Drumroll, please...
BEST WORLD MAP:
Domhantyr World Map, by Ilanthar
BestWorld.jpg
This is a real work of art that faithfully replicates the style of some of the maps of the European masters from centuries past. It's a comprehensive map that shows, well... everything.
Original thread: Domhantyr World Map
BEST REGIONAL MAP:
We have a tie!
Map of China XIIth Century - Wulin : Edition du Lotus Pourpre, by Akae, AND The War of Resh in Frel & Floris, by MistyBee.
BestRegional1.jpg BestRegional2.jpg
Two maps from master artists at the top of their game.
Original threads:
Map of China XIIth Century - Wulin : Edition du Lotus Pourpre
The War of Resh in Frel & Floris
The Regional Map category had the most nominations (I believe), and the widest spread of votes - the winners were barely in double digits on percentage of votes, if that tells you anything.
BEST CITY, TOWN, OR VILLAGE MAP:
The City of Kingkel, by MistyBeee!
BestCity.jpg
That's not really a surprise, is it? One of the best and most intricate city maps we've ever had the pleasure of seeing at the Guild.
Original thread: City of Kingkel
BEST HAND-DRAWN OR TRADITIONAL MAP:
Veduta of a late medieval town, by Chlodowech!
BestHand.jpg
An amazing study in light and shadows, done with pencil and diluted ink. If you want proof that there are geniuses at the Guild, look no further.
Original thread: Veduta of a late medieval town
BEST SPACE, SCI-FI, OR MODERN MAP:
Eldoran Astronomical View, by Ilanthar!
BestSpace.jpeg
The earth AND the heavens belong to Ilanthar this year. I don't even know where to begin praising this map, so I'll just shut up and let it stand on its own. This was the closest race; there were 5 strong contenders, all separated by less than 4%.
Original thread: Eldoran Astronomical View
BEST STRUCTURE, DUNGEON, OR GAMING MAP:
Legends of the Five Rings - Castle Map, by FrancescaBaerald!
BestStructure.jpg
A mind-boggling work of simultaneous complexity and clarity, with subtle colors used to enhance, rather than distract, and a style with a heavy nod to Japanese masters.
Original thread: Legends of the Five Rings - Castle Map
MOST CREATIVE MAP:
Another tie.
Salt Harbour Map, by smalyon AND Islands of the Sleepy Dragon, by J.Edward
MostCreative1.jpg MostCreative2.jpg
I take back what I said before about close races - there were so many nominations and votes here that the two winners each gathered less than 10% of the vote. A true testimony to the awesomeness of the maps nominated. And these are two cool representations of an artist's ingenuity at work. Smalyon's piece is simple and evocative, with amazing use of color and crazy perspectives, while J.Edward demonstrates an imagination that seems limited only by how fast his hand can fly across the paper or tablet.
Original threads:
Salt Harbour Map
Islands of the Sleepy Dragon
BEST OVERALL MAP:
The City of Kingkel, by MistyBeee!
BestCity.jpg
With a staggering THIRD win this year, Misty really slams it home how truly talented she is.
Original thread: See 'Best City, Town, or Village Map', above.
And that's it for this year. Well... almost. We are putting together breakdowns for each category in the form of, what else, maps, to show the vote spread. Those will appear when we get them done. No hard timeline for that, since those of us working on them have this annoying thing called real life to contend with, but no later that mid-April. Some categories had so many freakin' nominations and votes that it's going to take some time to figure out how to represent them in visual form.