WHITESTONE of Tal'dorei (CriticalRole)

[Zenon]

The examples? SO many regional maps have NO individual trees. So I don't know how to explain it better right now.

I will take this second to emphasize that there are differences in scale between regional and city maps. You may want to browse the City maps or tutorials section here on CG to help get an idea of what you like and what you want. (Also, try to identify specifically *what* makes those maps appealing, so when you try to recreate that, you can recreate with purpose.) Usually, on forests which don't draw every single tree, that style usually has details on the edge of the forest, which show a fade in the density of the forest. These details often suggest individual trees, without detailing everything about those individual trees.

Anyways, on your forest, I think the new texture is an improvement. However, I don't think that most forests have thickly defined borders. You could try using a half opacity eraser to try and have the density of the foliage fade, as it gets closer to the edge.

Like this:
Good forest.JPG

Instead of this:
Bad Forest.JPG

On the addition of farmland, the city could receive food* from hunting in the forest, gathering from bushes, or trade (perhaps from lumber). So I don't think farming would be necessary. Furthermore, I don't see that many irrigation sources nearby. If farming were necessary, it could be a ways away, where all of the farming ground could be chopped in a less densely forested area, or closer to water. Then, the farmers could go to the city to trade for goods.

Edit: i have been having that "invalid attachment problem a bit... anyways, i re-uploaded the images to see if that helps. Also changed "forest" to 'food'

[XCali]

I will take this second to emphasize that there are differences in scale between regional and city maps. You may want to browse the City maps or tutorials section here on CG to help get an idea of what you like and what you want. (Also, try to identify specifically *what* makes those maps appealing, so when you try to recreate that, you can recreate with purpose.) Usually, on forests which don't draw every single tree, that style usually has details on the edge of the forest, which show a fade in the density of the forest. These details often suggest individual trees, without detailing everything about those individual trees.

Anyways, on your forest, I think the new texture is an improvement. However, I don't think that most forests have thickly defined borders. You could try using a half opacity eraser to try and have the density of the foliage fade, as it gets closer to the edge.

Like this:
Attachment 98116

Instead of this:
Attachment 98117

On the addition of farmland, the city could receive forest from hunting in the forest, gathering from bushes, or trade (perhaps from lumber). So I don't think farming would be necessary. Furthermore, I don't see that many irrigation sources nearby. If farming were necessary, it could be a ways away, where all of the farming ground could be chopped in a less densely forested area, or closer to water. Then, the farmers could go to the city to trade for goods.

Hehe, I am aware of the differences. Though, for my point it was more than adequate. It is complicated to explain why.
EDIT: Though, it is a good idea. I'll see I check out maps in the same line. It is in fact how the sea for my Nessa'Mor took the turn it did. So, thank you for the reminder.

The links don't work? I tried it but it says "Invalid Attachment specified. If you followed a valid link, please notify the administrator"
Is it in a PRIVATE folder?

EDIT2: They work now. This is my first attempt at a top down forest and a single body forest(I'm used to creating individual tree forests, so it has been a learning curve. And I at the very least, I wanted to get the texture right before I started in earnest with the edges. Though, I'll try what you said. Thanks.

Hmm, while I was reading your note about the farms not being necessary, I imagined added a body of water in that direction, maybe with or instead of the farms.
It is, however, a tricky subject because in the story as Matt Mercer created the image of Whitestone in the theater of the mind, I believe farms were mentioned more than once. So, I do feel it can be added. Though, I am up in the air about it. At least I can easily edit that area to be different.

[Zenon]

i have been having that "invalid attachment problem a bit... anyways, i re-uploaded the images in my prior post to see if that helps.

Hmm, while I was reading your note about the farms not being necessary, I imagined added a body of water in that direction, maybe with or instead of the farms.
It is, however, a tricky subject because in the story as Matt Mercer created the image of Whitestone in the theater of the mind, I believe farms were mentioned more than once. So, I do feel it can be added. Though, I am up in the air about it. At least I can easily edit that area to be different.

There is a composer who composed guitar pieces which are impossible to play (he/she was making a statement of some sorts, I'm fuzzy on the details). He/she did this to force those playing his/her music to sit down and think. They had to analyze the piece, and try to create something playable which replicated the musical qualities of the original as best as possible. You may need to do something similar here. Since I think maps are more visual, you could consider whether such farms would add or subtract to the overall visual quality of the map.

[XCali]

i have been having that "invalid attachment problem a bit... anyways, i re-uploaded the images in my prior post to see if that helps.



There is a composer who composed guitar pieces which are impossible to play (he/she was making a statement of some sorts, I'm fuzzy on the details). He/she did this to force those playing his/her music to sit down and think. They had to analyze the piece, and try to create something playable which replicated the musical qualities of the original as best as possible. You may need to do something similar here. Since I think maps are more visual, you could consider whether such farms would add or subtract to the overall visual quality of the map.

They work now, thanks.

And, wow, that is some way to think about things. I'll definitely try to remember that one. Thank you.

---
So, in this one I changed the edge of the forest. I hope it works better.

### Latest WIP ###
Whitestone_ForestEdge1_byOmri.jpeg

[Mouse]

That looks a lot better, XCali