Simple how to for quick maps

[RPMiller]

Excellent, a fellow subscriber! I saw that tip and thought the same thing as well. I would probably take it a step or two further and mirror as well as rotate it, but it would depend on the knowledge of my players and what I was copying. Johnn always has great stuff in newsletter.

[ravells]

Here is the Ordinance Survey site where you can get a free outline map of the UK at a (reasonably) high resolution in a number of file formats. I'm going to use part of it (together with other quick and easy methods others have come up with) to see if I can produce a reasonably convincing map in under an hour. Naryt's tip is certainly a good starting point though (although I suppose one could use FT as well, but I think the results using a real map are more convincing :Edit: unless your name happens to be HandsomeRob).

ravs.

[RobA]

Another couple of variants of this technique are to invert the water/land and play with scale. For example the first map of upstate Michigan (100 km across the whole map) can represent the edge of an entire continent (1000 km across). Landscapes are fractal and self similar enough that this works well.

[jswa]

I'm J.H. Swain!

Glad to see you guys can use the tip

[RPMiller]

Welcome aboard jswa!! Great to have you. I'm betting that we would all like to see more of your maps that you have created, and thanks for the tip!

[ravells]

Excellent tip Jswa! Thanks a lot for sharing it!

Ravs

[Naryt]

I'm J.H. Swain!

Glad to see you guys can use the tip

Welcome aboard! Thanks for sending that into roleplaying tips in the first place!

[exfilia]

Another couple of variants of this technique are to invert the water/land and play with scale. For example the first map of upstate Michigan (100 km across the whole map) can represent the edge of an entire continent (1000 km across). Landscapes are fractal and self similar enough that this works well.

Now, THAT is a clever idea! Thank you!

[FangirlKitten]

Another couple of variants of this technique are to invert the water/land and play with scale. For example the first map of upstate Michigan (100 km across the whole map) can represent the edge of an entire continent (1000 km across). Landscapes are fractal and self similar enough that this works well.

Wow I never thought of doing something like that for a map. Inverting it makes so much sense. Feeling inspired, thanks for the tip

[ldvhl]

You can do the same for rivers. If you find one with the right length, you can copy it and use it on your map. You can also bend or adjust as needed to fit the geography you're working with.