The Town of Elmstone

[Riggamorphus]

This town has been in a campaign for about 10 years. I finally decided I would give it some color (the original art done on old scrap paper, torn and tattered). I did this in Drawplus and Photoshop, my 2 favorite programs to work in.



Elmstone.jpg

Thoughts and input are welcomed
Also the map below is a regional map where the town is based I think. Or did I lose my way

Rigg

[Lukc]

Looks good Rigg.

Maybe the walls are a tad massive for a medieval city - and I don't think most city walls had crenellations facing both in and out (probably something to do with cost savings! ).

[waldronate]

I don't think most city walls had crenellations facing both in and out (probably something to do with cost savings! ).

One reason not to have them on the inside is so that archers at the next wall (or inside the keep) can shoot the invaders if they should gain the wa

[Lukc]

One reason not to have them on the inside is so that archers at the next wall (or inside the keep) can shoot the invaders if they should gain the wa

There you go. Pointed it out for me. Having them on both sides would only make sense if you weren't sure of your own subjects in the city and the walls were just an extension of a fortress system or some such.

[pasis]

Looks good and it has a good overall feeling in it making me want to zoom in for details. Though the ground textures are blurry than the objects (houses and trees etc) making the objects float over the ground a bit. I suggest you sharpen the ground textures if possible and I would love to see the updated version.
But good work already as it is.

[dros]

10 years campaign omg! the city and regional map looks great! nice job!

[Immolate]

The map looks super. I can tell a ton of work went into it. The features seem a little too crystal clear however, giving it a feel of unreality the way a Dunjinni map does. More blending, softer edges would help. The trees are probably the most hyper-real and need blur and perhaps a lower opacity.

Also, one of the pitfalls of cities is shadows. If you're going to use them, and you should, the drop shadows in Photoshop will betray you. You have towers casting shadows on the ground, but also on walls. The shadow on the walls (and crenelations, etc.) should be different depending on the object the shadow is being cast upon. Nitpicky perhaps, but the eye sees your walls and structures as flat when shadows don't react to them. Most city maps aren't complex enough to worry about shadows, but yours is. Not recommending you rework it, but something for future consideration.

I really like how you took the time to align the tiles on the roofs and added a good number of dormers. I know how difficult that is and what it takes. I also think the flat roofs are a nice touch. All in all, a prize-winner of a map. Well done and have some rep.

[Larb]

I think this is a really nice map though I've never attempted one in this style so I can't really add much. But maps like this always tempt me to give it a try.

The shadows thing is a huge pain. On my own maps I've basically had to add big shadows by hand because of how drop shadow works. I keep meaning to take a look into whether there is a photoshop filter plugin in that simulates proper cast shadows but I always forget.

Also, that regional map looks great.

[Riggamorphus]

Here is another explanation for the crenellations. It is a rebellious city and the ruler is very cruel and heavy handed to his people.

[Riggamorphus]

Thanks for input.

Immolate, I agree with the details of the shadows not being convincing. That is something that should be sub par for the amount of detail for towns and cities. I made the mistake that starting in Photoshop and finishing in a separate program.

Pasis- Yes. It doesnt look like it fits. I am going to try to reimport the background layer in a higher dpi that might solve some of detail problems.

Rigg