Hey guys, I just completed my first ever map! I used Gimp and followed a short tutorial online. Unfortunately I don't have a drawing tablet, so I had to do everything by mouse and the path tool (owwww my wrist). I would've added more details, but I simply didn't want the accompanying pain haha.

This took me about 3 hours and all was going well (at least from my POV) up to here:

stage 1.PNG

After that the tutorial went on into layers with overlay and color choices and between my lack of knowledge, something called a 'grunge' tool, and over-abundance of confusion, my map went through the following changes.

stage 2.PNG

Stage 3.PNG

stage 4.PNG

And finally:

Stage 5, Final.PNG


For a first try (with just a mouse (which I now hate very much)), I don't think it's so bad! I obviously messed up the coloring pretty bad, and there's almost no additional details, but all in all. I wouldn't be too embarrassed showing this to you guys as my first ever map.

What do you guys think?

P.S. Please tell me there are decent drawing tablets for under $50. *wishes upon a star*