| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Markustay |
Posted - 29 Jun 2012 : 00:05:07
I did THIS MAP after this comment by Erik-
quote:
Originally posted by Erik Scott de Bie
2) The Shining South (specifically Dambrath): Near as I can tell, the Shining South sourcebook just sold very poorly, so the powers that be decided it wasn't a viable locale to focus upon, or that it needed a substantial revision, or something. Myself, I think the Shining South just needs some novel love, which I think the Crinti particularly are ripe for. I myself would *love* to write a novel about that culture, but we'll see what happens.
And so I thought, why not just bring the Shining South north? 
The Shaar is now below everything else, on what I like to call "the Arm of Zehir". Don't know why... Zehir doesn't have arms.. I think...
I'm not even sure why I did this, but I figure I might as well show it as a demonstration of folks can tweak their Realms any way they want (its better then just throwing it on the scrap pile, I suppose). I got so far with it, and then I started tweaking it, and then I realized it was an exercise in time wasting and stopped, so many roads and rivers don't really work right.
Consider it the more drastic version of what happened in 3e. If you think this is bad, you should have seen the first one I started (Chessenta was upside-down and glued to the bottom of Aglarond). |
| 30 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Darkmeer |
Posted - 15 Jul 2012 : 01:28:06
quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
Nope, on my world the War between the Primordials and Gods never happened... thats why it is so different.
I already have plans for a marvel-style 'what-if' Netbook (including a Watcher!) You see, I only just realized I have a super-power... one most of you have as well (but anyone 'official' does not). I have the power to make changes WITHOUT pissing people off.
I can do stuff that would send the FR fans into a huge frenzy, and be none the worse for wear, just because what I say and do does not matter, AT ALL.
And with this power - this 'gift' many of us share - WE can save FR. So walk into castle Greyskull, grab The Sword of a Thousand Numnutz, climb to the highest tower (ignoring the sleeping princess in the corner), and raise your weapon on-high and scream "I HAVE THE POWER!" (or "It's Alive!", or "Kahn!!!")
Or maybe "I am mad as hell, and I'm not going to take it anymore!"
Whatever... its our Realms... it has been all along. Lets take it back, and maybe... just maybe... people will start enjoying it again. I'm not saying "don't buy official products"; quite the opposite, actually. What I am saying is buy their products, and then change the living hell out of them. Maybe if we spent more time playing in the Realms, and less time arguing about them, less people will leave for Golarion (or elsewhere).
So I guess what I am saying here is canon is a writer's kryptonite. We 'mere mortals' have nothing to fear from it (Okay... Lex Luthor got cancer... but he's a jerk...) We can walk around with it in our utility belts like Batman, and keep the 'powers that be' in-check. Designers may be 'supermen', but they still have to fear the kryptonite canon.. we don't. Thats what this project is all about. People need to stop thinking we are forced to adhere to it for our games - I personally think thats what did-in Dragonlance.
Alright... here's MY pledge...
"Kaaaaaaahn! You get your scrawny fake-klingon butt in here! I'm mad as heck and I'm not gonna take it anymore!" 
In all seriousness, Markustay, this is the most excited I've been in years over a fan or official 'Realms idea (or product for those producing the official stuff).
/d
PS: I get to be Rorschach |
| Markustay |
Posted - 14 Jul 2012 : 20:36:46
Nope, on my world the War between the Primordials and Gods never happened... thats why it is so different.
I already have plans for a marvel-style 'what-if' Netbook (including a Watcher!) You see, I only just realized I have a super-power... one most of you have as well (but anyone 'official' does not). I have the power to make changes WITHOUT pissing people off.
I can do stuff that would send the FR fans into a huge frenzy, and be none the worse for wear, just because what I say and do does not matter, AT ALL.
And with this power - this 'gift' many of us share - WE can save FR. So walk into castle Greyskull, grab The Sword of a Thousand Numnutz, climb to the highest tower (ignoring the sleeping princess in the corner), and raise your weapon on-high and scream "I HAVE THE POWER!" (or "It's Alive!", or "Kahn!!!")
Or maybe "I am mad as hell, and I'm not going to take it anymore!"
