Hello and Examples

[Formal Abu]

Hi all,

I have only just started map making but found this site very helpful. Primarily I am learning digital cartography for the purpose of making fantasy maps for the DnD Podcast I run called "The Formal Gamer: A Dungeons and Dragons Podcast"

My first map (link here) was pretty basic as I was just getting used to using Gimp. All the brushes are hand drawn though.

I felt my next one was a big improvement (not hard though!) (Link here)

I'm currently working on my third and am looking to improve again. However, I feel I've hit a personal block with my skills, hence why I have joined the CG.

I will post for ideas on my current drawing seperately.

FA

[Chick]

Hello, FA, welcome to the Guild!

[eldritchdawn]

Welcome Formal Abu!

The map is looking very interesting. I mean the place. Is it lava? Like in Oblivion Gates?

[JavaJoeCoffee]

Wow those are really nice. I really like the loose style, descriptive without being to fussy.

[Formal Abu]

Haha just funky colouring not lava! But you knew that

[jbgibson]

Welcome to the Guild, Formal. Nice work thus far - keep experimenting and asking, and you will indeed get better and better.

The second example you posted ( and do go ahead and directly post files, please - there's plenty of space, and that's what it's for) does have some very unwaterlike water happening. The overall look is great, and you've assembled elements in a pleasing and workable manner, except for that main two-forked river. In general, rivers join, as they flow from high ground to the sea. At any one point on a surface only one direction will be " most down", even if only by a bit, and water will choose to run that direction. There can easily be multiple directions up from one spot, hence inflowing branches join.

Further, the angle of a join most often is at least a bit acute, and 'points' downstream. You can see several places where your visual cues say a river is flowing away from the sea, which makes little sense. These principles may make good sense, or my explanation of them may leave you scratching your head. In either case, take a look at Redrobes' great tutorial on Getting Your Rivers In The Right Place, stickied near the top of the tutorials & how-to forum. Water behavior will become a lot clearer :-).

I like the look you're getting with that latest effort too.

[Formal Abu]

That is some really helpful feedback thanks jbg! I'm looking at rivers/deltas on google a lot for my next map so hopefully it should be more realistic, river-wise anyway!