| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| BlackAce |
Posted - 16 Apr 2006 : 19:26:37
Hey folks, my gaming groups constant cries for Silver Marches style and scale maps for the rest of Faerun has finally forced me to get cracking.
I've been working on some Portable network graphic(.png) maps of the Sword Coast so far and while they look ok I've hit a few snags, so any and all constructive criticsm, advice etc would be much appreciated.
So far I've done from the Spine of the world to Warlock's Krypt. It's proving hard to incorporate the 3rd edition style while maintaining both simplicity and detail. So the maps still need plenty of work. Here's the Mirar Vale map so you can see what I'm aiming for,(note: they're big files, so dialups may struggle to load. My appologies if you can't see it.)
As I said before, Comments and criticism welcome. 
Spine of the World Map
|
| 30 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Ilztfryn Claddghym |
Posted - 23 Dec 2006 : 21:57:48
Very well done. |
| Victor_ograygor |
Posted - 18 Dec 2006 : 20:19:54
Holy Cow, they are great...... I am speechless.... |
| LucianBarasu |
Posted - 18 Dec 2006 : 19:40:48
Wow Jay, I must admit. your cartography skills has me speechless. Great use of textures and dots for color difference. (plains vs flat land vs desert etc). Well done indeed!.
I definitely will be coming back and using these maps.
|
| Alaundo |
Posted - 18 Dec 2006 : 18:35:42
quote:
Originally posted by BlackAce
And my abscence finally ends.
Now The moving home stuff is all sorted I should be able to get Cormyr etc. finished. I'll post the completed map of the North in the next few days (Soon as I've found someone willing to host four 8MB PNG images.  )
Well met
Ahem  ::points to empty shelf with BlackAce's name on:: |
| BlackAce |
Posted - 18 Dec 2006 : 16:05:42
And my abscence finally ends.
Now The moving home stuff is all sorted I should be able to get Cormyr etc. finished. I'll post the completed map of the North in the next few days (Soon as I've found someone willing to host four 8MB PNG images. ) |
| BlackAce |
Posted - 03 May 2006 : 16:00:18
Hi, Günther.
Thanks for the compliments. I hand draw the maps using a very old copy of Corel Photohouse.
Usually, when drawing I can get away with working from memory, though in places, where bits of terrain are fairly distinctive, I'm using the 3rd edition Continental Map as both a style guide and to note the differences between editions, (Grumble...needless changes... grumble, grumble).
HTH. |
| Guennarr |
Posted - 02 May 2006 : 22:10:36
I am impressed by your maps, Black Ace!
I just tried to draw some using Campaign Cartographer 2, and it turned out to be a real pain! :(
Which programmes did you use? Did you first scan in original maps and transformed them or did you re-draw them?
Looking forward to the Silver Marches part of your map :-) ,
Günther |
| Gelcur |
Posted - 27 Apr 2006 : 17:31:43
If you are having scale problems you may want to checks wizards errata for FRCS. I remeber reading some of the legend mile markers were wrong in FRCS.
The maps look awesome by the way! |
| BlackAce |
Posted - 27 Apr 2006 : 04:24:04
lol, glad you like it, Sage.
I should note for anyone else who has printing it off in mind that it's at half scale with most of the 3rd edition poster maps. That makes it approximately 1 inch to 60 miles (1/4 the scale of the Silver Marches map and 4 x the scale of the FRCS map) - making it roughly 18" x 18" when finished. |
| The Sage |
Posted - 27 Apr 2006 : 04:04:53
Oh... great stuff Jay! Great stuff.
You've got me wanting to purchase a new colour cartridge for my printer just so I can print these maps out as useful game aides.
|
| BlackAce |
Posted - 27 Apr 2006 : 03:58:19
OK quick update. Managed to finish the North Sword Coast and got most of the Western Heartlands done. This second chunk still needs some refining and finishing but after that, there just remains the upper delimbyr area to do before I start in one the Silver Marches.
Here's a quick WIp of the whole thing though only in 256 colour mode to avoid exploding modems! (still nearly a 1mb file though)
Sword Coast North
Western Heartlands |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 18 Apr 2006 : 01:57:39
quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
Getting back to the Realms, though... One of my future columns for the Candlekeep Compendium, the guy's physical appearance is going to be based on Jaime Wolf's description in Wolves on the Border and Wolf Pack.
