Haven, my first try at a fantasy RPG map.

[Falco4077]

Ok Everyone I need critiques on this. I'm happy with the terrain but I hate the wet dirt by the water. Any Ideas on what I could do to make this look more realistic? I'm adding more buildings, so what do you all think of them? Anything else you think I could improve on? http://falco4077.deviantart.com/art/Haven-566641460

[Bogie]

Hey Falco, Good start on the map. I agree with you the wet dirt is awful. It looks more like brown fog than dirt. I think it is because there is to much blur, so there is no texture.
The one way to fix it I can think of is to use the same dirt texture that you used for the roads and just darken it a little for the beach so it looks different from the roads.

Your style reminds me of the great maps that Pasis makes. If you have not seen them you should do a search and look at some of his maps. I think he may also have a tutorial.

Keep on mappin' you are getting there!

[Falco4077]

I used Pasis's tutorials, with slight modifications. And thanks for the critique. I see what I can do.

[Falco4077]

Ok here's my fixed dirt and I added a few buildings with more to come. Thoughts?

[Falco4077]

Can anyone tell me the max file size that you can upload in a post? I uploaded a low res image and I'd like to put a better one up.

[Chick]

Can anyone tell me the max file size that you can upload in a post? I uploaded a low res image and I'd like to put a better one up.

For a .jpg file, it's about 4.77 Mb

[Falco4077]

Thanks for that.

[pasis]

Hi, I agree with Bogie, you sure have a good start there. And it is good to hear that you have not followed the guides blindly, but have made your own adjustments. That is the path that makes you better with every go.
Few things you can experiment further:
As you have quite strong textures they tend to hide the heightmap details underneath. One thing you can try is to duplicate your heighmap and set the blending mode of the new copy as "multiply". Then make yet another duplicate heightmap and set the blending mode as "Soft light". Adjust the opacity of the new layers to get the desired heightmap strength. Note that the duplicate layers need to be above the original heightmap. And if the overall map becomes too dark after adding the multiply layer you can compensate by adding an exposure layer above it.
If you want to have more variation to the grass, one option is to add a new layer (set it to multiply) and select suitable colors like browns and greens etc. Draw with soft low opacity brush and you’ll get sophisticated result.
The sun seems to be shining from NorthEast, but the house shadows indicates sun to be in NorthWest instead. Change the global light direction to match with the ground. I would also strengthen the shadows.

Keep up the good work and happy experimenting

[Llannagh]

A few notes:

In my opinion the riverbank is too straight. I suggest you try and break it in, make it a bit more rugged and slightly follow the upper border of the mud with it. I think that would give it a more natural feel.
Also try to slightly darken the paths in the village, maybe just in the center.

Pretty good work though!

[Falco4077]

Great advice thanks. I'm not going to change the water too much because its actually not a river but a giant lake, and this village is actually on a straightened portion of the lake. But I agree it does have to be modified a bit and not be straight as an arrow. And you are right the paths need s bit of a darkening.