Western Troa Continent - Feedback, please

[Ilanthar]

By Joaodafi
In terms of Shapes my main inspiration is your Domhantyr Maps Album.

Well, I'm flattered and no wonder I like them, then .

[joaodafi]

Update #7

Oh boy, it's been a while since the last update, was... 2018?! Well, better later than never, am right?

during this five years i finished the height map, no real need to show the process since is basicly the same one in the previous updates, one height layer after another, and another and another and another.

here is it, 50% of the real size, 6000 x 6000:
Troa Oficial 12k - Height Map 50%.jpg

Some areas certinlly look more inspired and detailed...
Troa Oficial 12k - Height Map - Luchyshot 1.jpg
Than others...
Troa Oficial 12k - Height Map - Luchyshot 2.jpg

Not gonna lie, o got real bored near the end

[joaodafi]

Update #8

Now that the height map is ready, i can do more interesting things, so i hope the updates will be more frequent...
And speaking of more interesting things, Rivers!!!

The rivers I originally drew were straight and pretty dull, redrawing them more naturally has excited me a lot and helped keep the pace, I can't draw a river basin without automatically imagining a civilization developing on the banks, I should having finished the height map before, to start worldbuilding earlier

Here are the old and new rivers i've done so far:

Troa Oficial 12k - Rivers - Luckyshot 2 - old.jpgTroa Oficial 12k - Rivers - Luckyshot 2.jpg

Troa Oficial 12k - Rivers - Luckyshot 1 - old.jpgTroa Oficial 12k - Rivers - Luckyshot 1.jpg

Troa Oficial 12k - Rivers - Luckyshot 3 - old.jpgTroa Oficial 12k - Rivers - Luckyshot 3.jpg

Best fantasy river basins ever draw by human hand? no...
am I feeling like a rudimentary alternative software of wilbur? Yes.
am I happy about it? Absolutelly!!!

[joaodafi]

Updata #9

More rivres!

Troa Oficial 12k - Rivers - Luckyshot 4.jpg

This quickly became a pain in the...
From now on, i'll only add the major rivers and gradualy expand into more datailed basins has needed for world building purposes.

[joaodafi]

Update #10 - Average temperature

I made some basic wind pattern and ocean currents:

Troa Oficial 12k - wind Pattern.jpg Troa Oficial 12k - Ocean Currentsjpg.jpg

These lead me to a this temperature maps:
Mid Winter (Jan) and Mid Summer (Jun)

Troa Oficial 12k - Temperature Winter.jpg Troa Oficial 12k - Temperature Summer.jpg

For me its hard to tell how realistic and reasonable this temperature maps are, but still, i'm happy with the result

[joaodafi]

Update #11 - Climate Map

With the temperature map and some idea of the precptation i end up with this climate map, problabily not the most acurate or realistc, but the closest i can get to make the lore i have for it make some sence.

Troa Oficial 12k - Climate.jpg

[Harrg]

Very nice topography! I subscribe on it))

P.S. And yet, a separate section is needed for botanists of geology, climatology, and so on. I often miss threads like this.

[Falconius]

I love crazy river maps like you have in #9, they're just so crunchy. That said it's perfectly fine to stop going that direction because it is a crazy amount of work where the pay off may not be worth it. The new plan sounds much more reasonable.

Loving the development so far.

[joaodafi]

Update #12 - A Change of Style

I been wachting this guy videos and streams, it got me quite inspired to try something more realistic looking.

So i made a few topograpfic brushes:

Topo Brushes.jpg

Then i run some tests using the Bevel and Emboss layer effect in this height map:

height.jpg

Using this configuration:

config.jpg

The Results are quite intresting:

Inner Bevel.jpg
Outer Bevel.jpg
Emboss.jpg
Pillow Stroke.jpg

This work quite simply, one solid color layer server as background and another solid color layer (full white, this is usefull later) as the reliefe, this second layer as the Fill option set to 0%, this way only the shadows and highlights of the effect stay visible and a full black layer mask is added to this second layer. Finally all we have to do is to use the brushes the draw the height map in the layer mask.

My plan is to combine this basic technique with the, all mighty, Eriond tutorial by arsheesh, ending in something like this:

[full white layer] [Height map in the layer mask] --> Copy with the fill in 0% and bevel and emboss effects
[Gradient maps]
[full white layer] [Height map in the layer mask] --> Fill in 100% and no effect.
[full black layer]

Of course, this is a gross simplification, a real attenpt will have many more layers for more control and variety, for exemplel, separeted height map and effect layers for hills and mountains with diferent opacities and effect configs.

[joaodafi]

I love crazy river maps like you have in #9, they're just so crunchy.

Right? this types of maps are so cool, plus, they look preatty dam nice with a black background

rivers in black.jpg

That said it's perfectly fine to stop going that direction because it is a crazy amount of work where the pay off may not be worth it. The new plan sounds much more reasonable.

Well, yes, but still, will be a lot o rivers comming soon...