Opinions on new maps

[John Paul]

Hi, just about finished three world maps for a multi genre pnp rpg and looking into map s for published campaigns and fiction and was hoping this would be the right place to post. One is a fantasy map, the other a post apocalypse and the third for a weird wewstern. concerned about the rivers in the western one but would love any input before finalizing.Thank you! Was not sure if o.k. to post three maps if not apologies ahead of time.

[rdanhenry]

You seem to be making a habit of making boxes with mountains, though it isn't quite so obvious on the Uru map (then again, there the box is closed by ocean on one side instead of mountains, which helps). Among other issues, it looks like the shape of the map is driving the formation of the landscape, which will always make it look unnatural. Those right angle meetings between mountain ranges are also going to cost you realism points. There is also a practical problem with boxing the area in. Have you realized that your Ghostplains lakes are going to be saltwater, except maybe the one by Fort Wolf?

I would not say to never, ever box in a map with mountains, but it should be a deliberate choice with specific reasons, whereas seeing it in all three maps makes me think it is an unconscious habit. If you need to pin in the players, use a variety of barriers and make it less linear (another reason the Uru map looks better is the coast is rough and you allow the west side to continue past the mountain wall there, making it look less boxed in, though it is just as effectively boxed in as the other maps.

The roads on The Pit appear to be very wide. You might want to narrow them.

As for strengths, I'd say you manage to stay within the hex-map format nicely without letting it have too much control of the map, and I think you have a good selection of colors.

[John Paul]

Thanks for the input. was worried about the plains mountains. There is a story reason for the mountains as far as an ancient magical cataclysm in which the northern mountains in Uru were raised to isolate it from the rest of the continent. The other two are actually pieces of the same world map but players are not supposed to know that. The characters in each section would develop at the same time, different space However i would still like to maintain realism to the extant that i can, really appreciate the input. I wanted the plains to be arrid, say great western desert style so not sure if i should keep the saltwater or remake. Even though i have a magical reason would still like to be as realistic as possible.Have not fit the whole thing together yet.One of the main reasons looking for input

[John Paul]

time for more research,lol. also question on road size as far as scale supposed to be in a wasteland and meant for Mad Max style gang/horde or transport for less savage mutations with vehicles. What would be a good scale compared with rest of map. Any input appreciated,ty!

[John Paul]

@rdanhenry thanks for the practical input and not being harsh to a total newb. Was a little intimidated to post in first place but have a few things i am working on and have to try to get it straight. Appreciate it.

[John Paul]

So remade the ghost plains and the pit, any input appreciated. Would like opinion on whether or not it is a little more realistic.