I'm a bit disapppointed, because I don't think any of these entries really show significant trade information, which was the challenge. Those that have commodities seem to have dropped them in somewhat randomly, and none of them relate to each other (e.g. a cotton producer would export to a textiles producer!). Those that have routes don't seem really anything more than the normal sea lanes or roads between cities ... which routes, I know, the trade would follow, but the routes don't relate at all to the commodities. Unless I missed it, which is quite possible, in which case I apologize!
For the record, for me to vote for a challenge entry, it must have two things:
MAPNESS. It can't be just a picture. It needs labels, a legend, etc.
RELEVANCE to the challenge. It can't be just a map, no matter how beautiful. It has to answer the challenge somehow.
I voted for only one:
- SAPIENTO. I am really coming to appreciate this cartographer's imagination and graphic talent.
I wanted to, but didn't, vote for:
- RAVELLS. No trade aspect to the map. Love the style, though.
- BLACKLEMON67. That color palette is ... not good. And you need a legend.
- IMMOLATE. Beautiful piece of art! Starving for labels & a legend, though. (Looks like you're the runaway winner!)
- ASCENSION. Ditto Immolate. (I think the graphic styles filters might be a little over-applied. I'm often guilty of that myself.)
- ROGER. This is everything Coyotemax's is, with a somewhat better focus.
- COYOTEMAX. Somewhat confused in focus, trying to do too many things I think. Doesn't really indicate a lot of trade, but there is some.
- STEEL GENERAL. The commodities and routes seem underdeveloped. Did you run out of time? It's visually gorgeous but I don't read enough of a story from it.
- NOLGOROTH. Ditto Steel General, times 2.
- FFXFIEND. Not sure how to critique this one, sorry. "It needs something."
- ROBA. I love the idea. The routes make no sense though. a) Why are they surface routes? Can't these people fly? It looks as if the surface is extremely difficult. b) Why is there only one route that snakes linearly through the whole system? Can't Dolan trade with Jonah? I suspect there's a huge backstory to explain all this, but the map doesn't tell it.