Great ideas. I'll try some of those modifications (including not using a bevel).
According to my friend, the dark blue represents deep/fast flowing water. The lighter blue is shallow/slow flowing water.
You are right about several elements here. Keep in mind, these maps were drawn by my friend back when he was in 7th/8th grade in 1978. So, my job is not really to "fix" the maps so much as render a fairly accurate interpretation of them that respects the lore/legacy of the campaign. There are huge amounts of content we're working with; literally boxes upon boxes, and the only guidelines I've been given are to map what's there. I have tried to make as plausible renditions as I can, though. The world being flat as a pancake could explain some of the weird river characteristics, perhaps.
LOL - Neither can I! I have numerous conversations with my friend about the line drawing maps around this sort of thing. All he really told me about the world is that "it's completely flat" with a "west to east" slope that is fairly constant. I think there is one large "crease" that runs from NE to SW on the western side of the plane that causes the rivers on the western side to flow from east to west. This is definitely fantasy we're talkin'!
Yeah. I'll turn off the ridge FX and change to a dark brown color. Will see how it works.
Yes. The ridgelines are only tactical. They indicate where it takes "one day to cross on foot", and "horse/carriage/wagon/wheeled vehicles cannot cross at all". That's kind of why I made them stand out so much. I tried a few versions without them and the first thing my friend said was "where's the ridgelines?". So they're pretty important tactical markers. The ridges where there are no ridgeline markings simply mean that those mountains are passable, even if treacherously so.
Thanks so much for the INSIGHTFUL and specific feedback. I've asked several of the same questions of my friend, and he has specific reasons for the way things are the way they are. Who am I to argue with such historic content?! I can get a map like this done in about 5 hours or so, give or take. That's still a LOT of work.
Again - thanks very much. I'll try tweaking the river forks and the ridgelines, then posting them here.