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Post by joatmoniac on Aug 5, 2015 22:45:26 GMT
Some of the pictures don't seem to be working for me. The one I do see still looks freaking amazing, but I want more! Haha.
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Post by whipstache on Aug 12, 2015 18:18:03 GMT
I agree! I want to see the whole thing. I've just decided to take on the task of building a world from scratch... I can't seem to find the time to drum up a game, but I have ten or fifteen minutes here and there.
So, I've been looking at a lot of fantasy maps for inspiration, and have been building my own maps too. I really want to get a good look at a world that's 20+ years in the making!
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Post by whipstache on Aug 12, 2015 18:20:33 GMT
If anyone ever has any questions about building the physical world please feel free to ask! I have a BA in geography and I am essentially a certified computer cartographer (GIS). I really love building worlds! I will definitely take you up on this.
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Post by friartook on Aug 12, 2015 18:48:19 GMT
If anyone ever has any questions about building the physical world please feel free to ask! I have a BA in geography and I am essentially a certified computer cartographer (GIS). I really love building worlds! So, I have a question for you on this front. I also work with GIS. Primarily, I work in CAD, but I dabble in GIS as well. Working in a digital realm all day causes me to assume that a digital format is better for mapping work. One can erase cleanly, undo, turn layers on and off, etc. However, I also have an art background. My mind keeps telling me that the computer is best for this sort of work, but my hands keep telling me to break out the charcoal and ink. I'm struggling to make a solid choice on how to proceed with a map I'm working on. I've been playing with Autodesk Sketchbook, but I don't have a stylus/tablet (too much $$ up front for no $$ return) and working from a mouse takes away some of the artistic technique I have cultivated in the past. Your setting map looks primarily hand drawn. Is there a reason you chose to hand draw the map instead of using one of the many digital options? Thoughts, anyone, on digital vs. hand drawing solutions when it comes to fantasy map generation? P.S. I feel like this topic was already covered somewhat elsewhere, but I wanted to reignite the conversation if possible. Anyone's opinions, experiences, techniques, and/or input is most welcome!
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Post by dmmadmaxi on Aug 14, 2015 16:50:23 GMT
Friartook: I haven't had any luck out here (For work) with GIS, but I still love it in a way!
I am a true map nerd, and always have been. Whenever I actually got bored with everything around me I would draw places. Things like countries, islands, continents, and so on. So for me hand drawn was always how I started out things out. I completely agree with you that you can do so much more by hand (and I lack the artistic aspect)than you can do via digital if you do not already have the tools (like myself). My HOPE is to eventually finish the map via hand and then digitize it using my GIS knowledge and skills. This of course will require me to tweak a few more things and further perfect it so that when I do digitize it. It will be done, for good.
I also made the decision to draw it because I feel that it made it more 'real' if that makes sense. I was able to place the people, places of interest, cultural/heritage sites, cities, and different political groups. By doing this by hand I felt I became more attuned with the setting. Of course its gone through many renditions as well, a lot has changed and I feel that it has become more realistic because of that. I can look at a region in my world and I can tell you what the general events are. I can tell you which areas have recovered better from the long wars and which areas are still oppressed. I can tell you where those who suffer flock to, where the poor are, and on the flip side those who are wealthy and powerful.
I feel that DRAWING your world forces you to think and create more than just doing it digitally. So long story short, for me. Drawing it was a labor of love, a labor of creativity, and allowed me to really flesh things out!
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Post by whipstache on Aug 14, 2015 17:52:45 GMT
If anyone ever has any questions about building the physical world please feel free to ask! I have a BA in geography and I am essentially a certified computer cartographer (GIS). I really love building worlds! Thoughts, anyone, on digital vs. hand drawing solutions when it comes to fantasy map generation? I tend to lean more towards digital because it allows me to be creative without having to worry about messing something up irreparably. In photoshop (my weapon of choice) I can sort of turn off my brain and let me hand just go. If I don't like something, CMD+Z. But, I haven't had the training in any physical media, so it's an easy decision for me. My maps created digitally will always be better than anything by hand, because I just don't draw that well. I'll make another thread and put some of my maps there when I get a chance, just to give an idea.
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Post by friartook on Aug 14, 2015 17:58:52 GMT
Thoughts, anyone, on digital vs. hand drawing solutions when it comes to fantasy map generation? I tend to lean more towards digital because it allows me to be creative without having to worry about messing something up irreparably. In photoshop (my weapon of choice) I can sort of turn off my brain and let me hand just go. If I don't like something, CMD+Z. But, I haven't had the training in any physical media, so it's an easy decision for me. My maps created digitally will always be better than anything by hand, because I just don't draw that well. I'll make another thread and put some of my maps there when I get a chance, just to give an idea. I'd like that. I'd also be interested in a "play by play" of how one of your maps was made. Every tutorial I've seen takes an artistic approach, often even recommending purchasing a stylus and tablet. You say you "just don't draw that well", but I haven't seen any techniques anywhere that don't involve some drawing. I'm curious about your approach.
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Post by whipstache on Aug 14, 2015 21:07:22 GMT
I tend to lean more towards digital because it allows me to be creative without having to worry about messing something up irreparably. In photoshop (my weapon of choice) I can sort of turn off my brain and let me hand just go. If I don't like something, CMD+Z. But, I haven't had the training in any physical media, so it's an easy decision for me. My maps created digitally will always be better than anything by hand, because I just don't draw that well. I'll make another thread and put some of my maps there when I get a chance, just to give an idea. I'd like that. I'd also be interested in a "play by play" of how one of your maps was made. Every tutorial I've seen takes an artistic approach, often even recommending purchasing a stylus and tablet. You say you "just don't draw that well", but I haven't seen any techniques anywhere that don't involve some drawing. I'm curious about your approach. Here's a new thread about maps, friartook. I've posted two different maps as examples of different styles, along with a small description of techniques. I'm going to see if I can track down one of the tutorials I found many moons ago that showed me one particular technique using Photoshop's Render Clouds command to create a coastline. If I do find it, I'll post it on that thread.
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Post by dmmadmaxi on Aug 20, 2015 0:32:21 GMT
For those of you who have been checking this out I have updated the first continent. Working on finishing the second and adding a little more content and then posting both when they are done!
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Post by whipstache on Aug 22, 2015 17:26:49 GMT
For those of you who have been checking this out I have updated the first continent. Working on finishing the second and adding a little more content and then posting both when they are done! as soon as you get them up, I'll start taking a crack at them!
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Post by dmmadmaxi on Aug 22, 2015 18:34:25 GMT
I'll hopefully have them up by next week. I dont get much done on the weekends due to my MINION being home all day lol.
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Post by whipstache on Aug 22, 2015 18:42:47 GMT
I'll hopefully have them up by next week. I dont get much done on the weekends due to my MINION being home all day lol. Same. I have a 7-month-old who's getting some teeth in, so I've been taking care her most of the day.
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Post by dmmadmaxi on Aug 22, 2015 22:14:45 GMT
haha, we are not that far ahead of you. We have an 18mo who thinks he owns the roost......boy is he going to have a harsh childhood lol
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Post by joatmoniac on Aug 23, 2015 4:56:05 GMT
I also have an 18mo who is learning how the world works and constantly has the bumps and bruises to show her learning process off, haha.
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Post by friartook on Aug 23, 2015 5:38:29 GMT
Lol, my house is also infested with these nasty little gnomes. My youngest is about 20 months or so. We also have two older kobolds; 10 and 12. Life gets better when they can play D&D with you
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