Ilanthar's tests & sketches

[Ilanthar]

Thanks, Joseph !

By MistyBeee
Yey ! I'm always happy when I see you posted in this thread, but this time I just gasped when opening the post : this looks wonderful !!

Mission accomplished .
More seriously, I'm very happy you like it and how it turns. I still have a lot to do, though .

I hope you'll like this one too. I'm on the frame, but don't worry, there will be a map in the center !
(I've done a good part of it, but I'm kinda doing 2 versions, so...).
MEMap.jpg

[Ilanthar]

OK, I've done the "bad guys" side, and had serious troubles with smaug...

I'm crafting details on the map, but you sould be able to see it quite soon.
MEMap.jpg

[Mouse]

OMGosh!

This is brilliant, Ilanthar

[Falconius]

I second Mouse. That is really fantastic.

[DanielHasenbos]

Aaaawwh yeeeaah!!

[MistyBeee]

Fantastic !! I just can't wait to see it finished !!

[Ilanthar]

Now, I'm under pressure...

Hence, I'm gonna ask your expert(s) advice(s).
I'm about here on this Middle-Earth map. And I'm wondering about a few things... Not sure about the location marks (towns and such) and the top frame seems not blocky enough (maybe I should remove part of the water?).
MEMap.jpg

Wadaya think?

[Mouse]

I like the design of the top border.

Maybe give it a more solid background - more like the bottom border, but keep the swirly patterns?

[Falconius]

What aren't you sure about the location marks? The icons look good to me. Their placement right over the rivers is kind of jarring, but makes good logical sense. This maps looks so good I really like the forests and the mountains also look really great.

Also you just rekindled an idea for me... and inspired another... about dragons...

[jshoer]

Or the side border - there's a thin vertical bar you have all the way at the extreme left and right. Put the same thing behind/above the top border?

Whatever you do, keep the Ring in the center! That's a genius way to focus attention on it as the object of power in Middle-Earth.