Fantasy Maps - Getting geographical features correct for a global position

[Arkkamedes]

Hi!,

I'm working on a fantasy map and after searching around the site, I haven't been able to find a resource on how to plot realistic looking lakes, rivers and land features (deserts, frozen regions .etc)

If no such guides exist, would anyone be willing to check out a map and give me feedback on such features?

edit: I should clarify that I mean to ask if there are any general guidelines for creating environs that would be reasonably plausible on a realistic globe.

[Gidde]

Hi Ark ( is it ok if I call you Ark? iPhone keyboards suck lol)

Check out the How to get your rivers in the right place sticky in the tutorial forum for watery stuff. It's invaluable. For the rest there are a ton of worldbuilding threads that range the gamut for level of complexity and realism. Take a gander through the world/regional wip forum for those.

[Fipps]

Been having similar issues. Glad I looked around before asking the question again. Thanks

[bartmoss]

A complete description of how to get rivers, climate zones, mountains etc "really right" would be a complete geology university course and then some, I guess. My advice - besides tutorials here - is to actually STUDY maps of the real world. Look at how rivers flow, and how mountain ranges and coasts look.

That said, post your maps in the relevant forums, and request feedback, and there will surely be people who will be happy to offer suggestions.

[moutarde]

This is short description of how to determine your climate zones and mountain placements and such. It's a free preview of a larger book, but could be quite helpful nonetheless.

http://e23.sjgames.com/item.html?id=XRPFREE2