Ave everyone!

[Octavius]

So... if my handle and the title of the thread didn't give it away, the most important fact about me, is that I like history, particularly that of the Late Roman Republic until the end of the Roman Empire ( in the West, at least).

And why exactly is my interest in history important for you to know?

Well, my interest in history, by and large, has made me who I am today. It got me through tough times in my private life, begged me to ask questions and seek answers (both inside and outside the classroom), and it gave me a love for reading - which in turn fed my love for writing and learning new languages.

I am a geek because history channeled my desire to learn, and as such, it has made me a very happy generalist, with mastery in a few areas, and knowledge in many others.


OK. But why am I here?


Putting aside the existential version of that question, I am here because I want to write a Fantasy novel; and while I know a map is not strictly necessary, I find it easier to work with a map of the world in my head, one a little more concrete and less intangible. Also, the process itself is fun, and fuels my creativity. Unfortunately, I have very limited experience with the digital tools used for map-making (Inkscape, GIMP), and I'd welcome any advise I can get on how to make the map making process easier.

[Chick]

Hello Octavius, Welcome to the Guild!

To get you started, there is a great tutorial in the sticky section of Tutorials, called
Quickstart Guide to Fantasy Mapping: http://www.cartographersguild.com/showthread.php?t=4276

From there, go to
Hand Drawn Mapping for the Artistically Challenged: http://www.cartographersguild.com/sh...ad.php?t=10655

Once you have completed those two tutorials, you'll be well on your way!!