Thanks a lot, Wingshaw !! Hope you'll love my next maps too
This France thing is quite a mystery, isn't it ? Even with all the efforts produced by Diamond, we're still there, again and again :p
Pixel art
As far as I can say there is nothing specific : look at the reference, draw the line work, add colors, add lights and shadows. Just drawing and painting
I know TES fans are exigent so I'm especially happy you love my map ! Don't hesitate to tell me if you spot any mistake !
Hehe, you don't have to feel bad at all and were absolutely right to propose other choices : thousands of map makers, thousands of methods, and I think it's why the Guild is a wonderful place
I know there is some softwares specifically designed to make seamless patterns (I think I tried some a lonnnng time ago ?) and some softwares like Krita which allows this method too, however I consider them as alternative methods but surely not as easier methods, at least in my case.
I'm always reluctant to use several drawing softwares for a single map : whatever you do, the pen pressure and general look of your line work would never be exactly the same, and I always try to preserve the best consistency in my line work on my whole map (I must confess I'm pretty compulsive on that point and I tend to use always one unique brush for everything, just as if I would be with a sheet of paper and one pen ^^'). I'm pretty old fashionned on this (or maybe just lazy : I open my Photoshop in the morning, close it in the evening and have no question to ask to myself in the middle : Photoshop can do everything I need ^^).
Another thing is I never know what will be the size or the shape (square, rectangle, repeting vertically or on a diagonal basis...) of the pattern I'm drawing : I love to just let the pen on the tablet and see what comes, following the natural lines and shapes to see how they want to combine with eachothers and compose the pattern. It's sometimes a surprise, and often for the best. In one word : my method is less authomatic but more flexible and that's why it's my favorite. And... well... I'm a Photoshop user for 18 years now and I think using cut and paste is as natural and easy for me than walking or writing ^^
Hehe, thanks a lot, Daniel ! Unfortunately we're near the end on this one, so nothing better to expect
I'm happy if I helped, but don't forget to check the Mouse's method, it's another good one and maybe would fit better your way of work