Help request for article about RPG medieval maps

[The Cartographist]

...why it took Gamerprinter about 1/5 of the words I used to say what I was trying to say but better. But in any event-- what he said.

Especially this part:

...you've almost got enough material for a complete book. Say a handbook or manual. Publish on Fantaseum, or as Cartographers Guild's first published work.

Which I was going to say myself.

[mmmmmpig]

For a starter article to whet people's appetite, this is really nice. As far as giving generalized rules of thumb, it is a great article. If nothing it should make some gm's at least think about their maps a bit more.

If you were to take this to another level I would suggest some narrative associated with the "typical"rpg encounter with a map (charred parchment with knife cuts and blood spatters) and what a more historically accurate version might be (cloth map carefully wrapped in oilcloth).

[ravells]

You may also want to work in some of the issues that were brought up in the 'How far should RPG maps follow Natural Laws' thread as well.

[pyrandon]

Wowee: An entire series of articles? I'm sure you fellas are right about that--for the draft I wrote is very generalized in more than one aspect--but I am also sure I'm not the guy to actually pen those articles. Heck, I want to read the end-products you suggest myself!! That would be great!

Thanks for all the great suggestions. Keep 'em comin'!

[Gamerprinter]

So, Pyrandon, be the primary author of the work, but take on contributing authors from other members, especially industry leaders; troll the best of the old threads, include the new "cartography vocabulary" thread as a glossary of terms, have tutorials created using multiple mapping and graphics applications to illustrate points throughout this work.

Set the direction and be the editor. If you ask nicely, I'm sure those members with the technical and professional background will contribute.

Make it available as a PDF, but also sell it - print-on-demand or Amazon printed, with all proceeds going to cartographersguild.com

Coming up with a defined work would help promote this site as a major contributor into the cartography industry, give us "swag", and help fund server costs and any other expenses. Perhaps create a fund shared by all Fantaseum sites... just thoughts. Or give it away!

Or let it pay for a Gencon and other Con Booths for the guild... ideas.

[pyrandon]

Great ideas, GP, thanks. We community leaders have been toying with many publishing/fund raising ideas for some time now--including many you mention, albeit not surrounding my little article but rather other avenues and products. As you say, the use of moneys earned is negotiable, but we can always use to to pay for site upkeep/software, and a con booth would be sweet, too.

Thanks so much for your input!

[Gamerprinter]

I see the possibility more than one manual. Your Midieval mapping Sourcebook, a Sci-Fi mapping manual, historical mapping manual, map-making with GIMP, Inkscape, PS, PSP, Xara - over time of course and by multiple authors, are all possibilities in Cartographers Guild publications.

By publishing map reference material - we become more than a forum, with greater acceptance in the larger cartography community.

I see other possibilities too - but I'm getting away from "this particular article and direction towards publication..."