Greetings

[Sadron82]

Greetings all,

I'm a novel writer who is trying to make maps for the coming book. I love detailed maps, but sometimes it appears to be too big project. I have drawn few maps in the past and made few more with different mapper program when had RPG going on. I have the imagine in my mind but when I make a map I'm not happy to it. I guess I try to make simply map first. Also figuring out the distances to each towns is difficult to me. I'm a newbie on this.
Anyhow, I'm working on paper map and trying to make other with Fractal Mapper 8.0 at the moment.

I hope to find here help and advises. Nice to meet you!

[Adversary]

Welcome! The two questions I would ask are: what time period? and what climate? Germany is a great example of temperate medieval towns that have carried over into the present. Towns often have a gasthouse in the center, surrounded by shops and homes, surrounded by homes and farms. the farm land radiates out from the central town. These towns may be one or two miles apart.

Germany.png

The eastern United States is built in a similar style. as you move to areas like Wisconsin or Illinois towns may be ten to twenty miles apart and the farms are scattered in between them.

The Western states are drier and large ranches are the norm so towns may be separated by many miles.

Hope this helps. I know there are more experienced people here who will be more than happy to help you.

[Sadron82]

Hi Adversary and thanks. You gave me question I haven't thought about yet. Time period would be in medieval (fantasy). The climate is the question I ponder. The highest place is at mountains on left and descents into lower parts of land. I'm not sure how to explain this. You gave me something to think about.

I'll study the picture you showed.

[Adversary]

Glad I could be of some help. It may help to check Google Earth around Bavarian or northern Italy. These sound like the type of area you are trying to build.

[ltan]

Welcome to the guild!

[Sadron82]

@Adversary, I downloaded Google earth and studying things now. Thank you for the tip.

@Itan, thanks and Hello!

I'll post a map when I have figured things out. I'm still open for more advises.

[Gidde]

Welcome! You'll find many writers around here with the same goals. It's a great place to learn to make that world come to life

[Sadron82]

Thank you Gidde.

I have posted my first WIP map to Mapmaking Discussion & Philosophy (WIP/Critique) - Regional/World Mapping section.