The Hint Thread!

[Ifrix]

The first person to guess the challenge topic correctly will get ONE EXTRA WEEK to work on their entry. The way I'm going to set it up:
1. If you're the first person to guess correctly, I will notify you by private message one week before the challenge begins.
2. You can then begin your map, but DO NOT post your thread until the challenge officially begins.
3. If no one guesses correctly until the 4th and last hint, you might have only a few days, instead of a week, head-start.
4. If you are the correct guesser, I will rely on your honor not to tell anyone else.

DECEMBER 2023 CHALLENGE HINT #1
Fall back

[Bigfootbob]

The first person to guess the challenge topic correctly will get ONE EXTRA WEEK to work on their entry. The way I'm going to set it up:
1. If you're the first person to guess correctly, I will notify you by private message one week before the challenge begins.
2. You can then begin your map, but DO NOT post your thread until the challenge officially begins.
3. If no one guesses correctly until the 4th and last hint, you might have only a few days, instead of a week, head-start.
4. If you are the correct guesser, I will rely on your honor not to tell anyone else.

DECEMBER 2023 CHALLENGE HINT #1
Fall back

To remember how to change the clocks we use the saying "Fall back, Spring forward". So is it something to do with time, maybe a before and after map?

[ChickPea]

My first thought was the same as Bigfootbob. Maybe a map showing a locale in both Spring and Autumn.

Fall back could also be related to a battle perhaps. One side are getting metaphorically humped in the fight and their commander screams 'fall back' so they can try to regroup. So maybe 'map a battle' (where one side is toast)?

[Valterink]

A land before time?

[Diamond]

Maybe it's mapping a trust fall.

[Tiana]

Map a time-travelled version of a familiar location... either far in the future or past.

[The Elderly Cartographer]

Retreat from battle... Map a battlefield?

[MikesMaps]

To fall back and require support? Perhaps a city that has gone bankrupt/out-of-resources and requires support from government/aliens/hostile culture, and could become a run-down dystopia?

[Ifrix]

DECEMBER 2023 CHALLENGE HINT #2
Thankfully we don't need too much daylight to make maps these days

[Tiana]

Winter themed map?