I want to draw an evil map.

[eleyana]

For my next map for my D&D group I want to draw a map made by a group of orcs and goblins.

I want the map to feel as if it was drawn by bestial humanoids and not the careful and simple style of a normal map.
I'm not sure though how i can get that feeling, how can i change the way i draw elements such as coasts, mountains and forests to have a more "evil" and brutal look?

I have some ideas for the compass (maybe something with skulls or spears) and maybe cities but I have none for the rest.

And advice would be helpful, thanks!!

[Abu Lafia]

What comes to my mind are some of the figures of "prehistoric" and ancient maps in the freely available Book (pdf) "Cartography in Prehistoric, Ancient, and Medieval Europe and the Mediterranean" from the "The history of Cartography Bookseries". These are scientific articles, but they have quite some inspiring stuff in it.

[Straf]

Nice link Abu, thanks for posting

[Poison]

Things to think about:
- colour scheme. red ink on a back background is going to look very different from blue ink on a white background
- points of interest: humans might be interested in pastures, hills and holy trees. Orcs? Maybe they'll map important battlegrounds, ambush points, etc.
- the materials: giving your players the right story to surround the map can make a really big impression. Maybe the map was tattooed onto one of their enemies before they were flayed alive? Or is it a heavy, unwieldy map, scratched into stone?
- shape-wise, I would avoid using a lot of detail.

Some inspiration:

(Peralta Stones)


(Nippur, 1150 BC)


(Turin papyrus maps)

I'd love to see what you come up with!

[Tenia]

Very useful link, thanks for sharing.
Just an idea : How about painting/engraving your map on a shield (or several) ? not exactly a map, but a bit like the Shield of Achilles...

[eleyana]

Thanks for all the great suggestions, I'll have to do some tests to see what different approaches look like.