The Ultimate Map Thread

[bombshoo]

Not an inconvenience (it's not like you're requiring anyone to do it), but it smacks of laziness to me. If you're not confident in your map abilities, it seems like clearing a map would be a good place to start...?

I can see where he is coming from in checking here though. If it had already been done then there was no point to bother doing it again.

 

[Gelion]

I still don't understand how clearing a map could be a problem. Granted, I can't do much else with paint, but all it requires is time, not finesse.

 

[Diamondeye]

I am thinking of toying with modelling a small NES set in Ancient Greece, but I am really bad with Paint and I haven't got anything else to map with. If anyone could flesh out a map of Greece and nearest surroundings, where impassable mountains were marked out and there were markers of the large cities such as Sparta, Corinth, Thebes, Athens, Thermon, etc., and locations as Delphi, Ithaka, and other 'mythical' locations, I would be extremely grateful.

 

[Dachs]

Thermon wasn't a city, it was a sanctuary like Delphoi. It's notable solely because it was the place where the Aitolian league had their conferences, just like the Amphiktyonic council met at Delphoi.

That said, I'll see what I can make.

 

[Dance.Down]

The beginnings of the map I'm working on. Actual image is about a 10,000 x 20,000

 

[Gelion]

I am thinking of toying with modelling a small NES set in Ancient Greece, but I am really bad with Paint and I haven't got anything else to map with. If anyone could flesh out a map of Greece and nearest surroundings, where impassable mountains were marked out and there were markers of the large cities such as Sparta, Corinth, Thebes, Athens, Thermon, etc., and locations as Delphi, Ithaka, and other 'mythical' locations, I would be extremely grateful.

There was a NES by Amenhotep7 on this subject. Luckily I found it.

 

[North King]

Dance.Down, the main problem I have with that map is overall smoothness. Yes, obviously you've got a lot of rugged coastlines, but all the peninsulas and bays are oriented in similar directions, making for a somewhat boring looking overall picture. If you can get the variability that you already have on the small scale to be present on a larger scale, too, then the map will turn out excellently.

 

[Dachs]

There was a NES by Amenhotep7 on this subject. Luckily I found it.

Hey, that's not a half-bad map.

 

[Diamondeye]

Not bad, but it's split into regions (and lots of them) instead of using the colors to describe terrain (which is what I was kind of looking for). Also, that much eastern/northern landsmass is not really needed.

 

[Dance.Down]

Dance.Down, the main problem I have with that map is overall smoothness. Yes, obviously you've got a lot of rugged coastlines, but all the peninsulas and bays are oriented in similar directions, making for a somewhat boring looking overall picture. If you can get the variability that you already have on the small scale to be present on a larger scale, too, then the map will turn out excellently.

I don't quite get what you mean about the bays and smoothness.

Spoiler :

Here's the part of the world that I'm working on.


EDIT:

Here's a preview of where I'm at.

Spoiler :

 

[North King]

I don't quite get what you mean about the bays and smoothness.

Spoiler :

Here's the part of the world that I'm working on.

Don't worry, I'm... not entirely sure how to explain it. I'll try again.

Look at this continent. I'll describe it as a "T" shaped lump. The lower branch of this, a long thick peninsula, is always roughly the same width throughout. When one coast curves west or east, the other coast tends to follow it in the same direction and even same angle. Nature is rarely so symmetrical.

Look at Earth. Are any of the continents a uniform width in any one area? You can make an argument for Australia, I guess, but it's offset by the Indonesian islands in the north. But otherwise, South America tapers off to the south, North America is like a giant triangle with some water intruding in the middle, Europe looks like God had fun, Asia is like a firework, and Africa is magnificently offset. They're even pretty basic shapes overall in some cases, but they are never quite symmetrical. And the basic shapes have some interesting oddities: contrast Indochina with India. Look at the Hudson.

Right, done rhapsodizing for the moment. Is that clearer?

 

[erez87]

Don't worry, I'm... not entirely sure how to explain it. I'll try again.

Look at this continent. I'll describe it as a "T" shaped lump. The lower branch of this, a long thick peninsula, is always roughly the same width throughout. When one coast curves west or east, the other coast tends to follow it in the same direction and even same angle. Nature is rarely so symmetrical.

