The Dawn Of Ages - Quenched

[Kabanellas]

But then I’d have to mix a horse, a shield and a sword with every human village icon, cause all villages can make a bonus pair with a horsemen’s t.g. OR with a warrior’s t.g. And that would be complicating the icons big time.

And I think we’re fine right now:
Relations between icons are very perceptible - Elven cities are close to bow and arrows; Ork's camps are close to axes and spears; and Human villages are close to shields and horses.

[Evil DIMwit]

But then I’d have to mix a horse, a shield and a sword with every human village icon, cause all villages can make a bonus pair with a horsemen’s t.g. OR with a warrior’s t.g. And that would be complicating the icons big time.

And I think we’re fine right now:
Relations between icons are very perceptible - Elven cities are close to bow and arrows; Ork's camps are close to axes and spears; and Human villages are close to shields and horses.

I guess so. Still looks like kind of a mess. Hmm...

[Kabanellas]

posting V10 again so we won't lose focus on last changes:


V10 with glow

Click image to enlarge.

V10

Click image to enlarge.

[Evil DIMwit]

Either one works. The version without glow seems more parchment-y while the glowy version is more vivid.

And don't worry, PNGs work fine.

[el-presidente]

IF I hold 2 horses, but only one little city thing, do I still only get +2?

[Kabanellas]

IF I hold 2 horses, but only one little city thing, do I still only get +2?

yes, those bonus only work in pairs

[el-presidente]

OK, makes scence. There should be some larger bonuses, to make it more interesting, instead of just a lot of +1's.
Maybe something like, hold all human villages +3 or 4, and something similar for elven towns and Ork camps.

[AndrewB]

Without a glow for me, even then, the yellow is too bright...

[AndrewB]

OK, makes scence. There should be some larger bonuses, to make it more interesting, instead of just a lot of +1's.
Maybe something like, hold all human villages +3 or 4, and something similar for elven towns and Ork camps.

You will get +4 if you hold 2 human villages and 2 human training grounds. And +6 if you hold 3 human villages and 3 human training grounds.

So it is progressive, rather then be one huge chunk...

[porkenbeans]

From an artists point of view, I think that your "glow" version is the best. It really helps to separate the water from the land. If you would throw a very dark blue or black overlay on the land, it would also help in this respect. It would tone down the yellowness a bit. It would only need to be very low on the opacity level to achieve this. It is all about subtleness and variation that turn it from "flat" to "fat".
On a side note, Whereas most mapmakers do not appreciate my kibitzing on there projects, I am glad to see that you are not so insecure in this respect. Keep up with the open mind, and keep up the good work.
This map is progressing nicely, and it is my opinion that it is up to the level of the best at CC.

Also something to think about, Maybe you could do without the "the" in some of the names. IE; "the" skull peninsula, "the" sea of this and that. less clutter if you get my meaning.

[Kabanellas]

and again, thanks a lot Porkenbeans for all your input, you have been very, very helpful! :

you may be right concerning the 'the' - but it always seems to me that in maps of this genre the 'the' was often used... I could take it from Skull Peninsula, but 'The Sea of Akhenat' seems to give a more epic edge to the map.
Well, probably, its just me. And of course, English is not my mother language so I may be getting wrong those details.

[Evil DIMwit]

A quick check to my copy of LotR reveals... no bodies of water labeled at all.

Okay, a quick Google Image Search reveals: http://www.geocities.com/karenlpy_lotr/MiddleEarth.jpg
Hardly anything is labeled with 'The' here -- The Shire and a few very minor features.

[porkenbeans]

It is probably not that important, just thought that I would point out an option to de-clutter it if you wanted.
I think that you may want to consider working on the maps weakest features. In my opinion that would have to be the "symbols". Some are good, but some are not that evident what exactly they are supposed to be. You could even ask for fellow kibitzers like myself to post their own ideas for better ones. I am sure that you would get many entries, from those that would like to have a hand in making this map the best it can be.

[The Neon Peon]

A quick check to my copy of LotR reveals... no bodies of water labeled at all.

Except the Sea of Nurnen, I presume. Although I agree that it would add to the feel if the names of the seas were to be removed.

[Evil DIMwit]

A quick check to my copy of LotR reveals... no bodies of water labeled at all.

Except the Sea of Nurnen, I presume. Although I agree that it would add to the feel if the names of the seas were to be removed.

Yes, quite a few internal river and seas including Nurnen and Rhûn, but no outside bodies of water are labeled.

As for this map, if you do keep the sea labels you may want to make them hug the coast less to convey the feel of labeling the whole sea. I presume the Sea of Telal refers to the water east of the Lost Island and the Sea of Akhenat is the water south of it?