The Empire of Harleress

[Greg]

I'm not sure how active I'll be in this thread, but I'll definitely get this map finished at some point. This was my unfinished entry from December's monthly challenge, but eventually I ran out of time and motivation on it through the month (particularly with Bee's awesome, multi-Atlas award-winning entry in the fray too... )

Anyway, I keep chipping away at this map and hope maybe some feedback suggestions might also spur me on and make this map better. Below are a few WIPs:

Last update on Guild
Empire of Harleress v3.jpg


Bit of colouring
Empire of Harleress v4.jpg


More colouring and a few tweaks (latest)
Empire of Harleress v5.jpg


Things I planned to add include: ground texturing, region/country banners, city/town symbols, more creatures. I don't plan on colouring the ground as I like the sepia base tones. I'm not sure if the colouring I've done already is too much and detracts from the map...

[Eowyn Cwper]

I absolutely love the mountains! They may be a bit repetitive but it only adds to the motif. On another hand, I can't help but seeing the forests as a coastline effect; it seems to my eyes that only the white parts are actual land, especially zoomed out.

[Kellerica]

I'll have to second Eowyn on that account. I think it might have something to do with how strong the green colour of the forests. But if you are planning on adding texture to the land, that might also include some other colour than white anyways, so maybe you are already on it. But if the land is supposed to remain white, I'd maybe go with a lighter hue for the trees?

I'm glad to see you haven't abandoned this, I quite liked it in December Always nice to see you pop back in.

[Greg]

I absolutely love the mountains! They may be a bit repetitive but it only adds to the motif. On another hand, I can't help but seeing the forests as a coastline effect; it seems to my eyes that only the white parts are actual land, especially zoomed out.

Thanks Eowyn! I am very pleased with the overall mountain effect, so I'm pleased you like them.

I'm struggling to see the forests as a coastline, but perhaps I've just been looking at them too long, haha!! In any case, I do feel they might be too dark and need changing up.

I'll have to second Eowyn on that account. I think it might have something to do with how strong the green colour of the forests. But if you are planning on adding texture to the land, that might also include some other colour than white anyways, so maybe you are already on it. But if the land is supposed to remain white, I'd maybe go with a lighter hue for the trees?

I'm glad to see you haven't abandoned this, I quite liked it in December Always nice to see you pop back in.

Always nice to pop in!

I think the forests being too dark could be an issue. I don't really want to to colour the land too much other than a light bit of grunge as I first envisaged it all with parchment look.

Here's a version with a much lighter forest which I think is an improvement and hopefully alleviates the "coastline effect"!
Empire of Harleress v6.jpg

*Edit - also excuse the mess of a banner in the bottom right portion!

[Eowyn Cwper]

It is better, I get confused but I can't see the forests as coastlines anymore. Maybe if your actual coastline effect was darker it would fix that mental bug permanently.

[rdanhenry]

For what it's worth, I didn't confuse land and water in any version. If you are worried, I think pushing the contrast by coloring up the sea a little bluer would be worth a try.

[ItemPouch]

O__O That has to be the most hand drawn trees I've ever seen on a map!