Map(s) requests [paid/barter/bribery] for a LARP

[Elena]

Hi there,

My name is Elena and I'm a staff member of a LARP, the Southern Organization of Live Action Roleplaying (SOLAR -- http://solarinc.org). We are a game run almost entirely on volunteer effort, and that has gotten us very far when it comes to time and effort in artistic endeavors, such as costuming, props, and even maps (good ones at that).

However, I am a super picky art snob, without talent to back it up. I like to be honest upfront.

The talent I see here is encouraging and tempting to utilize. I would love to commission quite a few of you, but my monetary reserves are completely nonexistent. You all, however, seem to have strong interests in what I am looking for, and a real understanding of programs that I just can't wrap my head around Nor do I have the patience or time to try seriously right now.

So, I would like to do a number of things:
-see who is interested in three map projects; two continents and a city
-see how people here would like to be paid, how much money they would like
-offer various items, time, etc in trade in lieu of payment (this is the fun part)


The Projects

First
is quite a large project, and one I am the least interested in, but has the most material. We have quite a few maps of our game continent, The Sutherlands (and Beyond):
http://pics.livejournal.com/elena/pic/001k0ar1
http://pics.livejournal.com/elena/pic/001hz038 (theres a far better image available I just don't have it at this moment)
http://pics.livejournal.com/elena/pic/001k106h

As you can see, we have an original hand drawn map, and an updated CC3 map, and a CC3 map that resembles parchment, but is not the complete map (though it is quite awesome).

I really want a parchment style or woodblock-print style map of our game continent as a whole. It does not necessarily need to be labeled, though various levels of detailed would be appreciated and happily discussed, by email or phone.

Second
is also a relatively large project but with far less development done. In fact I barely have a pencil drawing which I havent finished or scanned in yet, but will soon be remedied if interest is expressed. A second continent in early planning phases as an extremely 'rough draft' really, really needs a good map. I have lots of basic information of what i'd like, my pencil drawing, and a desire to include someone interested in the planning process -- and this finished in the next couple of months. This would be in the same style or similar as requested above -- parchment or woodblock style.

Third
is either a small or medium-sized project, with some relatively strict guidelines via this hard to understand image:
http://pics.livejournal.com/elena/pic/001k2z5d

To explain, we play our LARP at several group campsites in Georgia, and each of these sites are situated on a lake. I assembled them on a composite, fantasy lake, and two of the three sites are labeled (we never actually play at the third one in the upper left hand corner so i havent bothered yet). I would like to make them a part of a greater village/city/castle map (hence the weird "roads" and circles on the right side of the image), but the map of the lake and the towns we play in with some surrounding countryside would be the minimum i'd want. parchment/woodblock style, but I'm flexible, id be okay if it was a nice city designer-esque map.


Payment Options

-I would like to know what you as a mapper would charge for each of these project monetarily for reference.

-I would like to know if you would take basic costuming (such as wrap pants, harem pants, dusters, hoods, etc) as trade. I have pictures of my work here:
http://elenamakes.livejournal.com/
I can ship anywhere.

-I would like to know if you would be interested in going on a dutch date (i pay for myself, or for me and you) or two in trade (must live in the Southeast). I'm a relatively cute girl who is relatively good company a relatively large portion of the time. :B

-I would like to know if you would be interested in SOLAR currency -- Goblin Points, Experience Points, etc, which would allow you to start with a higher level character at our LARP in Atlanta, Georgia. I would be happy to coach you through the process and help you develop a neat character if you wanted to actually come play. If you are interested in this option, I can also throw in costuming and game-safe weapons. We have people who come from as far as Pennsylvania and California to play our game, its that good.


Maps I Really Like
http://www.cartographersguild.com/fe...ollexiaMap.jpg
http://fc20.deviantart.com/fs20/i/20...ormcrow135.jpg
http://fc22.deviantart.com/fs15/i/20...ormcrow135.jpg
http://fc23.deviantart.com/fs17/f/20...ormcrow135.jpg
http://www.cartographersguild.com/feature/Dolmen.jpg
http://www.cartographersguild.com/feature/HevaMap.jpg
http://fc20.deviantart.com/fs9/i/200...OfInsanity.gif
http://fc89.deviantart.com/fs25/i/20..._by_cooley.jpg
http://fc84.deviantart.com/fs28/f/20...y_Atherenn.jpg
http://fc37.deviantart.com/fs9/f/200...gard_karte.gif
http://fc05.deviantart.com/fs28/f/20...by_amegusa.png
http://fc74.deviantart.com/fs31/i/20...y_VapourNZ.jpg


The Fine Print
Copyright for these maps would need to be property of SOLAR when finished. However you would be credited in our rulebook, on the map, on our website, etc.

