Results 1 to 8 of 8

Thread: My first try - so be gentle :)

  1. #1

    Map My first try - so be gentle :)

    That's just a small village in the middle of nowhere I'm goint to use for my 4E playtest. And it's also my first try at cartography, so any advice would be precious.
    And thank you pyrandon for this tutorial.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Click image for larger version. 

Name:	map.jpg 
Views:	118 
Size:	376.2 KB 
ID:	2811  

  2. #2
    Guild Adept Valarian's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    Worcestershire, UK
    Posts
    331

    Post

    In terms of graphics, it's good - especially for a first go. I like the river banks and the raised ground effects.

    I have some thoughts on the village layout. I think that there'd be a few more building clustered around #2. I'm sure that there'd be a couple of people making use of the small lake to the right hand side of the picture for fishing. Building #3, #6, #7 and #8 might be isolated farmsteads / small holdings. The other buildings would more than likely cluster together a bit more - possibly even having a palisade built around the village for protection. Especially as you're saying that it's a village in the middle of nowhere.
    Does the lake feed in to the river underground? It might be nice to see a small connection between the lake and the river where it bends. Possibly some feeder streams from the mountains.

    [EDIT]
    Attached a rough hack to show a possible change to the layout. My apologies for spoiling the look of the map in the hack, I've only got MS Paint to play around with at the moment.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Click image for larger version. 

Name:	map.jpg 
Views:	94 
Size:	155.4 KB 
ID:	2812  
    Last edited by Valarian; 03-20-2008 at 09:12 AM.
    Google Groups for FGII Games:
    European FG2 RPG - Fridays & Sundays (8pm UK time)
    Using Ultimate FGII and can accept unlicensed player connections on some of the games

  3. #3

    Post

    Thanks for the suggestions - I find them very helpful. Will do version 1.1 in a couple of days.

  4. #4

    Post

    I had a couple of thoughts but then realized that they are all dependent on the scale of your map. So rather than waste your time, I'll first ask, what is the scale?

  5. #5
    Community Leader pyrandon's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Michigan, USA
    Posts
    1,341

    Default

    Hey! Nice adaptation of that tutorial! I like how you have gone the stylistic/representational route vs. my own more realistic approach. Once you get the layout down, as Valarian & I'm sure The Cartographist will assist you into, I would blur the edges of the buildings some; right now they are so sharp and crip-edged that the buildings seem to float on top. I really, really like the mountains (or are they hills? Might want to do some brown coloring there if mts.--maybe even white cap them), and the trees are interesting too. Overall, a great job. (And no, that's not just me being "gentle", either!)

    PS: Your screen name is great!
    Don
    My gallery is here
    __________________________________________________ _______
    "Keep your mind in hell, but despair not." --Saint Silouan [1866-1938]

  6. #6

    Post

    I think the drop shadows are contributing to the appearance that the houses are floating, too.
    Bryan Ray, visual effects artist
    http://www.bryanray.name

  7. #7
    Community Leader NeonKnight's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Surrey, Canada, EH!
    Posts
    5,051

    Post

    I will agree, the houses appear to be floating because of the drop shadow.

    Also, for me the Trees have a scalloped effect like sliced cucumbers placed down in fanned pattern.

    The Hills I like, they look good.
    Daniel the Neon Knight: Campaign Cartographer User

    Never use a big word when a diminutive one will suffice!

    Any questions on CC3? Post them with CC3 in the Subject Line!
    MY 'FAMOUS' CC3 MAPS: Thunderspire; Pyramid of Shadows; King of the Trollhaunt Warrens; Demon Queen's Enclave

  8. #8

    Post

    Thank you people for your feedback - you are such a friendly community. Right now I have a huge amount of work, but as soon as I finish it - I'll try to incoroprate your advice and answer your questions. Thanks again.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •