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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
 Posted - 29 Jun 2012 : 00:05:07
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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).
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"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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Delwa
Master of Realmslore
USA
1272 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jun 2012 : 00:44:29
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| Not bad. I might have to implement this in my current Campaign. I really need to spend some more time learning how to do this. A fellow DM has an idea to swap out some areas of Eberron with some of the "Unknown Lands" on Toril. Might come in handy. |
- Delwa Aunglor
I am off to slay yon refrigerator and spoil it's horde. Go for the cheese, Boo!
"The Realms change; seldom at the speed desired of those who strive, but far too quickly for those who resist." - The Simbul, taken from the Forgotten Realms Campaign Conspectus |
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LordXenophon
Learned Scribe
USA
147 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jun 2012 : 01:47:12
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This is the first time I've seen an altered map that moved anything but dungeon locations. That's actually common.
Got a module you want to run, but the dungeon is five countries away? No problem. The dungeon is really only 100 miles from here. Volo just THOUGHT he was in Turmish. |
Disintegration is in the eye of the Beholder. |
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LordXenophon
Learned Scribe
USA
147 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jun 2012 : 01:49:05
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| I take that back. I just remembered a game where the DM wanted to use a major city from the Al Qadim setting, so he plopped it right in the middle of Calimshan. |
Disintegration is in the eye of the Beholder. |
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Erik Scott de Bie
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
4598 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jun 2012 : 01:58:32
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I'm glad I inspire you to move mountains, MT. 
Cheers |
Erik Scott de Bie
'Tis easier to destroy than to create.
Author of a number of Realms novels (GHOSTWALKER, DEPTHS OF MADNESS, and the SHADOWBANE series), contributor to the NEVERWINTER CAMPAIGN GUIDE and SHADOWFELL: GLOOMWROUGHT AND BEYOND, Twitch DM of the Dungeon Scrawlers, currently playing "The Westgate Irregulars" |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jun 2012 : 02:13:32
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Nice.
I also moved The Golden Waters area both north and west - that one was b**ch. Thats why Mulhorand is a little wonky in regards to Murghom. In fact, that entire strip (my Hordelands map) is way north of where everything should be (which strangely 'fixed' a couple of things and made them more like 1e/2e, like that road from Rashemen to the Lake of Mists). I like how part of Zakhara can now be on the FR map (although its obviously unfinished there). The Corsair islands should be right off the coast of the new southern island on that map.
Sucks having to swap-in pieces of my own old maps (which are all different resolutions - what was I thinking?)
Lets play "where's Waldo?" - can you find Lurien? 
Hint: George is going to have a cow. 
Personally, if I was going to actually use this thing, I'd ditch Luiren at this point and use my (and Dalor's) Five Shires conversion instead. I'd also shrink Aglarond and move it north (get rid of useless Thesk and the Great Dale), and move Thay all the way over to the coast (and shrink that a bit as well - move everything closer, to stop people from thinking some parts of the setting are 'too far').
I'd also swap-out Ulgarth (another 'also ran') for Calimshan, just to keep certain cultures more geographically sensible. I'd place some new, interesting-looking country in its place, with locales... and ZERO lore (a DM-development area). I'd do something about the squarish-look of the place as well - it looks even worse with my changes (like a giant rectangle).
I may do a 'dream FR' map someday. I have to finish Five Shires, and then map a chunk of the Swordcoast before I get to that, though. |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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Edited by - Markustay on 29 Jun 2012 05:23:12 |
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xaeyruudh
Master of Realmslore
USA
1853 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jun 2012 : 04:40:44
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quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
Hint: George is going to have a cow.
would that be a half-blue-dragon cow? also, the southern Lluirwood label gets me thinking... what if it was possible to enter the forest only when walking backwards? if you're walking forward, you're teleported to the other side, but if you're going backwards you can enter it fine.
also, something strange is happening on the west slopes of Lhairghal.
it would be really hard to explain, weather-wise, but i kinda like the Shaar-as-island thing. and strangely, i don't have much problem with Halruaa and Dambrath moving north. i actually find this change more palatable than the 3e map changes... or at least i would if you had based your change on the 2e map, and if we were talking about it in the academic sense of "hey how about this" rather than "hey this just happened, how do ya like them apples?" would certainly make for interesting changes in seaborne trade. i also like that it seems to pull Zakhara closer. i don't like that they're not connected in the official lore.
and (i think) i see what you mean about Ulgarth... it would make more sense to swap it with Calimshan, but on the other hand i kinda like the quilted nature of the Realms, where things don't necessarily flow easily from one nation to its neighbors... there are pronounced differences in various places, which creates tension and politics, etc.
anyway, nice thought and cutting/pasting work.
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jun 2012 : 05:33:10
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Like I said, I was tweaking it, and then decided there was really no point in perfecting it, since it was just a mental exercise.
I decided to go with a Chult + Shaar thing because The Shaar is supposed to be Savannah, so now the whole thing has a swampy/jungle/grassland African thing going on (because Katashaka is just too damn far to be any fun).
If I was going to do it for real, I'd make the long narrow island more of a sub-continent. There is a massive (canon) island straight south that would be perfect for that type of retro-fit. I'd also swap Turmish for Halruaa (Just place Halruaan locales within Turmish instead - it has a similar layout). Then move Turmish down in the Tashlar, where it fits better.
On my first, aborted attempt, I was going to invert the entire Shining South and turn it into the southern coast of the Sea of Fallen Stars (and move Mulhorand more east, and Chessenta north). It was too ugly that way, though (backwards writing is bad enough).
And now a Eaurasian conversion is coming to mind... hmmmm... |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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Varl
Learned Scribe
USA
284 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jun 2012 : 06:42:56
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quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
Like I said, I was tweaking it, and then decided there was really no point in perfecting it, since it was just a mental exercise.
Heh. Nice! I like where you put Luiren!
Your Southern Luirwood notation is backwards.  |
I'm on a permanent vacation to the soul. -Tash Sultana |
Edited by - Varl on 29 Jun 2012 06:44:25 |
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Quale
Master of Realmslore
1757 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jun 2012 : 07:05:26
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Great work. I tried to do a similar thing a few years ago, but only imagined them, have no mapping skills.
List of such changes that I remember
Koenigheim, moved to Moonsea northwest (cause of the name)
Ulgarth, moved to the North
Thay, southeast, towards Kara-Tur
Shaar, changed into a steppe, moved into the Hordelands
There was a peninsula attached to Zakhara called the Sand Throne south of Halruaa where all the realms with ''arabian'' influences were
Mulhorand was north-west of Zakhara, like Egypt
Turmish was in Nubia
Chult was moved south of the Sand Throne (sort of the position of west Africa)
Najara to the Indian part, snakes are too far north imo
Luiren, I first tried Sespech, then moved them close to the Moonshaes, cause the Shire should be more British
etc.
And I also squeezed in dozens of other realms, most of Golarion, some from GH, Eberron, Mystara, Birthright, and Athas, so it's actually a D&D world with FR as a base. |
Edited by - Quale on 29 Jun 2012 07:08:06 |
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Elfinblade
Senior Scribe
Norway
377 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jun 2012 : 09:05:54
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Looks good MT. But for the love of me i cant find Lurien. Oh well, now i have something to do in the idle work hours
By the way, what program do you use to edit maps? I assume you have the map saved in its originality on your computer and just edit it as you please? I am running a 3.5 game set around 1355 and would love to do some tinkering with some islands off the sword coast that i put there (kinda switched the Moonshea's with my own set of isles ahem).
EDIT: Ah! Found Lurien. Clever  |
Edited by - Elfinblade on 29 Jun 2012 09:19:25 |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jun 2012 : 14:55:44
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I use GIMP now. Its not PS, but beggars can't be choosers.
On the bright side, GIMP is so bare-bones that it forces me to 'dig deep' into the guts of the program to accomplish the same things I used to do with just one click in Photoshop. This means that when I eventually get Photoshop again, my skills will have increased dramatically (for instance, I never bothered to work with 'paths' before, because I never needed to). GIMP also doesn't handle vector graphics at all - their is no 'shape' tool. Doing map icons is much harder now (create the first, then lots of C&P).
But GIMP is FREE. Free is good.
And I actually keep two copies of the map open (with different names) - one to modify, and the other to copy stuff from. When doing this sort of thing, the erase tool becomes your best friend. place the object you want, then turn the opacity down to see 'behind' it and get it placed precisely - you can both move and rotate the object even after its placed (but not once its anchored... AFAIK). I haven't figured out how to change the size of objects on-the-fly with GIMP (PS could), so I also keep a third empty 'palette' open to past objects into and manipulate them before pasting them onto the final map.
Always keep your shoreline (the blue line on these FR maps) in a separate layer, so when you draw your land and water you don't loose your coast in the process (and the smudge/blend tool becomes your new best friend with those). That means EVERY shorline and river gets traced-over by me. When doing maps for real I also keep locales and roads in two separate layers. PS was able to group text together, which was a wonderful thing, but GIMP can't. Now when I have to turn-off all the text I have to do it one layer at a time (and there are hundreds of text layers!) It took me over a year to figure out how to use layers - I can't believe I ever mapped without them (tweaking things later becomes MUCH easier with layers).
When I was working on my world map, I also kept dungeons, dragon lairs, and humanoid towns on a separate layer as well, to enable DMs to print-out Player's maps... too bad all that work went up in smoke. Since all artists use layering these days, I don't see why WotC (and Paizo and everyone else in the business) doesn't use this to their advantage, and provide multiple maps of the same areas (like my 'Naked' map collection). Having a blank (terrain-only) map to hand to players, for them to fill-in themselves is real old-school, and a lot of fun. |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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Edited by - Markustay on 29 Jun 2012 14:59:52 |
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Brimstone
Great Reader
USA
3290 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jun 2012 : 15:17:50
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| It's interesting. |
"These things also I have observed: that knowledge of our world is
to be nurtured like a precious flower, for it is the most precious
thing we have. Wherefore guard the word written and heed
words unwritten and set them down ere they fade . . . Learn
then, well, the arts of reading, writing, and listening true, and they
will lead you to the greatest art of all: understanding."
Alaundo of Candlekeep |
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Mumadar Ibn Huzal
Master of Realmslore
1338 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jun 2012 : 16:56:33
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quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
I did THIS MAP after this comment by Erik-
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...
Somehow the location of the Shaar does not seem out of place in this alternate layout. Overall I kinda like this map, certainly much better than the scarred version... |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jun 2012 : 20:01:11
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I like the the idea of moving the Shaar down into a separtae sub-continent linked to Chult as well - it makes a lot of sense. unfortunately, the Great Rift does not make a lot of sense (I assume that entire end of the island is surrounded by 100' cliffs - basically, the bottom of the Rift is at sea-level, and the entire western portion of the landmass is a plateau).
I was going to draw cliffs all the way around to illustrate that, but like I said, I have no intentions of getting back to this.
I do hope someone official will look at it, and it will give them some ideas about how to handle such problems (locales being 'too far') in the future (rather then just obliterating them - how the heck did that solve anything?) 
I see they made some moves along these lines with 4e - Szass Tam being active in The North, and the 'Shou Ghettos' in all the major cities. I wasn't a big fan of that type of overt tinkering with the Realms, but since I understand where they are coming from, perhaps seeing more of this isn't a bad idea.
For example, Thay is a bit far off the beaten path. So what did they do? The created Thayan Enclaves, to illustrate how to use Red Wizards all over the Realms. This actually wasn't necessary, since Ed has stated repeatedly that they were ctive everywhere (along with every other major covert group, like the Zhents), but folks didn't 'get it', and TSR/WotC obliged them with the Enclaves.
Then folks hated the Enclaves (calling them 'Thaymart'), so they got rid of them, and now we got Dread Rings popping-up all over the place (which is just their latest way to demonstrate that Red Wizards don't just stay in Thay - they are useful without having to be 'right next door'.
So here we have it - "Thayan expatriates" and Shou are everywhere. While it may rub some of us the wrong way, we have to remember that Toril is a big place, a century is a long time, and FR being what it is, folks do tend to get around much easier then they ever did in our own RW history. As a DM, I can appreciate what they did, even though the 'fanboi' in me doesn't care for it.
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"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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Edited by - Markustay on 29 Jun 2012 20:02:19 |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jun 2012 : 20:03:15
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So lets make this thread useful.
How many of us would be willing to bring back certain things we lost (in 4e), but bring them back in such a way that they were more 'handy'?
What if the halflings DID settle the northern shore of the Gulthmere Coast? There should be more land there now. What if Halruaans DID manage to survive in an ancient and still Functional Enclave? And what if they parked it over the Whamite Isles? Maybe the Crinti come back, but in an unexpected way - there are 'new Crinti' in the Dalelands (maybe thats one of the purposes of the "Rise of the Underdark" story-arc?) Would it be so bad if we stuck the Crinti in Scarsdale? Seems kinda fitting, no?
While I am loathe to reduce the setting in any way, shape, or form, moving major groups that didn't get much spotlight time closer to the Heartlands may NOT be such a bad thing, in the long run. Good for DMs, and also good for providing TONS of new fodder for authors to work with (think of all these power-groups all butting heads now).
Oh, and turn Sespech (or Chessenta or Chondath) into a vast swamp and stick all the scaley things in there. Chult is just too damn far. Say a super-volcano exploded and now hundreds of miles of land has become geothermally active (which explains why we have steaming swamps so far north). That (doing Sespech) would also make a hole from the Inner sea to the Outer - lots of Intrigue there as well (and we might get a map that is more pleasantly shaped - the rectangle-look is getting dated).
And Turn Turmish into a dwarven state... after the mass-flooding of the Great Rift. Although many thousands drowned in the catastrophe, it managed to unify all dwarves into creating a new 'dwarven homeland'. Not only was much lore and culture preserved (and ported-over to Turmish... or wherever), but ancient lore long-buried was uncovered by the exodus - The Rûntharc (Rune Magic).
We can have our cake and eat it to - maybe they didn't do too much in 4e... maybe they didn't take it far enough. If D&D gets an 'N' (D&DNext), then maybe FR can get one of those 'X's for Xtreme (FrX!). It would be like what Marvel did with Ultimates. Combine this with George Krashos' idea of redoing 4e the right way - like how the OGB was done - and I think it will be pure win.
Maybe Paizo isn't really doing anything different... maybe they are just giving folks something new. We want FR to be successful, maybe all it needs is a good shot in the arm. And maybe... just maybe... it will blow right by Golarion.
Edit: This post was split-off from the one above - I realize how much people hate reading overly long posts.  |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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Edited by - Markustay on 30 Jun 2012 01:58:30 |
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sfdragon
Great Reader
2285 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jun 2012 : 21:48:50
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I'd have no problem with a two fr sourcebooks that are farthest apart. I'd have no problem with a soft reboot( mount celestia we get one with every rule change anyway...) I'd have no problems with keeping the spellplague lroe if they return Mystra( the one before that #$^! Midnight), Helm, Eilistraee, Yondalla. Mask, Vhaerun, Sehanine, the elven goddess of love( whose name I gforget...), Halruua in some form the functional or reactivated enclaves or even new ones would work best.
