Sanctum - A first attempt at D&D homebrew

[cscbengtsson]

My first dabbles into map making are for preparing a setting for my friends and relatives at home. I have had an idea for a new player scenario for a while, and now since approximately 1, 1.5 months I have been slowly working on it - Enter Sanctum.

Background
At first, I just prepared the local starting area, a village close to a river and big forest:
SanctumEdition0-Local.GIF
Then I started thinking where this village was located as part of a country or region, here in the lower right side of the map:
Sanctum1stEdition.GIF
Then I started thinking some more, how about climate and biomes, and where is this region in relation to the world itself. The landmass shape was slightly modified and a lot added, to show a slice from the equator up to around 60°N. I referenced Artifexian's videos for ocean currents, wind directions and Köppen classification, very simplified.
Sanctum2ndEdition.GIF
At this point, I realized I do not like the shape of the landmasses at all. To my eyes, it looks too constructed, or how to explain it. So I decided to kind of start over.

Current work and direction
This is the latest version (and still very much a work in progress):
Sanctum3rdEdition.GIF
My biggest issue was the constructed feel of the landmasses, so I played around in donjon fractal world generator until I got something I liked.
Now I have set up longitude/latitude references, prevailing wind patterns, divided the map into tectonic plates and added plate movement to get features in certain places as I felt would look nice (example, interactions between OI+CIII +CII or CI+CII).
With the generated fractal image I am currently tracing the continents to something that looks good (not a 1:1 trace of the image). I plan to add in my original starting area continent shape as much as possible somewhere.

When that is done my plan is to do the following:

• Based on simplified plate tectonics add trenches, mountains, volcanoes, earthquake zones etc
• Define rain shadow areas
• Add climates and biomes according to the Köppen classification, also simplified
• Make a rough elevation map

With the above steps, I plan to see the world map as finished - My idea is to just have it as a reference for my next stage creation.
I was greatly inspired by a map project I saw on Reddit, where the map was done in a style called Jerry-mapping(?).
My thinking is that with a complete world map to reference, even if I prepare a small section at a time of a local area in a small country or similar, I can get at least some consistency in terms of climate, where geographic features will be located and so on.

Now real life has started again after the holidays (= work), so my progress will be somewhat halted. I hope to get an hour or so a day in and write a progress report once a week or once every two weeks.

If anyone has any good advice or insights to such a project, I would appreciate the feedback!

[cscbengtsson]

Finally finished tracing the first draft outline of the continents and coastlines for Sanctum. I made sure the continent boundaries on both the left and right side of the image connected by 1) adding rulers to GIMP and 2) double-checking by uploading the exported picture as a surface on https://www.maptoglobe.com/
Very convenient!

This weekend I will start with the plate tectonics. I will first modify the plate boundaries considering the changes I made to the continent outlines, and then add, remove or modify landmasses to match.
Any recommended, easy-to-digest source that can give good hints about how to consider the effects of plate tectonics?
I am thinking of referencing the following two for now:

• Artifexian's video on fantasy maps and plate tectonics
• A blog post from Emma Lindhagen (http://www.emmalindhagen.com/2015/11...ctonic-plates/)

Finally, some attachments. If you have any ideas for how to improve (coastlines, continent shapes and placement etc), please let me know. Added blue to easily differentiate oceans from land.
20200115_SanctumFlat.png
20200115_SanctumGlobe.GIF

[Arimel]

I have followed this exact same process, even including the finishing and starting over! I am afraid I dont have much advice for plate tectonics but there are a few gemstones here on the guild that may help you in designing climates. I used them in conjunction with Artifexian's videos. Azelor has an excellent tutorial and I also used Pixies tutorial (although I think Azelors is the more recent and in depth one).

Charerg also posted a tutorial on how to use G-Plates to mimic continental drift but I never did manage to fully understand that (probably my digital incompetence!).

Keep of the work!

[cscbengtsson]

I have followed this exact same process, even including the finishing and starting over! ...
... Charerg also posted a tutorial on how to use G-Plates to mimic continental drift but I never did manage to fully understand that (probably my digital incompetence!).

Keep of the work!

Thank you! It is frustrating and rewarding at the same time.

I actually downloaded G-Plates and thought of trying it but... I realized I am not motivated enough at this time to learn yet another software (additionally, there is the potential that I will never ever move forward with the actual build...). Secondly, the players I have in mind are not that well versed in these matters (neither am I) so it might work out anyhow.

[Arimel]

I am not versed either, which was most of my problem. Programs are not an area of expertise for me. The creativity is what really makes the map stand out in my mind.

[cscbengtsson]

Semi-long hiatus due to crazy work situation, spring preparation in the garden at home and the flu. Which on the other and gave me some more time to think about the continent shapes.
Realized I am not super happy with the mainly Pangaea-situation that went on with the previous iteration.

I cut and moved around and rotated some parts of the existing coastlines and landed on something I like a bit more. Added also some inland features (some brackish inland sea/river?) in the western part of the map. Soon away on vacation so I will have some more time to consider if additional changes should be made before I start adding some plate tectonics to it all.

20200216_Sanctum.png
20200216_SanctumGlobe.PNG

[cscbengtsson]

Vacation gave me time to think and understand why it makes sense that I often see 2:1 aspect ratio maps when other people do them. Said and done, did a quick rework of the continent in a new file (4000x2000 px, 300 dpi) where I just stretched out the previous outlines on the new ones and traced. Did some minor changes that I feel pretty happy with.

Next I will do plate tectonics. I have some ideas of what geological features (I hope I use this word right) I want at some locations, so I will start with the plates and movement in those areas and then rework whatever is necessary to fit that idea.

20200301-01.png

[QED42]

Have you thought about cutting the map so it splits down the ocean rather than the land?

[cscbengtsson]

Have you thought about cutting the map so it splits down the ocean rather than the land?

I did consider it, but there are two main reasons why I am refraining from it:

1. Most maps split in that way
2. It does not convey what I want it to*

* I am considering an absolutely massive mountain ranges in the eastern-most stretches of the map, making it practically impossible to traverse it that way over land in any way. Or at least that should be the feeling any Player would feel.