Whatever... its our Realms... it has been all along. Lets take it back, and maybe... just maybe... people will start enjoying it again. I'm not saying "don't buy official products"; quite the opposite, actually. What I am saying is buy their products, and then change the living hell out of them. Maybe if we spent more time playing in the Realms, and less time arguing about them, less people will leave for Golarion (or elsewhere).
So I guess what I am saying here is canon is a writer's kryptonite. We 'mere mortals' have nothing to fear from it (Okay... Lex Luthor got cancer... but he's a jerk...) We can walk around with it in our utility belts like Batman, and keep the 'powers that be' in-check. Designers may be 'supermen', but they still have to fear the kryptonite canon.. we don't. Thats what this project is all about. People need to stop thinking we are forced to adhere to it for our games - I personally think thats what did-in Dragonlance. |
| Dalor Darden |
Posted - 14 Jul 2012 : 16:27:40
I just had this vision in my head of the Spellplague ripping Ansalon from Krynn and slapping it down in your revised Realms alongside Greyhawk! lol
That would put Ansalon in the middle of a great ocean between the Moonshaes and the Great Kingdom with Evermeet floating north of it near the Krynn Dragon Isles...
Just sayin... |
| Markustay |
Posted - 14 Jul 2012 : 07:18:34
Thanks - the acknowledgment is appreciated. 
quote:
Originally posted by Dalor Darden
quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
A WIP of my new Northeast.
Sexy, no?
EVERYTHING is a place-holder at this point, so ignore inconsistencies with rivers, roads, terrain, etc (they WILL be fixed eventually).
Mystara's Vestland, Jarldoms and Ostland opposite Krynn's Minotaurs!
Koenigheim was already in the Realms, but since it was a region of Northmen and Ffolk down in the Utter East(?!), at least they are more 'at home' now (along with Ulgarth). Haungdannar is canon, it just never 'fell' in my Realms (a clan of norse-dwarfs - how could I resist?)
But the most esoteric reference of all is the name of the new Island - Grundir. Its from the 2e Viking Campaign Sourcebook (under 'Imaginary Lands') The earl's citadel can be seen up on that little island (and both of those islands, btw, were also derived from the island just above the Krynn-minotaur ones... including those ruins).
The men of koenigheim are also based on the Norsicans of Warhammer (the whole 'chaos' thing... it fits Konigheim well).
You might be able to tell that as I do these, I start rewriting all the history in my head. This one is definitely getting a netbook-style treatment. I think I'm having as much fun weaving the various histories together as I am making the map (and a LOT of history comes from other worlds - the GH setting is way to the west, like I had it in that old rearranged map I did). Grundir was originally settled from the Northern barbarians of Oerik (after much warfare with the indigenous minotaurs).
The history of the old empires gets really funky, but it works, and I only have one add there - Ęrypt, which is loosely based on WH's Tomb Kings (and I got the idea for the name from this guy's blog). On the main map you see it down in Aerenal... errr... Aer... Aerūn... yeah... thats it... but I have since moved it to Ulgarth's old location (in fact, its the entire Utter east, which has shrunk considerably). It works there for several reasons, not the least of which is that it provides a good explanation why folks don't just 'walk' to Zakhara.
*Edited for spelling error |
| Darkmeer |
Posted - 14 Jul 2012 : 05:42:41
quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
A WIP of my new Northeast.
Sexy, no?
EVERYTHING is a place-holder at this point, so ignore inconsistencies with rivers, roads, terrain, etc (they WILL be fixed eventually).
Always up to par, good sir. This is excellent. Thank you for your continued efforts. |
| Dalor Darden |
Posted - 14 Jul 2012 : 05:11:02
quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
A WIP of my new Northeast.
Sexy, no?
EVERYTHING is a place-holder at this point, so ignore inconsistencies with rivers, roads, terrain, etc (they WILL be fixed eventually).
Mystara's Vestland, Jarldoms and Ostland opposite Krynn's Minotaurs!  |
| Markustay |
Posted - 13 Jul 2012 : 19:57:01
A WIP of my new Northeast.
Sexy, no?
