Looking to get started with Qgis + illustrator

[silk186]

After a few days searching (not writing) I've come to the conclusion I should use a combination of a GIS app and graphic editor.

I have Qgis install, I can get Arcgis but it doesn't sounds like it is suitable. I've read it has long loading times, crashes, more difficult to navigate menus, potential licensing limitations in exchange for some very advanced features I won't use.

For a graphics option seem to be recommended in this order: Illustrator > Inkscape as I understand it. i have Gimp installed but again, can get the other two through Uni.

I want to be efficient so I will have 3 basic templates to work with to show how each of these changes at given time periods.
The maps will need a legend and scale. It would be nice to accurately place feature like pipelines and train. It would also be nice to import all of this if it is easy enough.
I see that the Cartographers Guild focuese on fantasy maps, but also some of its members produce local maps and even some of other planets.
I would like to get my feet wet and learn what I need to make maps. Below are examples of what I'm looking to produce.



I want to produce a number of maps over the next year that will focus on 3 regions:


China
China with provinces highlighted
China with resources and transport hubs



The Eurasian continent
China with Pipeline lines extending to Russia and Pakistan
China with rail lines from Beijing to London


SLOCs (Sea Lines of Communication)
The South China Sea
SLOCs from China to Pakistan
SLOCs from China to Africa