The map's greatest strength is the edge work. It distinguishes the land from the sea in a manner that projects strength. From there, the map goes downhill.
Look at all of those mountains! Avast, thar she blows! Mountains, mountains, everywhere, and nary a reason why. But, it is much better that the map has mountains than that it does not. You have the handiwork of mountain craft down fairly pat. Is it one range or a hundred?
The interior of the primary landmass in this map is utterly bereft of mountains, even as mountains ring the exterior of it like a pearl necklace. What caused the mountains? You know, on most maps, I don't really dwell on such things, but this map makes me sit up and take notice - and that, my friend, is not meant as a compliment.
Hopefully, all of your forests on this map will burn down. They are atrocious! Just clumps of trees loitering and accomplishing nothing for the greater cause of cartographic significance. At least they were given names at birth, though. The mountain ranges are all bastards, it would seem - and not even deserving of a name, at that. This world that you chart is full of injustice, no doubt, for why would a forest outrank a mountain range that stretches like a girdle all about the old girl?
And what were you thinking with those islands? No time of significance has been spent on them. That much is obvious.
The color singularity that reigns over this map, this burnt orangeish whatever you call it, is a tad strong for my taste. The edge of the main land mass seems a tad darker than the interior. That's a plus, I think. Such a pity that you deprive this world of color. What a drab place this land must be.
The large text depiction of Gandaria is nice, but this map will win no awards for imagination, since you shy away from the fair ladies that are the textual maidens that could fulfill your map viewers' wildest fantasies. Instead, we are treated to Cinderella's step-sisters.
Water is your blood foe, it would seem. You will drown, if you go near it. Therefore, fear the closest drop! Rivers that are visual blights, and lakes that are visual cancer. How on Earth can you create mountains like that, and be so utterly bereft of water talent? Life's mysteries know no end, it seems.
The compass rose is stuck in a mountain, it seems. It is not a good choice, for this map. At least, not in such an unfinished state. It's not finished, right? Right??
Why are all of your text labels laid out in horizontal position? No, no, no! That rather misses the point of you having all of that edging and mountain talent to begin with, my friend.
Let's see, you have Caldar Forest and Caldar Keep. You also have Lordar Forest and Lordar Keep. See the pattern here? Pluck your eye out, and toss it into a well. Fortunately, you have blessed us with both northern and southern walls. Oh, what a grand exertion that must have been! Are you so scared of your own imagination that you dare not use it? It's a gift, a blessing - not a curse. The map is your child. Care enough to feed it, and caress it with the tender touches of your cartographic talent. In the meantime, whatever shall we do with this red-headed step-child of yours?
You cannot bewitch the viewer, if your map lacks magic. This map lacks magic. You, the cartographer, however, do not. Rather, you simply choose to withhold it from us.
To what end, I wonder? To what end, indeed!
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