GIMP, but I'd lobby for his ascenting to godhood in GIMP. If it can be done in GIMP, RobA has done it, can do it or can write a script to make it happen anyway... [/blowing smoke up RobA's butt])

[Jaxilon]

[/blowing smoke up RobA's butt])

ROFL, why don't you just marry him already...except, what Jug says is pretty accurate. There are some good tutorials written for GIMP and RobA is our expert.

I sucked at it when I started here and now I...well...suck less Just keep at it, you have a good start here and if you can use GIMP to touch it up a bit here and there to soften up the pixelation a bit I think you will be happy you did.

I still waste too much time fiddling with the GIMP tools but I am getting better and faster. Now if I could just get real life off my back so I could do some more art.

Excellent first map. *Rep slap*

[Gidde]

The others have pretty much nailed any advice I may give, so I'll limit myself to a hearty "Welcome aboard!" and have some rep for posting your first map!

[tves]

Right have been sitting with Roba's Gimp tutorial, but for some reason I cannot for the love of me get the mountains right. Mine always tend to be largely uniform in "bumpage" and not really all that intresting on the map. I'll post more progress once I get some sleep in.

[Juggernaut1981]

Mostly cause I'm already married and RobA needs to wax more before getting into a Miniskirt...

[tves]

Right, finally content with the mountains I got, should have known better and just looked for RobA's simple mountain tutorial right away. Now all I have left to do is populate the map with forests, cities and other such perishable goods.