The Tentivu Tetrarchy [WIP]

[Voolf]

I like the smooth land you create in your maps, seems simple. basic even, but there is beauty in it. (Saying simple i dont mean the work, i know it requires much of it).
Anyway looking awesome, you inspire me with every map. Cannot wait to see it finished.

[Tiluchi]

Can't believe no-one's commented on this yet, but I looooove those graticules! Brilliant idea to have them starting on the tips of the island/continent, plus it goes so well with the whole "tetra" thing. And of course everything else is great too.

[kacey]

It's beautiful, I look forward to the next update.

[Caenwyr]

Alright people, I have an update for you!

Tentivu_15.jpg

You'll notice the terrain work is finally done, apart from some final tweaks in the NE. You'll also notice the terrain got a bit grittier in places - Voolf was absolutely right about the smoothness of it all. You see, sometimes I actually listen to suggestions!

I also added a channel in the southern peninsula upon the client's request, connecting two rivers. There's supposed to be locks and all that stuff so it shouldn't violate any river rules . I hope it looks somewhat plausible too!

I hope you like it! And if not, just yell - after all I'm open to suggestions!

[Voolf]

Great progress, glad you found my comment helpful. It looks splendid.

[Chris Lewis]

Some minor changes to the borders and the coastline requested by the client, a splash of colour, a sketchy layout proposal and a massive bundle of Ley lines radiating out of the extremities of the continent.

Attachment 89482

Still fully in the sketch stage though - next step is to get the linework going in earnest.

Thoughts?

Particularly love the ocean texture, Caenwyr! Would you be willing to share your thoughts behind how you created it? Excellent work so far.

[Chris Lewis]

Alright people, I have an update for you!

Tentivu_15.jpg

You'll notice the terrain work is finally done, apart from some final tweaks in the NE. You'll also notice the terrain got a bit grittier in places - Voolf was absolutely right about the smoothness of it all. You see, sometimes I actually listen to suggestions!

I also added a channel in the southern peninsula upon the client's request, connecting two rivers. There's supposed to be locks and all that stuff so it shouldn't violate any river rules . I hope it looks somewhat plausible too!

I hope you like it! And if not, just yell - after all I'm open to suggestions!

Beautiful work! I particularly like the lower chain of islands that arc between the two peninsulas. And I love how you've added to your oceans - the gradients and wave lines, etc. How did you achieve the look you came up with?

[Caenwyr]

Beautiful work! I particularly like the lower chain of islands that arc between the two peninsulas. And I love how you've added to your oceans - the gradients and wave lines, etc. How did you achieve the look you came up with?

I'm afraid it's a long and thoroughly undocumented process, Chris. But the idea is to start with one layer in a sort of mid-tone blue that covers the entire ocean, and then start stacking up layers in the same blue to either darken (by setting the layers in question to "multiply") or lighten (by setting those to "linear dodge/add") the ocean.

I remember I also played around with some weirdly shaped cloud-ish brushes and had them rotate randomly, with size and opacity linked to pen pressure. That way I was able to carve out nice little rifts as well as huge deepsea flats all with the same brush.

In short: it's an iterative process. You play with it for a few hours until you're happy with it, leave it overnight, and decide to start from scratch the following morning. This one must have been the 4th or 5th version I did, and I still miss a certain depth, even though I'm quite happy with it for now. One has to pick one's battles in this business, and at a certain point the added quality no longer justifies the time needed to finalize that extra pass.

But! Maybe in some future map I'll consider treating ocean colouring the same way I do with the land shading to really get across that feeling of "unfathomably deep ocean"

[Chris Lewis]

Thank you so much for the in-depth feedback, Caenwyr I'm going to practice what you said I see if I can come close to what you've achieved. And yes, I totally understand how you have to "let it go" at a certain point. Thank you again for all the information you provided to this novice I greatly appreciate it.

[J.Edward]

Oh man Caenwyr.. this is gonna be so cool when done
Keep on keepin on, it's looking fine sir.