Hey all. So I recently posted a finished map, here:

http://www.cartographersguild.com/showthread.php?t=2013

And the two comments I've gotten so far both refer to it as having an "old school" feel. Now I'm not taking that as a bad thing at all. I like the comments and I like the map. It's a simple map mostly just for DM reference, so function outweighs form in this case. I guess I just didn't think of it as old school when I was working on it. So I just wanted to get a dialogue going.

What makes a map Old School in this day and age of digital everything? And on the flip side, what are some more Cutting Edge techniques?

I think the old school maps are much more utilitarian. Again, function over form. While the more cutting edge stuff maybe has a more photorealistic quality. But at the same time, I think a lot of people today try to get a hand drawn, almost painterly quality to a lot of their maps. So I guess cutting edge to me means more artistic. Well that's my (admittedly brief) 2 cents, anyway. I would love to know what other guild members think.