I still think that having thespell plague hammmer the chultan pennisula and make it appear that its a bunch of islands and slowly brought its past form a massive swamp ruled by Yuanti, nagas, saruhks would make it just as interesting. Not like there was anything there in 4e anyway save that one city.... |
why is being a wizard like being a drow? both are likely to find a dagger in the back from a rival or one looking to further his own goals, fame and power
My FR fan fiction
Magister's GAmbit
http://steelfiredragon.deviantart.com/gallery/33539234 |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 30 Jun 2012 : 02:05:08
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I like that a lot.
If I didn't have a prior commitment (two, actually), I'd start an 'FR-Xtreme' map. That will be next on my list. I think all we need is three continents - a large one, and two small ones to the south (and lots & lots of BIG lakes).
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"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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Edited by - Markustay on 30 Jun 2012 02:08:26 |
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LordXenophon
Learned Scribe
USA
147 Posts |
Posted - 30 Jun 2012 : 04:18:25
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quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
I like that a lot.
If I didn't have a prior commitment (two, actually), I'd start an 'FR-Xtreme' map. That will be next on my list. I think all we need is three continents - a large one, and two small ones to the south (and lots & lots of BIG lakes).
And more fjords for the pirates to hide in. Lots and lots of fjords. |
Disintegration is in the eye of the Beholder. |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 30 Jun 2012 : 06:25:22
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Its all about the fjords.
Thats such a fun word to say... FJORDS.
I couldn't help myself... I went insane... wait 'til you see my next one. Its so extreme it actually makes perfect sense.
And it was such a simple fix, I have to wonder why no-one ever thought to do it before. |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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Edited by - Markustay on 30 Jun 2012 15:33:17 |
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Jorkens
Great Reader
Norway
2950 Posts |
Posted - 30 Jun 2012 : 08:19:47
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quote:
Originally posted by LordXenophon
quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
I like that a lot.
If I didn't have a prior commitment (two, actually), I'd start an 'FR-Xtreme' map. That will be next on my list. I think all we need is three continents - a large one, and two small ones to the south (and lots & lots of BIG lakes).
And more fjords for the pirates to hide in. Lots and lots of fjords.
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. |
No Canon, more stories, more Realms. |
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TBeholder
Great Reader
2526 Posts |
Posted - 30 Jun 2012 : 08:49:03
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Let me check if i got it, beecause if not, you really need to be more specific.
quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
On the bright side, GIMP is so bare-bones that it forces me to 'dig deep' into the guts of the program to accomplish the same things I used to do with just one click in Photoshop. This means that when I eventually get Photoshop again, my skills will have increased dramatically
Translation: "I somehow managed to remain unaware of the fact that in almost all non-trivial modern soft everything non-essential is done by addons, to avoid both problems of bloatware and trying to know what each user wants better than themselves". And, consequently, that all big soft has big plugin repositories, because it's just the most sensible way to handle these.
quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
(for instance, I never bothered to work with 'paths' before, because I never needed to).
GIMP also doesn't handle vector graphics at all - their is no 'shape' tool. Doing map icons is much harder now (create the first, then lots of C&P).
"At all" is an exaggeration, but yeah, GIMP's builtin path tool is not very useful as is, except maybe for those already good with it. Again, plugins include path/vector "filters".
As to paths themselves, usually anything more complex than a "select circle; selection-to-path" is easier to make in a specialized editor or just get a ready SVG and then open it as a layer (render and/or import paths).
So... why not to look up "vector graphics soft" as such, and thus discover, e.g. Inkscape and, again, plugins for it?
However, for things like map icons you don't really need anything vector-y at all, just sprites on a separate layer, done once and easily copied/moved around - on an uncluttered separate layer it's trivial. Especially given that for maps keeping layers in the master file is SOP anyway (clean map + names + several layers with different things + more names...).
quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
But GIMP is FREE. Free is good.
