Laramis, Second Attempt

[Steel General]

Yeah, that's more or less what I meant.

[Immolate]

I went off on a journey of discovery and found that the "secret" method I'd found for creating mountains wasn't really all that secret, but a number of folks had taken it a great deal further than I had. I think the results are more interesting, but I also sense that there are extensive opportunities for refinement to the approach.

Suggestions?

###LATEST WIP###

[Pank.HQ]

Hey, I think this is coming along pretty well. Here's what I think:

The mountain style looks good. The mountain shape almost looks good, but it's too linear and uniform. Make some offshoots, and stop trying to make it too realistic. This is fantasy, remember! Make it interesting, and make the mountain range warp and twist and go into crazy places. Let loose! Spray them mountains everywhere! (ish.)

I know you don't have the freedom to make huge changes to the original design, but I think you can get away with making moderate changes to the mountain shape.

For what you've got, though, calling the main range "The Spine" is awesome. Anyway, here's what I mean:

Also, your landmass shape is super duper. But shouldn't the mountains correspond (a little bit, at least) with the landmass? They seem too arbitrary and a little unbalanced. In order to make The Spine look like more of a spine than a massive mountain range, how about you add some balance to the other mountains in order to make them even less spiny?

Even if you don't change the contour of The Spine, change your other mountains to balance them.

To sum: making your other mountains crazy will make The Spine more spiny.

Just a suggestion, though. Break loose!

Edit: Just looked at your lastest ver that you posted while I was posting. It is good. I ought to scrap this post... don't bother changing what you have.

[Immolate]

Your suggestions are excellent Pank.HQ. My first impulse when I started this map some time ago was to "improve" on it by using my greater understanding of the physical realities of earth and water to create a model more in tune with how things work in the real world. That is how I started, and someone, I don't even remember who, called me to task for it.

Again, I don't remember who it was, and it doesn't matter. What they told me was true. Greg plopped down some mountains here and forests there and whatever worked in his imagination. He asked me to make his map look "cool" like mine do, but it was still his map. I really gave that a lot of thought, and in the end, I decided that remaining true to the author's vision was more important (not to mention guaranteed to increase their sense of ownership) than getting things "right".

Now I don't spurn science and common sense. Quite the opposite. I love learning about how things work and every bit of commentary I get, I seriously think about. Even the stuff that stings at first, I resist the urge to lash out defensively and wait until the sting abates so that I can accept the criticism in the spirit in which it was intended.

So your suggestions are both gratefully received, and at the same time will not change this map. I'm not going to suggest that I haven't strayed a bit here and there from the original, but it was surprising how little. Of course it didn't hurt to have the original superimposed over my recreation whenever I felt a bit too rambunctious.

Thank you for the rep!

Laramis, before and after:

[Ascension]

You know...that overlay is kind of cool looking. It gives it that hand-drawn feel but with the realistic flavoring.

[Pank.HQ]

That overlay is CUTE! It's amazing how closely you've stuck to the original CC2 design. Kudos, and keep it up!