First Map: The Forest Continent

[Draupernaut]

Hello there,

I am opening this thread to post about the progress with my first map.
It is going to be a map of a big continent, mainly covered in thick woodland and forests.
It's going to be the setting of a homebrew D&D campaign for my girlfriend.

Feedback and critique are much appreciated.
I hope that through documenting my advances in the world of mapmaking and going into exchange with you guys, i will have the chance to improve and learn.

[Draupernaut]

I startet with the generell outline of the continent.

I wanted it to resemble the shape of a tree, but still look map-like and realistic.
For the northern and southern part, which were supposed to resemble the treetop and the roots, I got inspired by the rigid coastlines of Norway and western Ireland.



I would gladly appreciate your critique.

[Draupernaut]

Okay, so here comes the next step - the mountains.
I was thinking, that the northern regions need some big mountains for the fjord-like coastline to make sense.
In the central plain, I want to put a big meteor-crater.



Tell me what you think, I am eager to learn and improve!

[MistyBeee]

Welcome to the Guild, Draupernaut ! It's really cool you jumped immediately in a WIP thread !
I assume the specialists in tectonics & geography could help you having a more consistent coastline and mountains, but from a pure fantasy point of view, I love the concept of your map. Your rivers are correct, which is a good point for a beginning
You're on the right path for learning : your mountains are pretty good and just need some practice to get better, and the shading is consistent. I see there's a few you forgot to detail in the southern part, which helps me to see how you drew them : pay attention to the first ridge which determines the shape of your new mountain : it's a good method you use, but the mountains sometimes looks a bit tilted ^^
I assume the next step will be forests, which you started just North of the crater. It's not an easy step : be patient with them, forests takes more time than mountains !
Anyway : a good promising start. Keep practising, we look forward to see your progress !

[Kellerica]

Hehe, yeah, basically what Beee said. Can only echo the good lady; you're off to a nice start. I always have much respect for you madlads that have the stones to work traditionally, I get a panic attack just thinking about mapping without access to the blessed and holy (forever may the praises echo) CTRL+Z...

I'd maybe add more smaller islands around the coastlines. They have a tendency to form clustersm, which in my opinion always look super nice on a map. One or more larger island, and lots of small ones around it/them.

[Draupernaut]

Thank you both very much for your replies and your kind words. I see that my map is very far behind the standards of yours and here on this forum, and it makes me happy that you took your time to reply.

I assume the specialists in tectonics & geography could help you having a more consistent coastline and mountains, but from a pure fantasy point of view, I love the concept of your map. Your rivers are correct, which is a good point for a beginning

I wanted the map to be in the middle ground between fantasy and realism, but this balance is hard to find. Rivers will be added soon.

You're on the right path for learning : your mountains are pretty good and just need some practice to get better, and the shading is consistent. I see there's a few you forgot to detail in the southern part, which helps me to see how you drew them : pay attention to the first ridge which determines the shape of your new mountain : it's a good method you use, but the mountains sometimes looks a bit tilted ^^
I assume the next step will be forests, which you started just North of the crater. It's not an easy step : be patient with them, forests takes more time than mountains !
Anyway : a good promising start. Keep practising, we look forward to see your progress !

Yes, Mountains are very problematic for me. How can I keep them from tilting? Do the spikes in the ridge line have to be symmetrical?

Hehe, yeah, basically what Beee said. Can only echo the good lady; you're off to a nice start. I always have much respect for you madlads that have the stones to work traditionally, I get a panic attack just thinking about mapping without access to the blessed and holy (forever may the praises echo) CTRL+Z...

I have a special tool for that - it's called "a rubber"
Joking aside, I really just draw traditionally out of necessity. I own a very very cheap tablet (20€) but am not just to working with it. Also, I like to sit on the couch or lay down and draw in a chilled pose and not on the computer.
Originally I had the plan to start out with pencil and later redraw everything with black fineliner, but now this seems very tedious to me and I am not sure if I should commit so much to my first attempt, or better move on.

I'd maybe add more smaller islands around the coastlines. They have a tendency to form clustersm, which in my opinion always look super nice on a map. One or more larger island, and lots of small ones around it/them.

I will try that.

[Arimel]

Even without a Control+Z I have always enjoyed the traditional hand drawn maps more. Most of my day is spent on the computer and it is nice to get off of it in the evening.
The map is looking really good so far. To help against tilting mountains I tend to tilt the paper a bit, because I have this same problem and that sometimes helps to even out the tilting. Great start though! (oh! and heed Kellerica's warning, forests are deadly! )

[MistyBeee]

Thank you both very much for your replies and your kind words. I see that my map is very far behind the standards of yours and here on this forum, and it makes me happy that you took your time to reply.

Actually... I don't think there's standards on the Guild, and I'm absolutely sorry if I made you think you're behind mine... 'cause I don't think I have some ? I'm pretty sure Kell' hadn't this intention either. You asked for critiques and help to improve, and we just tried to point the different things you could consider to work on
There's a lot of beginners on the Guild, and it's what most of us love here : beginners, hobbyists, confirmed or professional map makers just enjoying maps and sharing the exact same interest and passion. That's all what matters ^^
I remember my first fantasy map was way worst than yours, but it was 18 years ago or such, and I never forgot how it was to begin. I used to make mistakes you already don't do and as I told, I really think you're on the right track. Time, patience and practice are all what you need

Yes, Mountains are very problematic for me. How can I keep them from tilting? Do the spikes in the ridge line have to be symmetrical?

For some of us, mountains always, always tend to tilt. I still fight this problem everytime I draw some (mine tilt to the right ^^). Don't have the ridge symmetrical or you'll loose the natural looking of your mountains, but try to have the slopes roughly parallel to eachothers when you add them. However, don't worry too much : it's something you'll naturally correct with practice only.
Most important : often take a break when you're drawing and try to step back and look at what you've done. It also can be helpful to look at your map in front of a mirror : it change your point of view and often accentuate the problems, which helps to understand and correct them

[Severaph]

That’s a great start and a great first ! Mountains can be a pain yeah but I’m sure you’ll get to manage it if you follow the advice you got. I’m gonna make sure I do too
Keep up the good work !

[Draupernaut]

Thank you all for your kind words and advice on the mountains. It motivates me quite a bit.

So the next step for me was to detail the coastline and to add the rivers.
Take a look at the result.

I'm not so happy with it. Especially in the northern region, I feel that the whole relation between the rivers and mountains is quite messy and its not clear at first glance what is mountainside and what is river. I mean, they are difficult to seperate.
Do you people feel the same? How can I improve and make the rivers "pop"?

As you can see, I also changed the Shape of the Crater and also added the island with the gigantic tree. The new chape of the crater is supposed to symbolize the area where the meteor went down and surfaced the earth. In the southern part just below the central island is going to be a big nasty swamp made out of mushrooms and shrubs.