Terraformed Mars WIP

[steelmccoy]

Originally posted this in the Sci Fi forum, but I think this one might be a better fit given that it's an overland map. Mods, feel free to delete my other thread.

Working on a solar system based RPG setting. Here's my Mars WIP. I haven't done much with borders in the past, and seeing some of the other maps here I feel like nice borders really pull everything together and give the map a finished look. Labels are up next. Definitely willing to revisit stuff that's done if anyone has suggestions!

mars map draft.png

Started with a base map by Fenn o manic. Used some of Finner's India brushes and some brushes by withwhipcream from Deviantart.

[Charerg]

Looks very nice! Especially the borders are very beautiful (good choice of colours, too). One thing I was a bit confused about is the land/sea colouring. I actually had to check out a topographic map to find out which is which! Although maybe I'm too used to seeing land coloured in tan so I kind of see the darker portions as the land and the light tan as water. Maybe a bluish tint or some waves in the sea would make it a bit more obvious?

[steelmccoy]

Thanks! I'm with you on the land/sea difference. I think it might be more clear when I have labels (and maybe terrain - I just haven't found a mountain style I really love and can pull off yet). That said, I did think about flipping the colors so the darker part was land or adding a blue-tint, at least along the coast lines. I wasn't sure how blue would play in with the other colors, but it's definitely worth a shot! I'll try that next. Working on the "map" part of the map is next up. Kinda doing things backwards

[steelmccoy]

I decided to go with simple iconography even for the terrain - there are really just a few peaks and the rest is relatively even, so I thought drawing/rendering a mountain range there might look unbalanced. Two versions of the ocean. I'm leaning toward the solid fill rather than the outline:
mars draft 2a.png
mars draft 2b.png

[Diamond]

I like the second version better; I feel like those colors complement your borders better than all that solid blue.

[rdanhenry]

The solid fill reads much more clearly as water. As for overall aesthetics... I think it is hard to make a judgment there until the land is finished.

[steelmccoy]

Pretty minor update. I adjusted the name plate to fit better and started labeling. Went with the blue outline for now, still not 100% decided.
### Latest WIP ###
mars draft 3.png

[steelmccoy]

Continuing to tinker. I added actual terrain via satellite image. I think I like it, but it makes the labels harder to read. Maybe just need to scale up the smaller text, but could go for a re-design...

mars draft 4.jpg

[Ilanthar]

Interesting. I like the "rusted feel" you got on this last one. I also like the multi labels you use.