EVERYTHING is a place-holder at this point, so ignore inconsistencies with rivers, roads, terrain, etc (they WILL be fixed eventually). |
| Markustay |
Posted - 13 Jul 2012 : 08:28:16
LOL - I shrunk them instead. Rotated Calimshan so it is more like its 1e/2e counterpart, and then stuck the Golden waters next to it (instead of under Raurin). Unther got weird (still not happy with it), but now everything that has that type of culture falls-out around the Raurin (and just above Zakhara), including Halruaa (a chain of 5 islands and one small one).
Got done with my 'Northmen' land - I went with a large island instead of a peninsula (I didn't want to mess-up my new Ulgarth). I'll post a WIP of just that tomorrow - lets see if someone can find all four other settings I reference.
Hmmmm... make that 3... Koenigheim IS part of The Realms.
The map already looks a lot different from my last WIP - I even got a bare-bones Kara-Tur on it now (which hasn't changed at all). Sespech re-joined with Erlkazar and became part of the Kazzite Empire. To think... this all started out because I didn't want the 'Africanesque' lands up in Faerūn-proper.  |
| MrHedgehog |
Posted - 13 Jul 2012 : 04:56:23
I've always thought that Var the Golden, Estagund, and so forth should be bigger... since they seem to be India inspired I think they should have more land! |
| Darkmeer |
Posted - 11 Jul 2012 : 13:36:28
quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
I may need to know a little sumthin' about the Knights of Dragonlance by the time this is done.
I can help with that. ALL of the orders, that is (DL was my first D&D Setting/bunch of novels).
Watching with interest here, which has not flagged :) |
| Markustay |
Posted - 11 Jul 2012 : 06:23:43
My latest abomination.
I figured I'd post this now, since I decided to change it all up again tomorrow. Not everything, just a few things I am not happy with, and one small change that will make a world of difference (literally). A lot of stuff is just place-holders (the original Turmish is going bye-bye when I get up in the morning - its going where I marked it down south). I also need to nuke the Shining Waters - that whole area bugs me (why is it no matter where you stick Calimshan, it looks like a big, silly nose?)
I am also going to add a peninsula a'la Scandanavia to Icewinddale - we need a Northmen homeland (not really - I already have one way to the west, but having one nearby is better for gaming). The Kazzite Empire is from my Homebrew World - it will be a place that folks can turn into whatever they want (and a few canon locales are getting dumped into it, like Erlkazar). Its basically got an Aquilonia type of internal setup (different types of people from different regions), but with more of a Cheliax unholy vibe (Holy Roman Empire meets Asmodeus, who is called Kazmodeon on my world).
I may need to know a little sumthin' about the Knights of Dragonlance by the time this is done.
quote:
Originally posted by Dalor Darden
I'm still interested...if you slap Shaerdon down on it. lol
Would you believe I am now thinking of placing it on my 'Mangled Realms' (so many fun names I can call it) rightside-up?
Thats right... I'll have to re-convert it. |
| Jorkens |
Posted - 10 Jul 2012 : 17:17:04
A bit late, but of course I am interested in seeing this finished. |
| Quale |
Posted - 07 Jul 2012 : 08:25:28
This is the most interesting thread, to me. Tough I think Damara belongs in the east with the ''slavic'' realms, I mean if Calimshan was moved based on ethnic criteria, so should be Damara. |
| Darkmeer |
Posted - 06 Jul 2012 : 15:43:47
Still very interested in watching this, Markustay. This is definitely worth watching and enjoying. |
| Zireael |
Posted - 06 Jul 2012 : 09:48:33
Found Luiren :D and the map is awesome! |
| Dalor Darden |
Posted - 06 Jul 2012 : 03:38:05
I'm still interested...if you slap Shaerdon down on it. lol |
| sfdragon |
Posted - 05 Jul 2012 : 20:30:03
I'd be interested in seeing it.... |
| Markustay |
Posted - 05 Jul 2012 : 19:02:53
QFT
Is anyone even interested in this any more? I did more work on the beast last night - the Moonsea North (and that makes more sense now!) is looking pretty sweet.
I managed to fix the Moonsea itself (and get Luskan on it) by placing Dambrath where Damara used to be. Now Vassa and Damara are over on the far western tip of the continent (funny, because I was going to move Icewind Dale over to the Bloodstone Lands, and now I moved them over to Icewind dale instead).
