(no subject)

[clarentine]

Anyone else feel obligated by a particular story to craft maps?

So much of what I work with is on the visual level, and for Break I'm working in a setting that has hills and mountains and canyons and rivers that are all pertinent to the story. I started developing topo maps as a defense against failed blocking. Below is a basic topo map for the city of Avendon, including the Nye River and the rough locations of city walls.



What level of mapping do you use? Do you draw your own, or do you have a program do it for you? Or do you just steal a real place's topography and use that, as I did with Cavalier Attitude?

Comments

[dedbutdrmng.livejournal.com]

I have a map I use for stuff. I drew it myself. It's enthusiastic. That's probably the best that can be said about it.

[clarentine]

Heh. As long as it suffices for your needs, it's all good.

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

I've never done topographical, but I may need to with my trilogy because one of the locations is very mountainous and full of rivers, passes, etc. and those features will play into the story.

In the past, I've used two techniques for my map making: Hand-drawn, and from scratch on the pc using Photoshop. Usually of continents and their relation to vital islands. I show forests, mountain ranges, major roads, major rivers and lakes, major cities, and country borders...

I have yet to make city or palace maps or house plans, but I need to with this trilogy. Lots of detail to get lost in the swamps of my mind. Better to have them all laid out in ink or pixels.

[clarentine]

I've done the house plan thing, too. I need to be able to see the building in my head!