Dryads' Lair City - commission

[Meshon]

I've only just managed to get back to the community here after a few months absence, it's great to see the amazing work that's going on! Ironically I was absent just after getting my first commission (yay!) but I'd like to post it here. This is finished (as in already submitted to my seriously excellent patron) but I would be interested to hear what people think. I have a lot to learn and this is a fantastic place to do that.

Also, the commission was for two maps, so I'll post the regional map in the appropriate forum in a moment.
Edit: Did that, and it's here.

The city of Dryads' Lair! One version has the districts highlighted and named, the other is clear of that information.

cheers,
Meshon

[Domino44]

Very cool city map! The Dragon Shrine is awesome! I really like how you have some buildings more detailed while the rest is simply silhouetted.

[J.Edward]

Really nice work Meshon. I like the variety and shapes of the buildings.
Good layout and flow of streets as well.

[Diamond]

That's really very cool! I think my only nitpick is the cobblestone streets - they look awesome... but they also make it very difficult (for me at least) to read the street names. Maybe adding a one or two pixel white stroke or outer glow around the names would help? But all in all, nice work. And kudos for the patience it takes to do a city map.

[Bogie]

Great work Meshon, I really like how the building silhouettes are in shapes that I envision real buildings would actually get made in.
It's REP Hammer Time!

[arsheesh]

Very nice indeed Meshan. The house outlines do a great job of forming negative space, and as Diamond mentioned, the cobblestone streets look very nice.

Cheers,
-Arsheesh

[Meshon]

Well thank you all very much for the kind words, it's great to hear. As to the street names... yes, I spent some time working on that but the root of the problem comes from the fact that this map was done in Illustrator thus, vectors and some very close zoom. I spent a fair amount of time working close up and so the street names didn't appear as an issue until pretty late in the process. I actually ended up cutting the map into districts which helps with the problem a bit. The names are a lot clearer when you get up close and personal... but then you can see all the warts too!
Drakeshill.png

The buildings that are in white with some shading on them are ones that are significant locations. I compromised with the rest and they are silhouettes only; I would love to make them all look awesome but I don't know how to do that without adding a lot of time, and I think this city is too big for that. Mind you, some people here can do it, so I'm going to be taking notes.

I also thought for awhile about putting shadows in, and I still might but I need to figure out a way that looks alright given the very abstract nature of most of the blocks, just being outlines.

Thanks for letting me ramble about the map, I learned a lot doing it and I'm looking forward to having a go at another (smaller) city soon.

cheers,
Meshon

[J.Edward]

I wouldn't worry with shadow on this map. It wouldn't suit the style and then you would be opening a big can of worms.

[Ilanthar]

Good work and pretty dragon .

[anstett]

Yes I must say this is a pretty awesome map to be able to use.

And Meshon is a great artist to work with if anyone is looking for someone to hire.


Edit: Here is a link to see the various sections of the city zoomed in on as Meshon mentioned.

http://www.dragonslayers-society.org...air-CityProper