All the ebil types (except for Thay) are all around the Moonsea. Someone over at DeviantART pointed out that I lost Warlock's Crypt, so now that is precisely where it ought to be (in it's original location, just east of Orlumbar). Swapped Claimshan to the other side of the Golden waters... still not thrilled with it. I have to see how Tethyr and Amn work-out over there. |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 05 Jul 2012 : 10:51:24
Do we really need to discuss software capabilities, here? |
| TBeholder |
Posted - 05 Jul 2012 : 07:38:15
quote:
Originally posted by Jorkens
Thats the thing I never liked about the Sword Coast, not enough fjords, bays and islands for a fun coastal campaign. I would have preferred to have been a real broken mess.
One more reason to be upset at those elves! 
quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
I could make them brushes, and I have thought about that since using GIMP. That wasn't necessary under PS.
[...]
Oh, and don't even get me started on Fonts - PS was able to tons of cool stuff with text. I can't even get the FR map font right now (its called small caps, but PS can do that with any font - I had to find premade ones for GIMP).
So, the problem boils down to "it doesn't have this and that specific clip art packed"?
quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
I started using the shape tool in PS, since it already had a number of shapes I used, and I built my own as I went along (first by hand, and then later with Illustrator).
That is, built the library of what you need, using another program. So, uh, Q.E.D.?
quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
I like to be able to resize them for different size maps, which C&P really doesn't allow.
C&P inside a map, if you want to do it quick and dirty. Vector import, obviously, is scaleable, and brushes are scaled on the fly.
quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
I just open the shape drop-down (which is already set to my map icons), click on it and I'm done
Which differs from clicking on e.g. brush palette... how?
quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
I also lost all of my terrain textures, so now I'm back to C&P terrain in little bits, like I started out. I haven't even tried to create textures in GIMP, because I keep thinking this is a temporary situation (although I need to do that regardless - are textures portable between GIMP and PS?)
Not sure what do you mean under "textures" here. Filling area with a tile? Yup, tool options of bucket fill - "Pattern fill".
Of course, in addition to ready patterns, half of which are tileable, there are filters that can make anything tileable (more of them in repository, such as this).
If you need to port something existing and it's not in a conventional format, probably exporting it as a picture or converting with somthing like XnView, then loading it in GIMP and "save as" a pattern would do.
quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
And then there is the weird way it saves undo - it stores opacity changes, which drives me nuts, since I need to change opacity over and over again. PS only saves actual changes made to the drawing, not what you do as part of your tools.
Weird. Tool options shouldn't be saved with an image. A-a-and (changes, saves, quits, load)... aren't.
quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
Changing between maps is odd to me - I have to go to the taskbar at the bottom (which I hide, so its not very useful for my drawing program to work that way).
Windows version doesn't switch between image windows normally (alt-tab)? Huh, that's weird. I vaguely remember commotion about image vs. tool dock, but thought even that was fixed three versions ago or so.
|
| Markustay |
Posted - 04 Jul 2012 : 06:07:27
WIP
The more I play with this one, the more things I want to keep changing. I've decided I'm going to stick Amn and Tethyr over where Chessenta, Unther, and Mulhorand are. Mulhorand is moving south (and Calimshan will switch sides of the Golden water). Unther will be 'behind' Mulhorand (to the east), and Murghom will be above Mulhorand and semphar will be above Unther (I like that arrangement - culturally it works). Not sure what that means for the Raurin desert though - that might move down to Zakhara. Also not sure whats going to be on the big island now (once I move Tethyr and Amn). It might just be some decadent empire, or religious one (a'la Holy Roman Empire).
Decided Dambrath is going up where Thar is (Thar is moving north and becoming the Mystaran Thar). Luskan is going to move a little west - I have to re-do the Moonsea (I'm not loving that shape, except for how Impiltur worked out), and I want that city right on it. Turmish is going to become Dwarfholme, and the entire bottom of the continent will be Afheim (The Chondalwood is going to GROW).
Oh, and Impiltur and Sembia are going to swap... I think... not sure...
I have another 'dumnping ground' island below that, but thats beyond rough ATM (Its basically just a place to stash stuff so I don't forget about it). |
| Markustay |
Posted - 03 Jul 2012 : 22:28:18
I could make them brushes, and I have thought about that since using GIMP. That wasn't necessary under PS.
