A Hedge Maze!

[Larb]

Structure? Dungeon? There isn't really a "Garden Features" section and it could be dungeony. In Book of Challenges, that really old 3e book, there were two mazes one of which was a hedge maze. It had blink dogs in it I think. Or maybe displacer beasts. I can't remember.

I guess it could count as a dungeon. Especially if it was full of dangerous animated topiary. Or perhaps a killer flesh golem with a hedge trimmer like in Castlevania 64.

ANYWAY. I should add that I love hedge mazes - they are one of my favourite things ever. This one I have drawn for a very dear friend who I wished to cheer up a little. But it could be used as a dungeon. I think for the next OPD I might do a maze.

I used an isometric grid as a base and planned the maze out before drawing the actual hedges. I did the plan three times before I found one I liked. I used that parchment from that one step by step drawing thread by Torstan I think 'cause it's pretty and I've been overusing my other textures a bit lately. I also wanted to try some shading using the overlay layers because it looks like an interesting technique and it's not what I usually do. Not sure about that right now. I'll have to experiment with that method a bit more.

I don't think I'll do much else on this now except tidy a few things up.

[Seraphine_Harmonium]

Looks great! I like seeing that there are "things" scattered throughout the maze, like the tower in the middle, the waterfall pond, and the sundial.

I am curious though, is the challenge of the maze to get to the middle, or to get to an exit? I don't see another way out, unless that little gated shed in the top right is an exit.

[Larb]

The little gated thing is supposed to go underground but I'm not sure to what. I once went to this real maze that had a grotto in the middle and I also went to one that had a kind of sunken vaulted chamber at the end.

The middle is the focus of the maze, the wooden structure can be used as a tea house or the like and allows you to look out across the maze, and the open grass can be used for outdoor picnics. I basically designed something my friend and I would enjoy walking around and spending time in.

Unless it had vicious animated topiary. Probably not so enjoyable then.

A while ago I designed a bamboo and wooden maze for my L5R campaign. The players never did visit it (I had a potential showdown with one of the villains there). I may do a nicer version of that one at some point.

*edit* I am glad the sundial is obvious, I wondered if it'd get lost! I should mention I like sundials too and all the silly inscriptions they can have. I think my favourite is "I count only the bright hours" though there are a million other great ones.

[Lyandra]

Now, this really is cool!
I love hedge mazes too but unfortunately I've never seen a real one, one in which you can get lost Well, maybe in the future...^^ The way you drew it I can really imagine being there though, thanks I'm sure your friend loved it

[Redrobes]

The one I know of is in Longleat House over here in the UK.
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=long...ngdom&t=h&z=19
Its a real pain to get out of tho. Allow much extra time when you try it....

[Lyandra]

Redrobes: I'll make sure to go there. Don't know when but I've been putting off visiting a place like that long enough Don't know why the idea of getting lost in a hedge maze appeals so much to me. o_O

[Larb]

The one at Longleat looks like incredible fun. I could easily waste a few hours in that. I also noticed they have a traditional low ornamental labyrinth too.

I think one of the reasons mazes are appealing is because it's like a giant puzzle that is fully "interactive" so to speak. And there's a certain mystery to them.

I have heard there is a maize maze not far from me. Cue corny jokes. =P

[Simon33600]

Oh, yeah, I remember the topiary monsters...


This map is really cool. The concept is neat and the execution style is really nice!

I love it!

[Sapiento]

Really, really nice!

[Gidde]

That looks really cool!