Large desert themed city map.
I have been running games for nigh on 25 years. I have always made do with what I can find, or in the more recent years what I can make, for maps. However, my group has requested a city based game with intrigue and plot twist and betrayal. So boldly did set about designing and crafting, writing and plotting... until it came time for my players to start making characters and they asked the all-important question "Where are we from?" Right... city. Going to need a map.
Scope:
I need a large city map, preferably in a digital format (as I have a TV embedded in the gametable for maps, grids, and images to show) to be used personally for this game. I do not know the size, but larger is preferable. I’d like to have it in a couple of weeks but considering I have 0 idea as to how long a project like this could take, I understand I may be asking for too much.
Description:
Ooph... here goes:
It is a coastal city, situated at the mouth of a large river that runs north to south through a modest river delta before emptying in a sheltered natural harbor. The natural harbor is busy with docks and piers, as the city is situated at the edge of both a land caravan route going east - west through it as well as seaport access to other cities across a massive gulf (not part of the scope of the map, just here for descriptive purposes). Trade roads also travel upriver supporting smaller town and villages along the river banks. The coast itself is rocky, while the area beyond the city surroundings is an endless sea of sand and dune. The city has grown over the centuries until the river basically goes through the middle of it.
The river delta has built up over the centuries, meaning that what was once the river side of the harbor docks has been slowly filled in with silt and sand, making a strange array of docks and piers that now span tiny delta rivulets and damp ground but which ships can no longer reach. This would mostly be an abandoned part of town, but also functions as a slums or income-poor section. The docks closest to the primary river branch would still be in decent shape, as would the roads required to transport cargo from the main docks deeper into the city from the ocean going vessels whose draft is too deep to travel upriver to the warehouses.
Past these older docks would be some residential houses, merchant offices and warehouses before coming upon a huge east-west running caravan route. Flanking both sides of this trade artery are inns, taverns and stables used by the various trade caravans and merchants as they pause to load and unload or even just waiting out the night before continuing east or west along the route.
North of these inns and taverns on the western bank of the river lies the Emir’s palace. The size of a small castle, but without defensive fortifications. More residential area surrounds the palace, while to the northwest of that stands a small red-light district.
On the eastern bank, across the river from the palace are the houses of the rich and noble. Larger estates with grounds and buildings. Some have private river access while a few have delicate but sturdy skybridges between their estates and the palace. This does not need to be represented physically on the map if the conveyance of the idea mucks up the overall understandability of the map.
South of the trade road, on the west side of the city will be an open market place with tents, stalls, and temporary or easily moved buildings and carts.
East and north of the noble quarter are some more residential and commercial buildings, until breaking up in to a small tent city.
There are walls along the city boundary, but these are not meant for defense as much as for forcing traffic to use the primary roads, and breaking up the whipping desert wind during the winter season. They don’t have closed gates, nor do they completely encompass the city.
Beyond the city walls lie a spiderweb of irrigation canals and hardy farms that raise camels, goats and other animals on rough desert grass. These farms provide the majority of food to the city. Past these farms the sand and dunes take over again.
Copyright:
Copyright remains with the creator. I have no plans to publish or make commercially available, it is strictly for my personal home game. The author is free to do whatever they like with the art.
Payment:
Honestly, I’m not sure what the rate is for something like this. I’m earmarking $100 (via paypal) as a starting point, but open to some amount of negotiating. Since this is for personal use though, I can’t justify too much on a singular (albeit important) piece of the campaign.
Contact:
Either reply to this thread, or email lordgigz{at}gmail[dot]com.
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Originally Posted by Azélor
