The Tentivu Tetrarchy [WIP]

[Mouse]

Its a lovely map, Caenwyr

I also prefer the isometric symbols, because they match the isometric nature of the map, whereas the others would look too flat and 'top down' for my personal taste.

btw - what's the difference between an 'icon' and a 'symbol'. I had thought until recently that all such repeating images in a map were called symbols, but there seems to be a massive trend towards calling them icons. More than a little confusing for me, since I have always thought that an icon was a religious token (usually a very fine painting done on a block of hardwood in tempera). Perhaps you can enlighten me?

[Josiah VE]

I don't mind the round icons at all! I love 'em! Looking beautiful so far!

@Mouse: Is there a difference? I would use both of the words interchangeably, and I don't think I'd notice when someone uses one or the other.

[Mouse]

I just get confused when people use 'icon', as my mind has been conditioned to think of religious (usually Russian) icons of the tempera on hardwood variety! LOL!

[Foomandoonian]

Incredible stuff. I love the style of this.

[Caenwyr]

Alright people! I haven't updated you in a while, so here's an overview of what happened in the course of the last two weeks to get you guys up to speed again.

Labelling has been slow business - not because it's in itself time consuming, but rather because the client prefers to send the labels country by country. This is not at all a problem though, since it has given me ample time to experiment with other segments of the map. I'm not gonna bore you to death with discussions on kerning and font colouring etc (although these can be quite interesting in their own right), but I'll be happy to share some of the more visual evolutions of the past weeks.

Apart from the labelling, client also requested I add a series of flags (for each of the kingdoms and all of their constituent countries). I first tried a sort of flag/banner/sail/spear thingy, but while I liked it in the sketches, I wasn't too fond of the way it looked once I plonked it down on the map.

• one of the sketches:
  Tentivu_flagpole_Blasedina_example.jpg
• a partial version of the end product:
  Tentivu_26.jpg

So yeah, that didn't work out! Way too spindly, way too fragile, and a huge lack of oomph. I admit that shading the whole shebang would have made it look a bit more acceptable, but that just doesn't cut it. I'm not happy with a "well yeah, it kinda looks okay." I want it to look awesome!

So I proposed three alternatives:

• simple rectangles (with some room for descriptive text):
  Tentivu_flag_example_rectangles.jpg
• the old-but-gold shields (as in my initial sketch):
  Tentivu_flag_example_shields.jpg
• and since orbs are very much a thing in this world (much of the magic emanates from 4 magical orbs), I also proposed to display the flags as a series of orbs:
  Tentivu_flag_example_orbs.jpg

Client decided to go for the orbs, which was great, because now we had a theme going! Four cardinal direction orbs (which we decided would also refer to the four magical orbs) and a whole series of flag orbs (which suspiciously - and unintendedly! - look like Polandballs ).

With orbs now the main characters of the map, I went on to size up the four on the edge of them and provide them with a well-deserved background.

• North now boasts a grassy marble-like finish that represents Earth;
• East has received a lightning overhaul, and represents Air;
• South is adorned with a whirlpool, which logically stands for Water; and finally
• West is a ball of fire, and you'll never guess what this one represents. Yes. Fire. How did you know?

To keep that orb fest going, we went for a circular title box as well. This one is still firmly in the development state (as might be hinted at by the 'Lorem ipsum' bit), but it already illustrates quite nicely the direction I intend to go with this. Although client has the final word of course .

So here you have it, guys! Labelling almost finished, flags and cardinal orbs almost done, and a first stab at a cartouche.

Tentivu_32.jpg

Thoughts? Comments? Critique? Spit them out!

[Josiah VE]

Wow! It's looking awesome. These final touches really add a lot.

[Voolf]

Great additions Caenwyr. I really dont have any critique. One thing that somehow dosent fit in my eyes are the 4 light red labels like Hermijia and Briamo. They seem oversaturated when comparing to the whole map.
The N,E,S,W circle are much better then last time i saw them. The emblems are also awesome. Great job.

[Tenia]

Fantastic job, your customer will be happy. If you want a critique, the yellow hand of Tomajon lacks a bit of contrast/visibility ?

[Ilanthar]

The new orb directions are indeed much better. And the "orby flags" are just a winner!

[snodsy]

Beautiful job with the orb cardinal points really love them. The whole piece is well executed only thing I see is the frame now feels a little tight or small? Other than that I think this is excellent. You handle the labeling so well on your maps, great job.