Official ICE Forums
Systems & Settings => Shadow World => Topic started by: vroomfogle on February 28, 2008, 04:22:37 PM
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Over a year ago I bought Campaign Cartographer 3 and a drawing tablet and started on a rather lofty project. Unfortunately it got pushed to the side before I could complete much but I had managed to complete a base Emer file.
My idea here is to put any existing geographical info on Shadow World into CC maps. There would be the underlying land layer with additional layers for cities, kingdoms, populations, essence flows, feature names, etc. All the various maps from the source books would be recreated in Campaign Cartographer which could then be used to display the different types of information desired. Basically it's a Shadow World GIS.
So I decided to start with Emer, and the first thing obviously that's needed is to create the landform at a high level of detail. The main problem was that there didn't exist any high resolution single map of Emer so I had to make do with all the various pieces. I got the NE Emer map as a single file, as well as all the pieces from NW Emer. However for all of souther Emer all I had was the main Emer map with which we are all familiar with.
What I quickly found out was that the maps didn't exactly match up. In the second attachment below you see the main Emer map in the background with the high res NE Emer map overlayed. You can see the maps don't exactly match up, there is a significant rotation in the picture, as well as higher order differences (varies across the image). What I ended up doing was breaking up even the NE Emer picture into smaller images and then manually fit each one to the base Emer map. The same was true for NW Emer. You can see what I ended up with in the third attachment below.
Once I assembled that I began the process of tracing the coast to create the Emer you see below. You can download a high-res JPEG of it here:
http://www.vroomfogle.com/misc/maps/Emer_large.jpg
or the actual CC3 file here:
http://www.vroomfogle.com/misc/maps/Emer.fcw
While I don't have much time in the next few months to work on this I would like to get back to it. The first step I think is how to decide how the maps should look and create a style for them accordingly. As I'm still learning CC I think this will take the longest. Then, it's a matter of creating all the various layers of data starting with the obvious things such as rivers and mountains.
I'd be interested if someone could check the scale on my Emer map and also check the coastlines in the high res image...are there any mistakes you can find?
Anyone other SW fans out there have Campaign Cartographer?
[attachment deleted by admin]
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I do but I don't know how to use it well. I still generally go back to hand drawn - I'm pretty-good at those.
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Interesting :)
I don't know if I can help, really. I'll have a look at the scales.
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Idea point for you Vroom. It will be a fabolous tool.
Sorry but i don't know how to help...
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Excellent work. Being able to trace existing maps is probably a huge help.
I got really frustrated with CC3 after taking a few days just to make a greek field, brown path and sprinkle some trees around. Or maybe I maybe I am too much a perfectionist for such things.
I have recently been trying to deconstruct some of Defendi's EoH smaller scale maps to see how he did it so I can be efficient in the size of map I chose. I am not brave enough to do the same thing with the Belkanath world map that abviously took many hours to do.
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Veeery promising - I really hope you find the time and help ;)
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I'm a new Shadow World fan that have just started of a campaign in Shadow World in Verya on the continent of Kelestia.
I just got started on an "unofficial" map of that region with CC3 since I couldn't find any official material for that continent except of what is found in the Master Atlas.
Don't know how much help I can be since I'm a new CC3 user and still learning the program. Only got the basics so far but discovers new functions every day. But I'll gladly help in the capacity I can.
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I'm a new Shadow World fan that have just started of a campaign in Shadow World in Verya on the continent of Kelestia.
I just got started on an "unofficial" map of that region with CC3 since I couldn't find any official material for that continent except of what is found in the Master Atlas.
Don't know how much help I can be since I'm a new CC3 user and still learning the program. Only got the basics so far but discovers new functions every day. But I'll gladly help in the capacity I can.
We are always interested in new material ;)
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We are always interested in new material ;)
I'll see what I can do, so far I have only mapped a very small part of Verya but more is planned as the campaign progresses. Might even throw in some adventure ideas I have used and are planning to use for my campaign. I'll see when it's done if I can upload it or hand it over to Terry or Vroom to do with as they please. But can't promise at what time I'll be done since it's still work in progress and the campaign has just started. But as the campaign progresses I'll add new material.
