Diffin Strait

[Torq]

Hey guys, first post here! Awesome thing you've got going here, really. My past map-making endeavors were mostly ripping off maps I found on the web and editing names and minor details for my DnD games... and the yesterday, I found RobA's tutorial on artistic regional maps. Here's what it gave me. I hope you guys like it.

By the way, many, many thanks to RobA. Couldn't have done it without that tutorial, and in any case, doing this has made me much better with Gimp then how I ever was with photoshop, which I used before. Thanks!

EDIT: Oh, another thing: could this map be used anywhere for the CWBP?

Thanks A.Smith for the kind donation to the CWBP. I'm sure we will find a good home for it. Great map by the way. Man, I think RobA has converted more people to the Gimp than Pulp Fiction.

Torq

[jfrazierjr]

Man, I think RobA has converted more people to the Gimp than Pulp Fiction.

Torq

Heh... yea. his tut is getting like 1000+ views EVERY month and thats like amazing....

Joe

[NeonKnight]

Welcome aboard. The CWBP is just that COMMUNITY World builder project. Do as much or as little. Maps do not need to be all the same style or even with the same software.

See an area you like? Want to try a new technique? Go for it, your new style/endeavor will build upon what has come before and in turn, you will inspire someone else.

For example, on your map above, maybe someone looks at the towns of Lydas and and Seradas and thinks to themselves. There a story there. Why is there two towns across from each other, seperated by any a couple of miles/kilometers? Why is one bigger than the other? How do they feel about each other? If they are accepting of one another, maybe the towns are more open, but what if they aren't, what if there is resentment between the two towns. Maybe they have walls bristling with defenses pointed towards one another moreso than the plains at their backs. Maybe they have huge naval yards crammed with warships ready to repel the frequent sorties of their neighbour. MMmmmmmmmmmm Creative Juices!

Man you just earned some rep for my ponderings.

[A. Smith]

Heh, thanks

My question about the CWBP was mostly about geography: is there anywhere where this would fit on the map? From what I've seen, there isn't a single strait on the map... heh.

Also, working on something right now. 1000x1000, this time. Anything other then cramp-ness and the resolution being too low that I should improve on?

[A. Smith]

Here it is, in all it's WIP glory. Tips?

EDIT: hmm, should I create a new post in the WIP section? This is the finished map section, after all...

[The-Somberlain]

Nice maps A. Smith! You got those mountains just right, I like them a lot! Just one technical question, how did you make those river/sea routes in your first map? They are very interesting!

[RobA]

A. Smith - post up your desired thread title, and one of the CL's will move it to a WIP forum for you.

-Rob A>

[A. Smith]

Nice maps A. Smith! You got those mountains just right, I like them a lot! Just one technical question, how did you make those river/sea routes in your first map? They are very interesting!

It's always the same technique: take a small fuzzy eraser brush, and do some curves in the grass layer's mask (or the grass itself). Don't forget to do the same thing on the texture of the grass, too. If you are following RobA's tutorial, that is. In that case, you should also erase the "seashore" layer, which, since it only has the sea mask, covers the entire land, even if you don't see it. Another thing I did is do a special texture layer for the rivers, with highest detail and size, to have some variation; to make it so it's not too apparent, I just put opacity down on the "river texture" layer.

If you want, you could also use paths, and brush black on the grass mask using "trace path", then the paintbrush with, again a small fuzzy brush. However, It gives you less freedom, as using this, you'd have to tinker for hours to try and get that path just right, while with the eraser you can just start over and get a good result after a try or two. I guess it's even easier if you have a tablet, which I don't.

RobA: you mean, put a title in the post in this thread, or create a new one?