24 January 2013

world map

Hey all. Just thought I'd post a quick WIP of a world map I've started working on.



Yes, its yet another large wall-map, though i tend to like these maps that show off a large area. At this stage the map is more of a colour and style study than anything else, though it also helps me see the layout of things so I can plot things better. Looking at this, the first thing that strikes me is how long it is. ill probably increase the height of the background, which will also give me more room for other details and information.

It also serves to show off the more distant parts of the world to anyone interested. The projection is stereographic, so there is some degree of distortion around the edges of the maps, though distance is constant throughout, which is generally the point with these maps. It's intended to be a stylistic map rather than a reference one and when done will probably end up being something akin to the map in this link (this link), as well as to this real-world counterpart:


Also, on the worldbuilding front, I'm busy fleshing out another region of the world: the City-kingdoms of the Hareshk. I'm also getting close to finishing a new map for that region (look at me, ever the multitasker!). This map includes something i've never really looked at before: heraldry, and comes after a good few months of research and book-buying (yay! adding to my home library is always fun!). though the world isn't the real world, i like to base some things on reality and the laws and rules of heraldry seemed like something interesting to extrapolate from. Of course I've not stuck religiously to the real-world rules of heraldry (particularly metals and colours), though most changes do have an in-world explanation.

I'll post the regional history together with the finished map, though for the time being here's a snippet of the WIP on the map itself:


5 comments:

  1. What a great style decision! Very very cool. On the right side, just above the equator, that area looks very Aegean. What that on purpose? I really like it. It would be super easy to "cheat" and make that area very Greek. Is that the plan?

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  2. Not a plan per se, though I do like peninsulas and archipelagos very much (from the Mediterranean myself its a big part of our history here and is also the reason the main area of the map is an inland sea with lots of peninsulas - lots of scope for interesting interaction).

    I love long twisted coastlines with islands as it really helps me out when coming up with histories and stuff like trade and sea travel, and those shapes just seem to happen (also i just love maps of greece - ancient or modern, the shapes are just so interesting. Also, keep in mind that the region is far larger than the Aegean, so city-states might be a bit of a stretch, also being on the equator its a rainforest zone. as such I automatically think of places like Cambodia and Angkor Watt when envisioning equatorial areas: its the only way I can justify having civilsations in that foul horrid area I hate so much. so perhaps a Cambodian styled Hellenistic mash-up?

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  3. That would totally work! Greek columns, Roman arches, and SE Asian pyramids, all swallowed and overgrown by the jungle.

    Because you have this knack for painting the world with a rich history, it wouldn't be so difficult to make mention of this lost civilization of temples that nature has reclaimed. Maybe wander your monk/scholar/explorer through and see what he sees :)

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  4. Good idea actually! Let him discover stuff for me

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  5. just to let you know, realmwright; I'm in the process of labelling this region on the stereographic world map pictured in the post above.

    the region is called Abraxa and will inherit design elements from old cambodia and hellenistic greece (repalcing the unified nation with city-states, possibly evolved from a powerful empire, as that's the only way i can explain city-states in such a climate - infertile land and harsh terrain usually need a strong powerbase around which settlements can grow. city-states dont really match that, though could be the offspring of that powerful centre...

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