Conventions in mapping that make me sad

TheShadow · September 09, 2014, 01:45:46 AM

The thing that makes me sad in the Numenera map is the iced donut with the slice removed. I know there is a reason for the slice, but it just looks like lazy Photoshop due to its perfect evenness and immense scale.

S'mon · September 09, 2014, 04:56:07 AM

I generally much prefer the 'incomplete' maps with territories beyond that shown on the map. A very rough world map with 'here be dragons' type notes works well as a supplement to the main map. I especially like the Wilderlands map and Moorcock's Young Kingdoms map, which as noted above are 'Mediterranean' type maps with land around an inner sea. The 'Northwest Europe' type maps as seen in Tolkien and most fantasy settings (notably Forgotten Realms' Sword Coast) are ok, but rather less interesting.

Justin Alexander · September 09, 2014, 11:49:34 PM

Quote from: BarefootGaijin;785818Example: Numenera. Earth's land masses billions of years in the future fall foul of the end of the world in terms of page lay out.

I actually like the convention for certain genres and Numenera is an excellent example of why: This is the Known World for people in the Steadfast. Henry V of England didn't know about the Incan Kingdom of South America or the Solomonic Dynasties of Abyssinia or the Kamakura Shogunate of Japan.

It is specifically evocative to say, "And that is as far as your knowledge of the world extends. Except for a few rumors." (Which is something both Numenera and Middle Earth provide for "lands beyond the lands we know".)

Quote from: The_Shadow;785992The thing that makes me sad in the Numenera map is the iced donut with the slice removed. I know there is a reason for the slice, but it just looks like lazy Photoshop due to its perfect evenness and immense scale.

The obviously unnatural features of the Numenera map is basically my favorite thing about it.

The Ent · September 10, 2014, 01:11:52 AM

Quote from: Ravenswing;785983(shrugs) Our entire hobby is based on a premise of a pseudo-"medieval" world, and not the whole world of medieval times, but that of an area equal to less than 1% of the world's land area. Your average Burgundian peasant barely knew that China existed, let alone knew bupkis about it.

That's probably true, however Even in the Middle Ages there were exceptions. Snorre (an Icelander) knew about America and Sub-Saharan Africa, and to some degree Asia (at least Russia). That said he was a nobleman and well read, but the Scandinavians of the time Travelled a lot (that said he was 13th century, when the Norse had been good Christians for centuries and the last Viking raid was 200 years ago).

RPGPundit · September 12, 2014, 11:19:27 PM

That maps have an edge just means there's room for the GM to add his own areas.

Conventions in mapping that make me sad

TheShadow

S'mon

Justin Alexander

The Ent

RPGPundit