Translation: "I didn't even find the home page".  Also note that all pages linked above contain RSS feeds, so for those who expect some or other improvement, news on development are available almost in real time. |
People never wonder How the world goes round -Helloween
And even I make no pretense Of having more than common sense -R.W.Wood
It's not good, Eric. It's a gazebo. -Ed Whitchurch |
Edited by - TBeholder on 30 Jun 2012 08:50:14 |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 30 Jun 2012 : 15:42:11
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I also didn't even have to provide a link.
Actually, the translation is - "GIMP sucks so bad it pushes me to be a better artist".
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.
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). Regardless, having an interconnected suite of programs is far better then having lots of individual programs you have to shunt your files around to.
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.
Oh... you mean like over in the Sea of Fallen Stars? 
Despite your advanced grognardise (I mean that as a compliment), you might actually like my latest conversion then. It was such a simple fix that it's almost elegant. |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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Edited by - Markustay on 30 Jun 2012 15:44:22 |
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Jorkens
Great Reader
Norway
2950 Posts |
Posted - 30 Jun 2012 : 15:52:24
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quote:
Originally posted by Markustay
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.
Oh... you mean like over in the Sea of Fallen Stars?
Despite your advanced grognardise (I mean that as a compliment), you might actually like my latest conversion then. It was such a simple fix that it's almost elegant.
Sea of Fallen Stars is better, but more or less the whole coastline is civilized which makes it perfectly serviceable for smugglers and pirates, but nothing major. The coastline of eastern Zakhara, that was great.
I have no problem with the term Grognard as long as it is not some chicken... way of telling me that I am a jerk that is working actively to destroy the setting and everything wonderful in the world. Its strange, when I joined Candlekeep I was actually pretty open for the advances and story based setting (not for the 3ed. I hated that from the moment I saw it), but by now it seems like I have developed into some sort of radical reactionary where the Realms is concerned. Unfortunately I am just to pigheaded to leave it seems.
And ps.; the dedication in the Lin Carter novel you mentioned is in "When the Green Star Calls" |
No Canon, more stories, more Realms. |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 30 Jun 2012 : 16:11:30
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WOW 
You remembered THAT? I'm in awe.
Anyhow, what I did was take the swordcoast and glue it onto the right (eastern side) of the SoFS. I replaced the Unapproachable East with it, except for Thay and Aglarond. Its actually a great fit, and now Anaauroch is over where the Endless Wastes used to be.
Rashemen and the rest of the UE (the eastern coast of the Easting Reach) have now become the new Swordcoast. Like I said, the fit was pretty amazing. In 'The North' Thay replaced the High Moor (which is now sitting just above the Stonelands, where Anauroch used to be).
It was just a simple swap, and it changed everything. Luskan up in the new Moonsea - how perfect is that?
And Waterdeep has become "the gateway to the East" (Hordelands and Kara-Tur... which are still to the east... just further now). The rest will be a bit harder - I'm going to take some ideas from the other map (the one this thread was about), and improve upon them.
I might turn Amn and Tethyr into an Island... not sure yet - I need to fracture-up the coast even more. |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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Edited by - Markustay on 30 Jun 2012 23:34:05 |
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Jorkens
Great Reader
Norway
2950 Posts |
Posted - 30 Jun 2012 : 16:45:21
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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. |
No Canon, more stories, more Realms. |
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Dalor Darden
Great Reader
USA
4266 Posts |
Posted - 30 Jun 2012 : 17:28:08
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<----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! |
The Old Grey Box and AD&D for me! |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 30 Jun 2012 : 23:33:41
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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.
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"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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Edited by - Markustay on 01 Jul 2012 20:47:17 |
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Jorkens
Great Reader
Norway
2950 Posts |
Posted - 01 Jul 2012 : 07:21:48
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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. |
No Canon, more stories, more Realms. |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 01 Jul 2012 : 20:55:50
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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. |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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LordXenophon
Learned Scribe
USA
147 Posts |
Posted - 01 Jul 2012 : 21:04:36
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| 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. |
Disintegration is in the eye of the Beholder. |
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The Rearranged Realms
