Heimur old map WIP

[Tom]

hello folks! I started to work on a (incomplete) bigger map of Heimur, the setting of my new D&D campaign.
I want to do an "old map" style, simple, with not many details, just to give an hint of the bigger continent...
Anyway, I'll post my WIPs here, please feel free to comment and criticize!

WIP 1 - base -
old map WIP1.jpg

WIP 2 - initial textures -
old map WIP2.jpg

WIP 3 - coastline effect -
old map WIP3.jpg

WIP 4 - mountains and rivers -
old map WIP4.jpg

[Tom]

I'm about to start drawing the "portolan lines" in ocean, but I'm not sure how to proceed..

[Chick]

What software are you using? Just draw a straight line, duplicate it 7 more times, and rotate them each by specific angles.

I do it in a window that is double the size of the one I'm working on, so I can copy it over, move it around and still have the lines going all the way to the sides.

[Tom]

Thanks Chick, I figured out
I'm not sure if it looks good or just confusing lol, I'm thinking about making some lines dotted
old map WIP6.jpg

[snodsy]

lesopeso;
I wouldn't do dotted lines, it would actually make it more busy, maybe just take down the opacity level until you like it. Also the lower horizontal one becomes dominate, maybe rotate everything a couple degrees to get rid of this obvious horizontal. Looks awesome so far.

[Tom]

Ok, here are 3 different version of the lines, i prefer the 2nd one, but i look for suggestion
p.s. the compass rose is just sketched

old map WIP6a.jpg old map WIP6b.jpg old map WIP6c.jpg

[Tom]

I need some opinions about sea textures and the small details (kraken, ship, serpent)
old map WIP 7.jpg

[Abu Lafia]

Hey lesopeso, i like the sea texture in itself, but i think it doesn't fit too well with the style you went with so far. I like the very "rough and dirty" background texture and the linework looks like it was "bleached" over the centuries and really gives the impression of an old mapl. Compared to this, the new seatexture looks too "clear/clean" or patterned in my view and also clashes with your coastal waves . Have you considered drawing some bigger waves in the way you did the smaller waves in the coastal waters? The other elements look very nice, but also a bit sharp and clean (maybe apply the layer settings from the landmass to them too, so the background texture comes through?)
Ofc this is only my opinon, i really like what you're doing here!
Cheers,
AL

[Tom]

I see your point Abu, and indeed you are right.. I suspected that, but I like to experiment, and sometimes i go off road.. this is why i need advices from forum users
I will go back to a rough and dirty style! Tnx!

[snodsy]

The portalan lines should actually connect to each termination point, this would simplify the lines - see the attached sample I provided, the red square shows an area that doesn't align and becomes cluttered .portalanlines.pdf