I started using the shape tool in PS, since it already had a number of shapes I used, and I built my own as I went along (first by hand, and then later with Illustrator). I like to be able to resize them for different size maps, which C&P really doesn't allow. I just open the shape drop-down (which is already set to my map icons), click on it and I'm done (the size is preset for the most common size I use, so I don't have to adjust the size most of the time).
Anyhow, I probably won't bother to make a set of brushes because as soon as I get my Insurance check (which is now more then a year!), I will buy a new copy of PS. Its just what I am used to.
I also lost all of my terrain textures, so now I'm back to C&P terrain in little bits, like I started out. I haven't even tried to create textures in GIMP, because I keep thinking this is a temporary situation (although I need to do that regardless - are textures portable between GIMP and PS?)
Oh, and don't even get me started on Fonts - PS was able to tons of cool stuff with text. I can't even get the FR map font right now (its called small caps, but PS can do that with any font - I had to find premade ones for GIMP).
And then there is the weird way it saves undo - it stores opacity changes, which drives me nuts, since I need to change opacity over and over again. PS only saves actual changes made to the drawing, not what you do as part of your tools. Changing between maps is odd to me - I have to go to the taskbar at the bottom (which I hide, so its not very useful for my drawing program to work that way).
Like I said, its just very different from what I know, and all those little differences add up, and cost me time (and frustration). Just because PS has Features I don't use doesn't make it bloatware - it just means I haven't found a use for them yet in the way I work. I'd rather have them there for when I do need them, then have to go hunting on the web every time I need to figure out how to replicate a process in GIMP.
I'm trying to get the Five Shires Map done, plus started another major project, so I don't have anything to really show for this yet. Maybe later - I did a couple of small things yesterday that looked pretty good. The south needs a LOT of work. I think all the non-human lands from the Mystara Gazeteers may get some love (Rockholme, Alfheim, Thar, etc). |
| TBeholder |
Posted - 03 Jul 2012 : 22:04:44
quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
Actually, the translation is - "GIMP sucks so bad it pushes me to be a better artist".
[...]
I haven't bother to customize it yet - I am still getting used to the new program. I also haven't bothered with Inkscape yet (I want to get good with the basics before I start adding in layers of complexity with add-ons and other apps).
I'm even more puzzled now. You use a swappable-bit screwdriver for a specific purpose, without any bits just for the sake of challenge... oookay... and this somehow means the screwdriver sucks? 
quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
And I miss the shape tool the most. I had created most of my map icons in vector, and then just plunked them down as I went along. C&P is so primitive compared to that.
[...] Regardless, having an interconnected suite of programs is far better then having lots of individual programs you have to shunt your files around to.
I vastly prefer two programs each good for its respective (different) purpose and (if and when needed) easily extensible to closely related jobs, rather than one bloatware trying to lug around a cast iron kitchen sink for good measure cover everything someone possibly could need some day.
Anyway, if you have stock icons applied to different maps, how do you use them without pasting or opening files each time?
And if an icon is needed that often and in varied sizes, why not to simply convert it into a brush and have it in palette permanently? |
| Darkmeer |
Posted - 03 Jul 2012 : 05:07:01
Lurking intently watching you work masterfully here Markustay |
| LordXenophon |
Posted - 01 Jul 2012 : 21:04:36
He's creating an alternate world we can put on the other side of one of those gates that Mystra left lying all over the place. I can live with that. |
| Markustay |
Posted - 01 Jul 2012 : 20:55:50
Did a wee bit more with this this morning. I'm on lunch break right now (doing real work today... for a change). Just thought I'd check-in before getting back.
Turned Amn and Tethyr into an island (just shift it a bit SW to give us a nice looking channel). Also decided to put Edenvale over there someplace. The Parsanic league will probably go on the new broken-up (Greek-looking) Swordcaost area. Thinking about turning Halruaa into a small island chain between the three continental areas. I have to see where Zakhara falls out now to decide that and other things.
What else could we possibly use that FR doesn't already have? I'm thinking a swampy Nyissa-like (Belgariad) country somewhere in the new 'Africanesque' mega-island. |
| Jorkens |
Posted - 01 Jul 2012 : 07:21:48
I hate saying this, but I actually have a horrendous memory, except when I say I will do something and this was such a case.