Neat.
Although, I think you've told me about this before? 
Yup, I mentioned this a while ago, before I'd decided to put my Lords in the Compendium.  |
| The Sage |
Posted - 18 Apr 2006 : 01:15:25
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
Getting back to the Realms, though... One of my future columns for the Candlekeep Compendium, the guy's physical appearance is going to be based on Jaime Wolf's description in Wolves on the Border and Wolf Pack.
Neat.
Although, I think you've told me about this before?
|
| Alaundo |
Posted - 17 Apr 2006 : 18:41:38
quote:
Originally posted by BlackAce
Alaundo,Sage, that would be great and thanks for the offer, however these maps all still need some refinement and finishing touches. Plus the Cormyr Map is little more than an outline, atm.  So hold that thought please.
Well met
Of course, BlackAce, of course. Once thou art happy with any maps, however, then my offer still stands and i'll be very glad to see such maps from thee in the future 
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
(see how I bring it back to the Realms, Big Al? )
Aye, furry friend, ye did well |
| BlackAce |
Posted - 17 Apr 2006 : 18:01:24
And just to make it a little more back on topic..
Waterdeep |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 17 Apr 2006 : 16:29:27
quote:
Originally posted by Arivia
quote:
Originally posted by BlackAce
OK, looks we're invading rather than seeking refuge  I'll try to stop the off topic chatter but the Davion in me feels I should answer.
It's both, Arivia. There's a miniature wargame now called "Classic" BattleTech and an acompanying RPG called Classic Battletech RPG(Used to be called Mechwarrior but Wizkids now keep that ip soley for their spin off Mechwarrior: Dark Age minigame, -uses Mageknight's dial system-.)
Okay, now I'm going to try resisting getting into the RPG. 
I've never gotten into the RPG side, myself. I stick with the miniatures game. I like the setting, and I've read all of the novels in the CBT line, but for some reason, role-playing in that setting just doesn't grab me... Though, if I was to try it, I'd either be in Clan Coyote or the Federated Suns.
Getting back to the Realms, though... One of my future columns for the Candlekeep Compendium, the guy's physical appearance is going to be based on Jaime Wolf's description in Wolves on the Border and Wolf Pack.
(see how I bring it back to the Realms, Big Al?  ) |
| Arivia |
Posted - 17 Apr 2006 : 15:34:15
quote:
Originally posted by BlackAce
OK, looks we're invading rather than seeking refuge I'll try to stop the off topic chatter but the Davion in me feels I should answer.
It's both, Arivia. There's a miniature wargame now called "Classic" BattleTech and an acompanying RPG called Classic Battletech RPG(Used to be called Mechwarrior but Wizkids now keep that ip soley for their spin off Mechwarrior: Dark Age minigame, -uses Mageknight's dial system-.)
Okay, now I'm going to try resisting getting into the RPG. |
| BlackAce |
Posted - 17 Apr 2006 : 15:31:42
quote:
Originally posted by Arivia
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
Their forums are now indefinitely down, and it's possible they won't return.
Of course, we could say that CBT stands for Cormyr's Best Troops...
I'd love to read that series. Also, the CBT website makes my head spin --- is it a RPG or a miniatures game?
OK, looks we're invading rather than seeking refuge I'll try to stop the off topic chatter but the Davion in me feels I should answer.
It's both, Arivia. There's a miniature wargame now called "Classic" BattleTech and an acompanying RPG called Classic Battletech RPG(Used to be called Mechwarrior but Wizkids now keep that ip soley for their spin off Mechwarrior: Dark Age minigame, -uses Mageknight's dial system-.) |
| BlackAce |
Posted - 17 Apr 2006 : 15:21:06
quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
You've got too much time now that the CBT forums are down eh Jay?
Afraid so. Ever since WotC killed the FR Novel boards over there, I've stayed pretty much on CBT. I do visit here often though very hard to find two such fine communities discussing my favorite subjects.
quote:
Anyways... It's a very nice composition. Any chance you'd like to have this map stored in the Map Room here at Candlekeep? It'd make a fine addition...
