Mystara: The Grand Duchy of Karameikos

[Thorf]

Next, here is the latest version of my updated map.

You can see that I am only including the country in question. This is actually my biggest problem so far: how to include neighbouring countries without having to duplicate the same elements in every map featuring those parts. The reason I want to avoid duplication is that if I find any mistakes, they would then have to be corrected in all the files with the relevant part, as opposed to just one file.

Changing the updated map to show the countries around about is a big priority for me.

You can see the makeup of the map in the PDF file, which I believe also includes the layers.

I would love to have some advice on my techniques, and I'm always open to any ideas for how to improve my maps.

Edit: You can see that this image is an older version, with the brighter palette that I initially used. The current version of the palette is actually the very first image in this thread. It's more subdued and easier on the eyes.

[Sigurd]

I don't usually like hex style maps but these are the nicest example I've seen.

Good luck with this. It looks really good!

Sigurd

I'm interested to see your symbols and CS2 magic

[Thorf]

I should have mentioned: you can get my mapping kit here:

http://mystara.thorf.co.uk/mappingcs2.zip

[Turgenev]

Very nice! とてもすきです。 I do have a small soft spot for Mystara but I'm not that knowledgeable about the world (just what I know from X1 Isle of Dread and a few of the Gazeteers).

[Badger]

X1!!! one of the first adventures I ever ran as a DM ... think it was the first one I ran... love that advenuture...

Thorf, great maps... they do justice to the the maps of old... though I'll probably never map with hexes I do try to pick up every hint I can of illustrator mapping ... I'm still getting the hang of it, but so far it rocks for mapping... So please feel free to throw up some tutorials in the tutorials section ... I forsee that I will be using it quite a bit for VTT mapping almost as much as PS

the maps are really

[Redrobes]

You can see that I am only including the country in question. This is actually my biggest problem so far: how to include neighbouring countries without having to duplicate the same elements in every map featuring those parts. The reason I want to avoid duplication is that if I find any mistakes, they would then have to be corrected in all the files with the relevant part, as opposed to just one file.

Another man desperately in need of looking at my ViewingDale I think...

[NeonKnight]

Ahh, yes X1 - Isle of Dread, or Basic D&D's answer to Let's do a King Kong Themed Adventure. I so loved that adventure.

[Arkkeeper]

Thorf, those are awesome. just a little critque, I looked at my physical copies and on the old map the three tree forest is slightly darker, the sandy hills have just a touch of green, and to my eyes the swamp is a bit more purple than grey. but anyways that doesn't matter, there still awesome. keep it up, and y'know you need to do Republic of Darokin soon, one of my fav's. thanx man, here to help.

[Thorf]

Thorf, those are awesome. just a little critque, I looked at my physical copies and on the old map the three tree forest is slightly darker, the sandy hills have just a touch of green, and to my eyes the swamp is a bit more purple than grey. but anyways that doesn't matter, there still awesome. keep it up, and y'know you need to do Republic of Darokin soon, one of my fav's. thanx man, here to help.

Thanks for the advice. I think I got the colour scheme from a scan, but it wasn't one I made myself, and I don't think the colours were quite right. I should go back and revise it now that I have a scanner.

Of course, matching printed matter with colours on the screen exactly is hard if not impossible. I don't expect it to be perfect, just to evoke a feeling of nostalgia for the originals.

In any case I'll post the revised version when I get it done, and thank you kindly for commenting. It's so much easier to criticise your maps when you see them through other people's eyes.

[Badger]

Ahh, yes X1 - Isle of Dread, or Basic D&D's answer to Let's do a King Kong Themed Adventure. I so loved that adventure.

I thought the king kong themed adventure was WG6 Isle of the Ape ...