As for brainstorming it I was thinking about in my own evil little mind and you have seen before (remember the Un-canon thread?) what that can lead to. I see Carter, I see Moorcock, I see Leiber I see Vance, Ashton Smith and Dunsany. I see myself (and my am I handsome). And now I am just near Thay. |
| Markustay |
Posted - 30 Jun 2012 : 23:33:41
It was just a mental exercise, like the other... but this one I am very tempted to finish. No worries - its a 'back burner' thing ATM.
The past week my (younger) kids have been nagging me to run D&D again (because they enjoyed the playtest so much, as did I). I've been thinking about a full-blown campaign at this point, since they seem so enthused, but I didn't know where to run it. I was thinking Nentir Vale (and maybe later shoe-horning that into the Realms as I did before). I was pretty sure I didn't want to run a regular FR campaign right up until early yesterday morning. And Golarion is out, because I don't know enough about the place (having only purchased the Gazeteer up to now).
The more I thought about it, and the (VG) games my kids like to play, the more I realized they would probably like Eberron the best! As of Thursday night, I was researching EB and thinking about a campaign there (blasphemy, I know). That was up until yesterday - I was still looking over Eberron maps most of the day.
Then I did a quick mock-up of this new rearranged Realms yesterday (just for laughs), and I fell in love - I can't wait to run another FR campaign now. Sometimes you don't need a new setting - you just have to give the old one a facelift. Except for the Five Shires (which is as 'Realms' as something non-Torillian can get), the thing is still FR - the geography is all that changed.
So my very next campaign - using the 5e playtest rules - will start this week and take place in what I like to call "The Misbegotten Realms".
quote:
Originally posted by Jorkens
Oh, that sounds like fun. And then (rubbing my hands together and grinning evilly)we will have to rewrite politics and history all over the place. If this map ever gets finished I would love to brainstorm a "new" Faerun from it.
And it isn't so much a matter of remembering as seeing the dedication when I took the book out to reread it.
I'm still in awe - and I thought I had a great memory.
As for the brainstorming - it really writes itself. When I unveil it, you will see just what mean. Castle Dragonspear fell-out right on the slopes of the Thayan plateau - think about how great that is. And I only had to extend the Moonsea a bit (Impiltur is kinda an Island now... but is central to the map, so GK should forgive me) to get Lusken on it. Directly to the NW of Thay is an arcane culture that relies on nature magic and place spirits to fight off the Tharchions... excpet instead of Rashemen, its the High forest Elves.
I hate to say it... and Ed forgive me... but I actually like it better this way. So much so, I can't wait to use this map (unlike the one the thread was originally about). I think a lot of people may feel this way (after the fanboi in them has a moment of blinding rage at what I have done). It isn't what I want the canon realms to turn into (calling this a hard reboot would be putting it mildly), but for D&D purposes I think it works very well.
EDIT: I almost forgot - Ten Towns and Icewind Dale are up in Vassa now... right where they were supposed to be. Thje Reghed Glacier has merged with the Great Glacier and now sits where Icewind Dale used to be (where I am going to build the new nation of Konigheim - thanks Quale, for that one). Ulgarth will also go to the NW pronbaly, right next to the 'Uthgardt Plains' (above the High Moor, where the upper part of Anauroch used to be). I will probably drizzle the other Utter East Nation around the map as well - I want the Utter East to be mostly Calimshan now. The old Empires will probably round-out my Africa-like sub-continet below the main one.
|
| Dalor Darden |
Posted - 30 Jun 2012 : 17:28:08
<----Casts "Hold Cartographer" @ MT
Slow down there fella!
Before you know it, you will be swamped with death threats for tearing apart the Forgotten Realms and its virginity! |
| Jorkens |
Posted - 30 Jun 2012 : 16:45:21
Oh, that sounds like fun. And then (rubbing my hands together and grinning evilly)we will have to rewrite politics and history all over the place. If this map ever gets finished I would love to brainstorm a "new" Faerun from it.
And it isn't so much a matter of remembering as seeing the dedication when I took the book out to reread it. |
|
|
