The Spiral Archipelago

[caribbeancasa]

Hello Fellow Cartographers of the World!

I have spent countless hours perusing this site, reading posts and tutorials, and, of course, enjoying the vast collection of maps.

Although this is my first true map, I feel as if this map is as much the communities as it is my own.

For without the amazing generosity of the members of this site, my map would never have been completed.

So, thanks to you all!

I hope you enjoy the map



THE SPIRAL ARCHIPELAGO

This is a map for an upcoming weekly RPG that I will be running this spring. I included a labeled and unlabeled version for your review.

Without boring everyone to tears with the backstory, basically the Spiral Archipelago was formed by a God Machine following the code of the Fibonacci Sequence. It's a steampunk setting in which clockwork guardians rule the archipelago and the various races (human and non-standard fantasy) either live as peacefully as possible under their yoke or chafe against their rule in open rebellion.

Below is a brief except from a clockwork guardian prayer...


]THE AWAKENING

- from the First Guardians Hymnal 'The Spiral Rises', Chapter 3, Verse 7[/I]

And so the God Machine, the Lord of Gears, the One Code, awoke from its electronic slumber and initiated the universe. With a maelstrom of particles, atoms and aether, the multitudinal lines of code sequenced into the Spiral and the heavens above. [reprise: It created all. Its will, instructs our function].

And so the Spiral formed. Golden in its ratio, flawless in its design. In its earth, the minerals of industry. Beneath its water, the oils of lubrication. Betwixt its air, the ether of divine magics. And at its core, the Eternal Gears that turn the Spiral and the heavens above. [reprise: it created all. Its will, instructs our function].

And then the sequences spiraled unto themselves and formed the internal chains and coils of precious life. The frail magnificance of the humans. The salt and silt wisdom of the vodyanoi. The winged-celerity of the corvus. [reprise: it created all. Its will, instructs our function].

And in the end, it created the clockwork guardians of the Golden Spiral. Beings of the purest code. A mirror-image of the creator itself wrought of metal, flesh and gears. A code within the code. Its ethereal will, wrought physical and whole [reprise: it created all. Its will, instructs our function

[Chick]

Very nice! Lots of good steampunk theme showing! Nice colors, dark and foreboding, yet clear and easy to read. Well done!

[caribbeancasa]

Very nice! Lots of good steampunk theme showing! Nice colors, dark and foreboding, yet clear and easy to read. Well done!

Chick,

Thank you very much for your kind words. Again, I couldn't have done this map without this community.

P.S. My reputation just took a huge leap. I believe that might have been you. If so, it is MOST appreciated. I hope I can give back to the community even a fraction of what they've given me.

[Diamond]

That's pretty groovy, casa. Nice job with the decorative elements; it's easy to go overboard there, but yours integrate nicely with the map. I think my only critique is that I'd like to see more! More cities and sites of interest, more labels! Have some rep.

[caribbeancasa]

That's pretty groovy, casa. Nice job with the decorative elements; it's easy to go overboard there, but yours integrate nicely with the map. I think my only critique is that I'd like to see more! More cities and sites of interest, more labels! Have some rep.

Diamond, thank you for both the compliments and the rep. Both are very much appreciated.

In regard to 'seeing more', I struggled with where to draw the line. Because it's a 'world' map it didn't seem as if depicting actual cities would make sense with the realistic textures I was using for the terrain. I'm sure I could have pulled up a satellite texture of cities from the net, but I was concerned about too much clutter.

My plan is to break the map down into regions and do a more detailed depiction which will include cities, points of interest, airship routes, etc. once my players pick a realm to begin in.

I'm already chomping at the bit to try my hand at a few new techniques on the regional maps.


Regards,
Scott

[Diamond]

Nice! Can't wait to see 'em!

[Ilanthar]

Very nice map! The spiral shape is very cool and original and I like the composition and colors. My major nitpick would be about the rivers : I would done them with the same color as the seas.

[caribbeancasa]

My major nitpick would be about the rivers : I would done them with the same color as the seas.

Dammit Ilanthar, now that's all I can see when I look at the map!

I've gone back to my PS file and I'm tinkering with your idea. Because it was my first 'real' map, I didn't put in all of the safeguards that I should have to make future editing as easy as possible. But I'll wait for the wife and kids fall asleep tonight and see if changing the river color adds to the map. I suspect it will.

Thanks for the kind words, the feedback and the rep. All are appreciated.


Regards,
Scott