I've been attempting to find guidance for this problem via Google for a few days now. I'm a handful of queries short of just throwing my laptop across the room, so it seems pertinent to find another avenue of asking.

I am building my world map in Illustrator (my version is CS4), and am having problems coming to terms with the way the mountains are displayed. I'd like to go for an aerial view; I'm keen on keeping perspective and sizing accurate enough to determine the appropriate supply lines in a time of war. I'm just not sure how to accomplish this without spending years attacking the task.

I'm hoping there's something along the lines of a technique coupled with a Has anyone traveled down this road? Is it filled with more than tears?