PS - Please?

[Elena]

I'm going to use the FAQ as a guideline here just to make my wants/desires more clear.


Commission:

* Looking for Paid quotes, please PM me to discuss rates.
* Also looking to barter, please see previous post.

Time Constraints

* The Sutherlands Map and the City Map do not have time limits.
* It would be my heart's desire to have the second continent map (Orbonne) in the next two months.

Style

* I am looking for a grayscale map in a woodblock or parchment paper-style map, preferably digitally drawn but am flexible as long as it is neat and any words are added in digitally.

Description of Map

* I will attach a scan of a rough sketch of the map I had in mind.
* I am able to give quite a few verbal descriptions, but would prefer to discuss via IM or phone.
* The scale of the map will be approximately 50 miles to the inch I think, other than the city map which will be decided with the help of Googlemaps.

Quality & Size

* Professional / semi professional
* Required for print / web
* Dimensions of map: 16 x 22 300 dpi
* Raster or Vector, would prefer to be able to work on in Adobe Photoshop. A separate layer for any writing/borders/etc, for easy editing and later cohesiveness.

Copyright

* I will have the right to use the image for commercial purposes, the artist will have the right to exhibit the image as part of his portfolio but not to exploit it for commercial gain.

[ravells]

Hi Elena, some really pretty maps you have there. Welcome to the guild and I hope you find many takers on your commission - I'm a great believer in the barter system. Your homemade LARP gear looks fantastic!

Thanks also for following the guidelines. Some of those example maps you've posted are stunning! (Way beyond my ability, I'm afraid, although I know that they are within reach of many others here). If you find someone to fill your commisson, please don't forget to tell us all about it here (so you don't continue to get expressions of interest).

Finally, as an anti-spamming measure, you must have at least 5 posts before you can send or receive PMs so you have 3 to go!

[Hoel]

Looks like a fun project. I'd do it more or less for free, but it's not in my style.
Look around on the finished maps section and see if you can find anyone who does the style you're after and ask them...
The first map example you posted looks great, why can't you use that? I should be quite easy to transfer it to a parchment texture background.

[jfrazierjr]

I would love to have the time to be able to do one of these just to get one of those bows, the workmanship on them looks incredible. Unfortunately, time is a seriously limiting factor, and of course, my style(s) may not match what your are looking for anyway. One of the maps you linked to was by Torstan (Dolmen). He does a lot of hand drawn painterly style stuff and does take commissions, but I know he also has a lot on his plate at the moment. There are tons of people I could suggest who could do something along those styles, RobA, TheRedEpic, etc. Pyrandon, the first link you posted for Pollexia is rather sparse around here unfortunatly.

What I would highly suggest is to take a look at the Finished Maps and Cartographers Choice forums first and see if any artists work catch your eye(looks like you had done the latter at least) and PM them once you get 5 posts to see if they might be interested.

[Elena]

The first map example you posted looks great, why can't you use that? I should be quite easy to transfer it to a parchment texture background.

Well...

It was great except that everything was written onto the map. That's fine, that could have been worked with and updated.

But one of our members went ahead and did the map over in CC3. So we need to utilize their work in some way -- we'd like develop their CC3 parchment style... sadly he doesn't really 'recall' how exactly he did it to do the rest of the map in.

So I was hoping someone here would be interested in, or was familiar with how to do so in the program. That's not my main project desire however, that was just on the list -- I didn't know what people would be most interested in.

[SeerBlue]

hey Elena, this is SeerBlue, from here, the FHCO, or Four Happy Carpet Orcs were browsing about, trying to reinvigorate our Snapgallows portion of the CWBP, when we read this thread. It caught their eye so we have been fiddling about.
What we have so far is probably not what you had in mind, surely not, when you said Woodcut, but the minds of 3 to 14 year olds work in mysterious ways.
I have attached a WIP, which shows their basic interpretation of Woodcut, landmasses, islands, mts are going in, or at least the outlines for their placement. We even threw in a few locations,,,,we are still sifting through some ideas for detailing the mts and forests, so one can tell, "here be Mountains".
Our time scale is vast, built around school, naps, an 80 mile commute for two of them, and Naruto....So this is pretty much just a "hey, we like your map and are having fun with it. When we (finally) get done with it, you are welcome to use it however you like.
They also really like your weapons and costumes, and now want to add LARP to their vocabulary.
SeerBlue and the FHCO

[Elena]

I'm glad they're having fun