The Empire of Manden

[ThomasR]

Hi fellow mapmakers,

Today, I present to you a map drawn for author André Carvalho for his upcoming novel. It's a Portuguese novel set in a fantasy West Africa. It was fun to draw real world location again and unsettling to draw a map with so few mountains. On the other hand, drawing Africa is something I've been wanting to do for a long time since I discovered an academic book by a French archeologist who reveals the grandeur of African Middle Ages. I definitely it would make for a great RPG setting and I'm pretty sure it's not the last time I map the continent. The map being a double page spread it allowed for more details and that's something we always appreciate

Here comes the map !

Final post.jpg
© André Carvalho - 2020 - All rights reserved

As always, critics and comments are highly appreciated.

Cheers !

[- JO -]

Your map makes me realize how difficult it must be to draw a mountainless map ! You did great ! Good idea for the desert !

[Tiana]

Your map makes me realize how difficult it must be to draw a mountainless map ! You did great ! Good idea for the desert !

Future challenge idea?

Map is great for a novel though! Very clear.

[Domino44]

I love the swirls! Very original and I like the effect it brings to your map! Wonderful work!

[Voolf]

That desert is indeed very original and nice. This is nice old school mapping.
Great city illustrations too!

[Marc Moureau]

Even with so few mountains, you managed to make it look interesting and lively.

Very good job !

[jshoer]

^^ What they all said! Great job. I like the little villages, and you got some excellent mileage out of that desert texture.

[ThomasR]

My deepest apologies for that late response, I took ill a few days after posting this one and my son was born a few days later. In the haze, I completely forgot to come back to answer your nice comments.

Your map makes me realize how difficult it must be to draw a mountainless map ! You did great ! Good idea for the desert !

Yeah, so few mountains was a challenge but a fun one. About the desert, that's my lazy part that talks and I'm glad it does the job, thanks Joël

Future challenge idea?

Map is great for a novel though! Very clear.

Could be a good one Thanks Tiana.

I love the swirls! Very original and I like the effect it brings to your map! Wonderful work!

Thanks a lot Domino

That desert is indeed very original and nice. This is nice old school mapping.
Great city illustrations too!

Thanks a lot Rafal ! Icons are not my forte, I'm glad you like them

Even with so few mountains, you managed to make it look interesting and lively.

Very good job !

Merci beaucoup Marc, it was pretty disconcerting.

^^ What they all said! Great job. I like the little villages, and you got some excellent mileage out of that desert texture.

Thanks a lot Joseph