Developing a Fantasy Map
How to Make a Fantasy Map
Map-making is an endeavor that spans history. While many may wonder how we ever got along without GPS, maps have been the historical mainstay for location and directions. In order to create a good map it takes someone who excels at mathematics, and an artist that can adequately express the geography of a given area. Therefore, it is sufficient to say that a good map is both mathematically precise as well as artistically clear in its imaging.
Fantasy Maps in Books and Games
This rule of map-making also applies in a big, big way to fantasy maps. These are the kind of maps that you see in fantasy novels or tabletop role-playing games. The best fantasy novels create a world that is engaging and real, and part of how this world is real is though the fantasy map present in the opening cover and pages.
The same rule applies to a good RPG. The game master has to create a world that the players will believe in. Therefore, it follows that they will also need to create a fantasy map that puts the players in that world. While many RPG game books come with maps, there is something special about making your own.
The Early Fantasy Map Stages
As with most creative projects like this, the first stage is doodling. Simply grab a basic piece of paper and start brain storming ideas by drawing some rough looking maps. These sketches do not need to be mathematically precise or mathematical at all, for that matter. Think of these early sketches as free writing when composing fiction. These sketches are meant to excite your brain and give you ideas.
Start researching by looking at other fantasy maps, and even maps that detail the real world. These are going to give you the structure you need in order to make a genuine looking map. Remember, the fantasy map needs to be a believable one in order to put the readers or gamers into the world you have created.
Fantasy Map Oceans and Nations
Once you have a sketch centered in on, and after you have done some solid research on other fantasy maps and real life maps, then you can set out to start your fantasy map in earnest. The first thing to do is to start with the oceans, and then work your way into the countries, cities, towns, villages and the wilderness.
One thing that is effective when creating ocean names and expanses is to make them familiar to the reader or gamer. A clever way to do this is by using some of the same letters in the ocean names that are is real life maps. This should be subtle, though. The idea is to have the reader and gamer relate to the world via the map, but in a way that they do not quite realize.
When designing the countries, cities, towns and villages, try thinking about who populates them, what they are like, who their leaders are and who their enemies are. With enough imagination you will start seeing grand battles sweeping along the lands that your map portrays and villages burning and strange monsters lurking deep within the wilderness.
Be Consistent with Your Fantasy Map
It is important to stick to a map style when creating yours. Try to avoid meshing two different worlds into one map. Remember, the point is to draw in the participants, not confuse them. Some fantasy worlds are layers running vertical, while others are a global layout. Whichever world you are choosing to portray, stick to your theme and design, and the players and gamers will sit in rapt curiosity about what sort of world awaits them behind the lines of your fantasy map.
Overcome Your Lack of Artistic Talent
You should certainly start your map as a sketch, and sometimes you can leave it at that and be happy with the results. However, not everyone is an artist, despite their best intentions. If you’re one of those people, then you should know that help is available!
Campaign Cartographer 3 is a robust mapping software designed specifically for making fantasy maps. This CAD-based program comes complete with multiple art styles and the functionality to make several map types – world, overland, cities and dungeons. So if you’re struggling to make your map look artistically pleasing, check out this CC3 review.