I need an external opinion

[Chick]

I personally think that you chose a difficult style. I think it's really difficult to make something that looks good with that technique.

I agree. For some reason, lots of newcomers start with the Atlas style, I know I did, and I didn't enjoy it. It's difficult to do and difficult to get satisfactory results, although after a lot of practice, it does make nice terrain.

I think we should have a much simpler tutorial guide for newcomers. There are some on "getting started", but they are too general about what software to use, etc, and not specific enough about styles to try first.

If you had to advise a newcomer who wanted to try his/her hand at making their own map, which style (or tutorial) would you recommend they try first?

[Freodin]

If you had to advise a newcomer who wanted to try his/her hand at making their own map, which style (or tutorial) would you recommend they try first?

There can be only one.

Gidde's "Hand-Drawn Mapping (for the Artistically Challenged)"

An "artistic" style can be a lot easier to manage than a realistic one, with the use of brushes and such... and Gidde's is almost fool-proof. And it usually results in wonderfully stylish maps.

[Azélor]

There can be only one.

Gidde's "Hand-Drawn Mapping (for the Artistically Challenged)"

An "artistic" style can be a lot easier to manage than a realistic one, with the use of brushes and such... and Gidde's is almost fool-proof. And it usually results in wonderfully stylish maps.

I agree. It is fast and simple.
And this for city maps : http://www.cartographersguild.com/sh...ad.php?t=24611

[Chick]

OK, great, so what's the best way to get newcomers pointed to this, rather than to something more complicated like the Atlas method, to get them started?