New Avalon - city map commission

[- Max -]

Hey guys,

Here's one of my latest maps, New Avalon, the second city map commisionned by Peter Gates from Silverhold Studios, for its upcoming steampunk setting kickstarter in 2014 "Eternity : Steel and Steam". First one was Dragonsmouth.

Here's a few words about the city of New Avalon itself :

" Avalon was the first city to be founded following the fall of the Golden City of Giselias, on a small island off the coast of what would later become mainland Aurelia. It was a peaceful land and the inhabitants prospered.
However, things would not last as, during the Age of Ruin, sudden violent geological activity tore the island apart, with the land pulled beneath the waves, save for the city's centre which instead broke forth from its earthly bounds and drifted skywards.
Years later explorers would come to find the island of Avalon, left drifting amongst the clouds over the Sea of Stars, its once busy streets completely devoid of life, its many statues standing in silent vigil.
Seeing an opportunity, King Henry X of Aurelia immediately ordered the city dragged within his nation's borders over the existing capital. The King immediately relocated to the majestic city, taking over the once abandoned palace as his own, destroying his old palace in the city below. He claimed that the discovery of Avalon by his forces clearly showed that the Gods had chosen him to continue the royal bloodline of Giselias, and that it was his divine right to rule the lands below. To further reinforce his self-imposed divine right to rule, he ordered additional islands to be dragged and secured to the central island, one for each of the Seven Gods.
Once the newly dubbed New Avalon was completed, the King decreed that hence force those of noble standing would no longer be required to walk the same ground as those beneath them, instead they would walk amongst the clouds in the city of New Avalon. The next day he began his military conquest of the region to ‘bring the divine rule of the gods to the heathens’, and act that would eventually result in the Great World War.
Since then New Avalon has only continued to grow, its buildings growing from simple structures into majestic towers that stretched into the clouds, and into the islands themselves in the form of the mysterious Undercity. All the while the lower class below on the surface suffered under the harsh rulership of the aristocracy."

You can still check updates and news on Fat Core community and Silverhold Studios website.

The map was made in photoshop, following Yphyrion's style, as requested. Original size is 8"x12". WIP thread is here, thanks for the comments there!

I hope you'll like it,

As usual, feel free to rate, rep or run away

New-Avalon-final.jpg

[EruSilme]

one of the aspects that continues to attract my attention in maps like this one is the use of colour: maybe because i am still trying to find my way, but i think that they look simply... right. Real. It is not a bunch of pixels, is a printed piece of paper.

You look the map, and you start wandering "oh, sure, maybe next weekend i'll take the first steam-something to New Avalon, they told me that in father's island there are lot of good shops... "

Wonderful work!

[Eilathen]

Interesting map! I like the overall layout and construction of the piece. Looks real good!

[Ilanthar]

The more I look at your wonderful cities, the more I'm tempted to try to do one city by myself... and think it will be very poor in comparison.

[- Max -]

Thank you guys, glad you like it

[Domino44]

Again this map is amazing just like every other map you do.

[- Max -]

Thanks much Domino

[Diamond]

Dammit Max, I'm just in awe of your city maps. Your use of color, layout, and fonts just all work so well together.

I'd rep you again, but I can't so soon. It's there in spirit.

[Bogie]

Excellent map Max! Did they provide you with a sketch of the basic layout or just a verbal description?

[Viking]

Another excellent map Max