Alaundo,Sage, that would be great and thanks for the offer, however these maps all still need some refinement and finishing touches. Plus the Cormyr Map is little more than an outline, atm. So hold that thought please.
Trace, Foxbat informed me the FGC has a back-up forum on [quote]http://www.btechunits.com/SMF/index.php[/url], most regular CBT'ers have gone to Lords of the Battlefield and the Heavy Metal Forums. HTH. |
| Trace_Coburn |
Posted - 17 Apr 2006 : 15:18:11
quote:
Originally posted by Kentinal
CBT.org = Columbia Basin Trust, somehow I think you are reffering to another CBT.
I am guessing you are referring to CLASSICBATTLETECH.COM which currently is mostly down. Home page works, though have no found contacts list.
Right second time. As I have long maintained, context is everything.
And you're right: while the homepage works, according to the message I get when I try to go directly to the forums main page, the forums themselves have been taken down indefinitely owing to a combination of corruption/instability problems (in the recent past) and hosting issues (current). Which bites in a number of ways, but Deathshadow's undoubtedly doing the best he can on his end, so all we can do is wait and see....  |
| Arivia |
Posted - 17 Apr 2006 : 15:16:27
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
Their forums are now indefinitely down, and it's possible they won't return.
Of course, we could say that CBT stands for Cormyr's Best Troops...
I'd love to read that series. Also, the CBT website makes my head spin --- is it a RPG or a miniatures game? |
| Kentinal |
Posted - 17 Apr 2006 : 15:15:56
Err, I found a lot of things the CBT means. *wink* |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 17 Apr 2006 : 15:10:10
quote:
Originally posted by Kentinal
CBT.org = Columbia Basin Trust, somehow I think you are reffering to another CBT.
I am guessing you are reffering to CLASSICBATTLETECH.COM which currently is mostly down. Home page works, though have no found contacts list.
Their forums are now indefinitely down, and it's possible they won't return.
Of course, we could say that CBT stands for Cormyr's Best Troops... |
| Kentinal |
Posted - 17 Apr 2006 : 15:02:13
CBT.org = Columbia Basin Trust, somehow I think you are reffering to another CBT.
I am guessing you are reffering to CLASSICBATTLETECH.COM which currently is mostly down. Home page works, though have no found contacts list. |
| Trace_Coburn |
Posted - 17 Apr 2006 : 14:16:09
quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
Oh yeah... .
Trace_Coburn and BlackAce as I recall .
I wouldn't call myself a refugee, as such... but it's certainly going to be hard to post my regular column(s) on CBT for the moment.  Not to mention that without knowing if those forums will actually be there to post on, my motivation to write said column(s) in the first place will likely flag once more....
On that subject: BlackAce, do you have any alternate means of contacting some of the folks at CBT.org, perhaps FGC leaders and/or FotW readers? I was going to put out a call for suckers volunteers willing to write factional overviews for "Clans pt.02", but that plan seems to have run into a teensy setback. Please PM me if you can get hold of anyone keen. |
| Alaundo |
Posted - 17 Apr 2006 : 10:40:01
quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
You've got too much time now that the CBT forums are down eh Jay?
Anyways... It's a very nice composition. Any chance you'd like to have this map stored in the Map Room here at Candlekeep? It'd make a fine addition...
Well met
Indeed, we'd happily offer thee a shelf here at Candlekeep, on which to display these maps Please contact me if ye wish to discuss further. |
| Shadovar |
Posted - 17 Apr 2006 : 02:13:54
The two maps are pretty well done and accurate enough, well hope to see more of it in the coming days. |
| The Sage |
Posted - 17 Apr 2006 : 02:05:03
Oh yeah... .
Trace_Coburn and BlackAce as I recall .
|
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 17 Apr 2006 : 02:01:43
quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
You've got too much time now that the CBT forums are down eh Jay?
What, we're getting their refugees over here, too? |
| Kajehase |
Posted - 17 Apr 2006 : 01:23:44
*grins* That map is certainly more accurate than the one for NWN2 that was linked in the Computer-products section earlier this week. |
