[Variously WIP] Maps of Telluris

[jbgibson]

One of the aspects contributing to a digital feel might be the transparency of the title block and the flag.

There's a wonderful document on label placement, which these would benefit from. Sorry I don't have the CG link saved on my phone, but search should turn it up. On just this last one, I'd counsel that if you're going to cross coastlines with words, arrange things so no character actually lies stop the coastline. Usually one can avoid those crossings, but I don't figure it's worth major typographic gymnastics to stay 'pure' with that rule of thumb. Particularly with monochrome line work features, text gets lost when overlaid. I imagine a period cartographer putting down labels first, then filling in area symbols like your trees. If done in that order, I'm sure he would avoid laying one over the other.

Another thought about the mostly monochrome map... Adding vividly colored extras makes it clear the mapper had access to pigments - if so, why would he not make some on-map features stand out with color?

The lake having three exit rivers is a hydrologic illogic-- one sees multiple inputs to a lake but only one output. Take a look at the excellent tutorial on How to Get Your Rivers in the Right Place.

Overall you have a good look going- nice start. You've hit on the surest ways to improve-- post WIPs for comment, and make a LOT of maps :-).