Hi, I'm a writer of a fantasy medieval-like story

[Immolate]

It's funny, when I first got here a year ago, it was by chance. I saw one map in the featured maps section by Ramah and was completely blown away. I thought it I ever managed to produce anything half that good, it would be worth any amount of hard work.

Now, after a year, I realized that producing something a quarter as good was a pretty ambitious goal!

I jest, but in all seriousness, you will be surprised to find out just how quickly you can learn to do good, solid maps beyond the ability of anyone who isn't either an artist or a member of this site.

Welcome to the guild!

[tilt]

I had a look at your maps, and I won't tell you they are crap - quite the opposite - they are maps! Yes, they could be made in thousands more realistic looking styles, but they do what they are supposed to do - convey the message! And in clean crisp colors and lines too - so kudos for that
Now, if you want more - and I'm guessing you will - then go to the tutorials section and look for a tutorial describing the style that you like, and try it.. and ask for help, cause you'll get it

[Eurypon]

I jest, but in all seriousness, you will be surprised to find out just how quickly you can learn to do good, solid maps beyond the ability of anyone who isn't either an artist or a member of this site.

Welcome to the guild!

I'm sure I will. Thanks.

I had a look at your maps, and I won't tell you they are crap - quite the opposite - they are maps! Yes, they could be made in thousands more realistic looking styles, but they do what they are supposed to do - convey the message! And in clean crisp colors and lines too - so kudos for that
Now, if you want more - and I'm guessing you will - then go to the tutorials section and look for a tutorial describing the style that you like, and try it.. and ask for help, cause you'll get it

I'm going to follow your advice of course. Meanwhile I uploaded a screenshot of my latest effort. Basically it's the same region, but I went away from the sharp lines and gaudy colors. Also, the screenshot is "in context" i.e. like it appears for the moment on my website (Dark Tales - Chapter 39), with a little bit of the text included.

If you'd like to take a look... I'm always interested in your opinion and I'm curious if this is progress or not.

And thanks again.

[tilt]

I would say the sharp lines stod out more ... but, give your self some time and you should probably work on a bigger document so you have space to work

[Sigurd]

You obviously have an imagination and a need for maps. Those are the prerequisites, I'd say.


I looked at your maps. It looks like you had a goal for each of them and there's some variation in approach. Hey, they worked for you when you made them.

I wouldn't rush the next map. Try following the work of other members who use Gimp and read a few tutorials. Your maps look like you have the skills not the tools - the tutorials will acquaint you with the tools quickly.

Welcome to the Guild. Its good to have more people that don't use Windows - another target for Linux Questions



Sigurd

[Eurypon]

@tilt

I'm obviously still trying to find my 'groove'.

You obviously have an imagination and a need for maps. Those are the prerequisites, I'd say.


I looked at your maps. It looks like you had a goal for each of them and there's some variation in approach. Hey, they worked for you when you made them.

I wouldn't rush the next map. Try following the work of other members who use Gimp and read a few tutorials. Your maps look like you have the skills not the tools - the tutorials will acquaint you with the tools quickly.

Welcome to the Guild. Its good to have more people that don't use Windows - another target for Linux Questions



Sigurd

@Sigurd

Thanks for the generous comment.

I think you're both right. I'd probably better first have a look around.

I'm so in trouble though. I face a major battle, well, my characters do and as battles tend to be confused and confusing I will at least need some schematic maps of which units are where at any given time... But they're only little colored blocks, right? Right?

Oh, and if I can help some fellow-Linux users: gladly. I'm not exactly a specialist but I do have some limited knowledge & about five years experience.
(My OS is Ubuntu 9.10 (waiting a few weeks to upgrade to 10.04), I use Gnome because I think it's more Zen , so I know next to nothing about KDE and I use compiz because I like the bling, the cube and wobbly windows.)

[tilt]

we once did a battle with an index card for each "force" on the map - so we moved the index cards around, and they had some combat statistics.. but the players jobs where to take out the oposition general, so we crossed the battle, rolled some dices for the big battle, and fought our own little one on the side of the big one

[Aenigma]

This has raised my attention since I'm a writer myself You seem to be doing a great job!