The Scribbler's Guide to Octerraca

[Adfor]

In preparation for rebooting an old campaign, I was able to flesh out the Avori Lowlands with a full set of names. Mostly just for reference, but it certainly does tickle my fancy to see it fleshing out after all of these years.

Avori Lowlands Scanned & Named, by Ian Ringler.jpg

I've thought about y'all in the meantime between times, wanted to drop a line. I've painted 30+ new construction homes since I fell off the map (chuckles). Just know it wasn't because I lost interest.

IR

PS If you look closely, you can see the state borders.

[Turambar]

In preparation for rebooting an old campaign, I was able to flesh out the Avori Lowlands with a full set of names. Mostly just for reference, but it certainly does tickle my fancy to see it fleshing out after all of these years.

Avori Lowlands Scanned & Named, by Ian Ringler.jpg

I've thought about y'all in the meantime between times, wanted to drop a line. I've painted 30+ new construction homes since I fell off the map (chuckles). Just know it wasn't because I lost interest.

IR

PS If you look closely, you can see the state borders.

Lovely! As always, your mountains are so nice.

[Simkin]

I second Turambar, your mountains style is really great and original. Hope you could find more time to draw maps, but first the duties, than the hobbies

[Adfor]

The duties have been demanding on my executive function abilities, but I'm pretty well adapted by now. At least enough to be able to devote some free time to fun activities.

I appreciate that y'all like my mountains. I've been reiterating it many times over the years trying to get a manner of consistency to sync with a degree of variation.

I have needs to branch out into other regions of the world now that this one is mostly on it's way to being populated. I believe I'll make a stab at the shattered regions of Praxia next, which resides to the north of the Avori Lowlands. I'm going to try to replicate this style, as it seems to be pleasing to the eye to anyone that has either seen it on this forum, or in my interactions with those I meet. Excited to show what I come up with!

IR

[Adfor]

With the introduction of one region to my players, I've found that I have need to elaborate upon what is notably the most important region in my world: Poxhollow Highlands.

This region is central to politics, environmental issues (the circle), and trade, lying just north of the Avori Lowlands.

Poxhollow Highlands WIP01, by Ian Ringler.JPG

Gonna try to do some periodic WIP updates, as this one will be similar to the Avori Lowlands in style (see earlier pages). A lot of people were fond of the aesthetic, so I'm going to develop it further. Excited to be back into my world building project!

IR

PS
Poxhollow Highlands WIP02, by Ian Ringler.JPG

Initial outline, mountain bases, & hills are done. I have a decent amount of unfinished area to fill in, I'm going to couple this with trade routes and city placements, I believe. Then on to filling in mountains, and forests.

[Adfor]

Poxhollow Highlands WIP03, by Ian Ringler.JPG

Cities and trade routes coming along.

IR

PS

Poxhollow Highlands WIP04, by Ian Ringler.JPG

I think I have the main drag down. Simple mountain lines are sketched, advanced next, then fill in will finish them.

[Adfor]

Howdy! Rainy days have given me time to dig into this one.

Poxhollow Highlands WIP05, by Ian Ringler.JPG

Mountains make me happy because they always provide the pop the map needs. I've began the hard lining of the coasts, first up was the (now) island dubbed Abolyn's Crown, a rather cursed place riddled with magical anomalies.

IR

PS

Poxhollow Highlands WIP06, by Ian Ringler.JPG

The process continues. Doing the mountains makes my fingers hurt.

[Adfor]

Poxhollow Highlands WIP07, by Ian Ringler.JPG

Just have some final hard lining and then it's off to forests!

IR

PS I got side tracked on honing in what is called the Trivex (the circle). It's a whole problem, and 100% untraversible, hence all the dead trees and pockmarked landscape.

Poxhollow Highlands WIP08, by Ian Ringler.JPG

[Adfor]

While not as tedious as mountains, forests come with their challenges. Shape, variety, and spacial contrast are my top concerns when laying them out.

Poxhollow Highlands WIP09, by Ian Ringler.JPG

Getting close to finished with the pencil work (H2 btw).

IR

PS Forests are getting there! The northern end is meant to be mostly uninhabited, with barbary groups filling in the gaps.

Poxhollow Highlands WIP10, by Ian Ringler.JPG

[Adfor]

Greetings!

I'm putting on the final coast lining, which is really hard on my hands. I sharpen my pencil to a fine tip, and then dig it in to even out the mountains/hills with the rest of the softer details. This creates an even contrast in lining, while also acting as a trench, so that when I start water coloring, the water is less likely to go where I don't intend it to go.

Poxhollow Highlands WIP11, by Ian Ringler.JPG

Starting to see mostly finished product at this point. The southern area is my final stop. I'm probably going to put in some fine details such as POI's and lil monsters to round off this piece. I'm so excited to start slapping names on this!

IR

PS

Poxhollow Highlands WIP12, by Ian Ringler.JPG

I'll probably add a few more POI's, but otherwise I've finished the pencil work!

Here's the original as well, just so you can see the difference in style from 2009.

Poxhollow Highlands Original, by Ian Ringler.JPG