Axis & Allies Miniatures Map

[Gamerprinter]

Using a hex grid is great for regional maps. However, it seems your roads, towns, and forests are forced into their shape by the grids around them. Your map appears to have been created by one of those hex tile based mapping programs, except as you say, this is created in GIMP and Inkscape. So consider a natural freeform shape to your terrain features.

When I map, I place the grid as the very last thing. I do sometimes use a grid to help maintain scale throughout the process for complex maps, but I pre-create my grids and apply them as needed, usually at the end only, most of the time.

I suggest using the grids to help determine scale at this stage, but otherwise forget they exist and create your towns, roads and forests without any forced limitation. If your forests extended beyond the edges of a given hex and partially into other hexes creating a more random shape you would have great improvement. Apply this to your towns and roads, as well.

Your implied Hex limitation is too obvious and completely unnecessary. It is distracting.

Of your two forest samples, I prefer the one to the right of the other, though if your forest edge was rougher, the outline forest might still work. Colorwise and town/building quality look good!

GP