Mar/April '20 Lite Challenge: The Floenry Isles

[Tiana]

Thanks! You probably made the better choice of techniques; experience with these competitions has shown me that the voters strongly prefer hand-drawn styles and appearances.

That's one of several observations you can make by observing voting trends. Yes. Voters seem to hate CGI or photo manipulated looking results, for some reason. Even as it is, this looks too computer produced for me to imagine it getting votes, but, that's only one reason someone might choose to make a map. if Greason is doing it for fun, practice, and portfolio bolstering then there's no reason to try tailor it to the bias of the voters. Anyway, the last Lite Challenge winner was obviously vectored and "what the voters like" is not a reason to not do what you want. Do what you feel like doing. I think it's looking useful so far.

[Greason Wolfe]

Thanks! You probably made the better choice of techniques; experience with these competitions has shown me that the voters strongly prefer hand-drawn styles and appearances.

I don't think that is necessarily true. For me it always comes down to the subject matter and theme(s) involved. Of the few maps I've managed to complete for these challenges, my highest vote getters, so far, were generated via Terragen and/or Fractal Terrains Pro. Now I will admit that I love a well "hand" drawn map, but satellite and aerial photography styles can also be very interesting and pleasing. I can say the same thing about topographical maps as well. In the end, the only one who has to like the map ( assuming it is not a commissioned work) is yourself. I wouldn't stress too much about what the voters like, as I find myself surprised by the poll results just as often as I am not surprised by them.

As for what you've done so far, the only things that stand out as being a bit odd to the eye, IMHO, are the transitions from shoreline to water, and maybe, just slightly, the transition from shelves to deep water. Since I don't know what software you are using to create this map, I can't really offer any suggestions. And, to be perfectly honest, that is just me being a bit nitpicky about things.

[Coriolis]

I don't think that is necessarily true. For me it always comes down to the subject matter and theme(s) involved. Of the few maps I've managed to complete for these challenges, my highest vote getters, so far, were generated via Terragen and/or Fractal Terrains Pro. Now I will admit that I love a well "hand" drawn map, but satellite and aerial photography styles can also be very interesting and pleasing. I can say the same thing about topographical maps as well. In the end, the only one who has to like the map ( assuming it is not a commissioned work) is yourself. I wouldn't stress too much about what the voters like, as I find myself surprised by the poll results just as often as I am not surprised by them.

It's been my observation that the winners of these competitions overwhelmingly tend to have a hand-drawn look. I'll admit I haven't entered one of these in a year or so, and it's entirely possible that that's just how these have panned out in the competitions I've been involved in. It's fine. My goal in making these is to hone some aspect of my technique, and my chosen technique is built on height maps and an overhead photo-like style.

As for what you've done so far, the only things that stand out as being a bit odd to the eye, IMHO, are the transitions from shoreline to water, and maybe, just slightly, the transition from shelves to deep water. Since I don't know what software you are using to create this map, I can't really offer any suggestions. And, to be perfectly honest, that is just me being a bit nitpicky about things.

Now THIS is why I enjoy these competitions: I crave constructive critiques. Thanks for this, and I'll take a look at the transitions. I've played with my bathymetry technique a lot on this map, and I've given the underwater shelf/deep transitions a lot of attention. Maybe I should give it some more. As for shorelines... I've heard this before, and I'm honestly not sure how I should adjust. A coastal glow? a shallower transition from land to water? I'll do some thinking on it.

[Coriolis]

I got some more work done on this today. The settled or "civilized islands" (really the ones that have cleared some jungle away and have villages/towns) each get a heraldic flag denoting their allegiance. Two islands are pirate havens, but aren't allied, so they get two variations on the classic black pirate flag. One island is independent and gets a blank aquamarine flag. The other two nations with colonies have flags with heraldry indicated in the source material for this map.

I think the flags might be a bit under-sized, especially for the two big islands. I'll think on that.

### Latest WIP ###
FloenriesDraft.jpg

[storymakertomi]

I like the idea of ley lines - adds a fun new dimension to it.

[Bogie]

I think the flag sizes are good unless the size is supposed to represent population.

[Coriolis]

Thanks for the feedback and encouragement. While there remains a good bit of polishing and some finishing touches to do, I've completed my rough draft of all the major elements.

### Latest WIP ###
FramedMap1.jpg

[Coriolis]

Ok, after a day of polishing, adding some finishing touches, and tweaking things, I think I'm ready to call this one done. Happy to read your thoughts and especially your critiques.
### Latest WIP ###
Floenries Framed Political Geography v2.jpg

[Bogie]

Nice Work!!

[Coriolis]

Nice Work!!

Thanks! I really appreciate this competition, your feedback, and the topic!