Well when I create maps for a given setting, generally I work at a regional level with no needs to depict an entire world, thus I seldom create world map. I will create continental maps, if a given storyline will include travel across it, otherwise I only create regional map - one kingdom and the wilderness surrounding it. From there I might design one major city that the players might spend a lot of their time. I might create several town and village maps. From there, I'd only create encounter scale maps for castles, temples, ruin sites, dungeons, etc. The majority of maps created would be local scale only.