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Ahh well never thought the day would come. I am done with a basic unoffial CC3 map of Verya containing most settlements and larger terrain features. Now I just need a place to put it and was wondering if anyone are willing to put it up on their space for others to enjoy and give me feedback. Including a basic excelsheet containing the demographics information for Verya.
I'm almost done with a simple adventure outline in three parts with a couple of belonging DD/CD maps but it still needs some work so date on those are still unknown.
So anyone interested?
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What/where is Verya ?
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Yes. It's on the southern part of Kelestia.
You can find the notes on the region in SWMA4. on page 101. Basicly a heavily forested region with a Y'nari and Erlini population.
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I'll host it, I've just got to spend some time carving out an Atlas section on the website. E-mail it to me at vroomfogle at vroomfogle.com
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Will do!
I'll gather the map and info together in a zip and send it and add a word document explaining the Demographics data and some other stuff.
Feel free to examine it and give feedback or even change things ye don't like.
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Hey, Vroom! Any word on how the Mapping Project is proceeding?
BTW...I think the Emer Continental Map on the back cover of "Emer 2" would be a good place to start.
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It hasn't progressed at all. Too many projects right now, and I need to make some time to actually play!
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It hasn't progressed at all. Too many projects right now, and I need to make some time to actually play!
Sorry to hear that, but I know how it is. I wish you might consider restarting the project. I love CC and it would be super to have some of the Shadow World maps!
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I would actually throw abit money after this.. maybe make it a fond raiser :D
Just to get a small amount of money for the effort!
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I would actually throw abit money after this.. maybe make it a fond raiser :D
Just to get a small amount of money for the effort!
Agreed! I would do it too! You could get IC to sell it and maybe make a little beer money...
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http://www.pocketplane.net/volothamp/images/faerunlarge.jpg
Like this map!
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I really gotta bump this thread!
Because... I love good maps!
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Whatever became of this?
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bump :)
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what type of map do we really want ?
1- i want a world map something this:
http://maps.stamen.com/terrain/#11/48.2699/16.3168 (http://maps.stamen.com/terrain/#11/48.2699/16.3168)
2- i like some artistically maps like this: http://www.nbos.com/products/fractal-mapper/screen-shots (http://www.nbos.com/products/fractal-mapper/screen-shots)
or better like this: https://secure.profantasy.com/products/cc3-plus.asp (https://secure.profantasy.com/products/cc3-plus.asp)
3- for overland travel i still do prefer this: http://www.hexographer.com/samples/qbarra_hexmap.png (http://www.hexographer.com/samples/qbarra_hexmap.png)
4- for encounters i prefer this: https://rpgcharacters.wordpress.com/2018/03/29/release-the-kraken-on-the-sunken-maw/ (https://rpgcharacters.wordpress.com/2018/03/29/release-the-kraken-on-the-sunken-maw/)
what do you prefer?
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I can't see this happening as an in-house project due to the scope of the project. However, I can certainly see it as a viable kickstarter with a budget of $5,000 to $10,000 on the low side?
I would recommend someone like Robert (http://www.fantasy-map.net/index.php)
He did this map for me for "Priest King of Shade". http://www.ironcrown.com/ICEforums/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=17853.0;attach=3878
That level of tactical map done for the entire hemisphere with some added detail for major roads and cities would be an incredible resource for SW. If the Kickstarter proved successful new features could be added. I got a map of Eidolon printed on canvas from Terry that's fantastic that could be great bonus feature for people who pledge larger amounts.
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I use NBOS's Fractal Mapper 8 (and their other software) for all of my mapping needs. You can download tons of raster map symbols created by the Vintyri project & even use their Tutorial Guide to create amazing looking maps. See the "Battlemap Example" on Terefang's second link. The maps & layouts of the Vintyri project are (IMHO) the best looking maps I've seen in any game and I love that they freely share their symbols, textures & mapping techniques with everybody. If SW went with Vintyri style maps & layouts, wow - that would be awesome!
Nightblade ->--