Oasis Suruq

[Chris]

Introduction/background
Dear Cartographers,
since 2 years I am a gracious follower of the great work that all of you is doing. Since then I also tried to create own maps, but it takes me normally months or more to complete one and it never reaches the quality I’d like to have! I’m playing “The Dark Eye”, a tabletop role play game for which I would love to have a map of the home “town” – the oasis Suruq – of my character (a kind of a Tuareg: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuareg_people).
Project Scope:
I would love to have a detailed map of the oasis in the medieval setting of the dark eye. I will use this map only for my own role-play group as a digital version on a password protected homepage and as a printout. I won’t use it commercially. The artist will retain copyright of the map and will have the right to use the map to exhibit and for commercial purposes.

Description of Map
I attached a rough sketch of an example map I had in mind, but this is not a layout you need to stick to (creativity is welcome). I also provided some links for a better imagination.
This is a small oasis at the edge of a big desert. It is located directly at mountain foothills and next to a wadi (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wadi). Approx. 300-350 people are living there, most of them in tents, others in simple, one-storied clay buildings that are build close to another. One bigger main building, the “funduq” serves as a storage room for harvested food and as a safe retreat in case of an attack. This building is definitely a clay building or partly or completely integrated into the mountain. There should be stables for horses (maybe also a cave in the mountain) and maybe a simple defense system (in my sketch a simple two-story tower at the ridge of the wadi). The only additional building is a rather small caravanserai (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caravanserai) which serves as a roadside inn for travelers (location not important – in my sketch on the other side of the wadi).
The wadi is not always containing water but after rainfalls in the mountains, especially in the two rainy seasons per year, it will be flooded with water masses. Besides the river, there is a permanent water source, e.g. a small lake formed by an arthesian aquifier (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artesian_aquifer).
This permanent water source allows cultivation of many different plants like date palms but also citrus, almond, pomegranate, fig trees, gorse, millet, onions, cucumbers, melons and cactuses. Most of the terrain is used to grow those plants and most of the people work for the crop cultivation. Maybe the oasis even has a small herd of goats. Other inhabitants are craftsmen who produce carpets or pottery (it would be great if not all the buildings / tents look the same but some are distinguishable as craftsmen homes).

Style
I got inspired by some of the work here.
I love Max’ work on Th’mecan (http://www.cartographersguild.com/sh...ad.php?t=29895) and Schleys work on Diyun (http://www.cartographersguild.com/sh...ighlight=Diyun) and Neverwinter (http://www.cartographersguild.com/sh...ht=Neverwinter) but the scale should be better (I guess these are just the “for free” scales they posted?).
Also I love J.Edwards work on Frosthaven and Bourmout (http://www.cartographersguild.com/sh...light=Bourmout)

Technical
The map should be large enough for a bigger printout and usage as digital version. The last one I made was 2276x1610 pixels (which was fine) but I am no expert here.

Format
Jpeg? Tiff? Pdf? I leave it to your expertise on which format to use. Basically, whichever one retains the highest image quality upon saving.

Time Constraints
There are no real time constraints - this summer would be nice ;-)

Copyright
Remains with cartographer
As said above, this map will not be published or reproduced for commercial gain by me. It is for my personal use only. It would be great if I could add in a name and building key as needed.

Design Process
I would suggest a stepwise process
Stage 1 – initial concept sketch for discussion of the layout and map elements
Stage 2 – A 50%-80% submittal for last changes
Stage 3 – Final Map

Payment
I would be happy to pay you a compensation for your work. Since this is only a map for private use, the copyright remains to the cartographer and this is the first time I am asking for a map, I’m not sure what amount will be appropriate. So this is negotiable.

Contact
Please contact me if you have any questions!
You may use this thread or the Cartographer’s Guild messenger
You can also contact me via email: Ch.Schlude—at—gmx.de

Thank you very much for reading!

Best regards
Chris

[J.Edward]

Hey Chris,
I sent you an email. Subject - Regarding Oasis Suruq request from the Guild.

[Chris]

Request taken.

Thanks very much to all cartographers who were willing to help me with this map!

Best regards

Chris