Look at Earth. Are any of the continents a uniform width in any one area? You can make an argument for Australia, I guess, but it's offset by the Indonesian islands in the north. But otherwise, South America tapers off to the south, North America is like a giant triangle with some water intruding in the middle, Europe looks like God had fun, Asia is like a firework, and Africa is magnificently offset. They're even pretty basic shapes overall in some cases, but they are never quite symmetrical. And the basic shapes have some interesting oddities: contrast Indochina with India. Look at the Hudson.

Right, done rhapsodizing for the moment. Is that clearer?

His looks like the Italian boot...

 

[Dance.Down]

Yeah, yeah I get it now. For my newer maps I'll take that into mind and change accordingly (too far in with this one).

 

[Gelion]

Hey, that's not a half-bad map.

Its adequate

Not bad, but it's split into regions (and lots of them) instead of using the colors to describe terrain (which is what I was kind of looking for). Also, that much eastern/northern landsmass is not really needed.

Still, IMHO one could work with this map.

 

[Dance.Down]

It's definitely functional (more than most maps I make at least). It doesn't need to be pretty when it works!

 

[Dance.Down]

Spoiler :

And there is the finished product (finished in terms of terrain, at least, now I add in provincial borders, more handdrawn symbols, cities, etc.)

 

[erez87]

pretty!

How you make that?!

Why is it so GIGANTIC?

 

[Crezth]

Not an inconvenience (it's not like you're requiring anyone to do it), but it smacks of laziness to me. If you're not confident in your map abilities, it seems like clearing a map would be a good place to start...?

That's not a bad idea. Well, I guess you're right - in my opinion a good Mod should have some skills with maps. I shall clear the map as properly as I can manage and share the finished result, too. Thanks for the advice!

 

[Supermath]

Not an inconvenience (it's not like you're requiring anyone to do it), but it smacks of laziness to me. If you're not confident in your map abilities, it seems like clearing a map would be a good place to start...?

Speaking of cleaning maps, it makes dealing with maps a lot easier if one utilizes layers. It makes it substantially easier to edit your map if you don't have to sidestep around cities or rivers.

 

[King_in_Yellow]

World Map. Alternate History:

History is the same as you and me know it, at least up to the year 1919. In this scenario we dare to dream a world where Gustav Stressmann of the Weimar Republic and Aristide Briand of France do not have a sudden and premature death in 1929 and 1932 respectively.

Gustav Stresemann as Chancellor of Germany was a staunch supporter of democracy in the fragile Wiemar republic, a visionary of European economic integration and achiever of reconciliation between Germany and France. Aristide Briand, who shared a peace price with Stressmann, was a pragmatic moderate whose idealism can be easily summarized with the Kellogg-Briand Pact.

With the great depression, the German economy could no longer rely on loans from America to keep itself afloat from the burden of reparation payments to Britain and France. It was in March 1931 that Stressmann made a proposal to Aristide Briand in private that would soon change the face of Europe.

He proposed the economic integration of France and Germany. France would pardon the reparation payments of the Versailles treaty, both would share a centralized control of the coal and steel industries of both nations (back then the means of waging war and thus securing France from another war with Germany), Share a common currency (The FrankMark) and establish a common economic zone.

The treaty of Alsace-Lorraine was signed in May1932 despite initial opposition by politicians in both countries. The treaty proved to be a quick success, the economy improved enough for the Nazis to gain far less votes than it was anticipated months earlier. The Franco-German block became one of the engines that maintained the overall European economy going amid the great depression.

In 1934 Italy invaded Abyssinia. This conflict made it obvious that the League of Nations could not be effective in maintaining peace, its main objective. The idealistic heads of Germany and France then decided that a war with italy could accelerate further integration, not economic, but political; while at the same time being more active against aggressors. The war against Mussolini proved to be quicker than anticipated, the Franco German armies easily cut through the demoralized, badly equipped and led Italian armies. With the surrender of Italy, a social democrat government replaced the fascists and Mussolini was sentenced to life in prison.

With the celebrations of Victory, a plan was drawn for the political integration of Germany and France, The Republic of Europe was born and the rest is history.....

The Republic of Europe eventually became a strong constitutional federal entity with a common military and economy. In 1939 Luxembourg Joined, followed in 1942 by Belgium, in 1944 by the Netherlands and finally by the social democrat government of Italy in 1945.

The republic of Europe, with its aggressive foreign policy became the most important stabilizing factor in the world. Standing together with the Soviet government led by Leon Trotsky the Japanese goals of annexing Manchuria did not come to fruition.