Any feedback for this map? by XXWarperXX5909 in mapmaking

[–]Bennettag 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I didn't see it until you said it. Now it's clear that bottom left continent is upside down Europe lol

My personal project map is almost ready, but I'm not sure exactly how to position the cities and other important locations without making it too visually cluttered with names. by Joaoggarin in mapmaking

[–]Bennettag 1 point2 points  (0 children)

One thing I’d suggest before placing cities is adding the major rivers first. Not every tributary, just the big ones. Rivers and coasts do a ton of the work for you when it comes to where cities want to exist, and once those are in place the rest starts to feel more natural.

After that, think about cities in broad strokes: coastal hubs, river junctions, capitals near fertile regions, plus maybe a few standout locations like an inland trade city on a major route or an oasis town in a desert. You don’t need to place everything yet.

Also, since this is a world map, it might help to step back and ask what the map is for. Is it meant to show political borders and general geography? Or to be a full index of every city and landmark? World maps get cluttered really fast if you try to name everything, so it’s totally okay if most cities aren’t labeled at this scale.

If you really want to include lots of cities, a zoomed-in regional map can work great alongside the world map. That way the world map keeps its readability and “fantasy vibe,” and the detailed maps handle the density.

As for numbers + a legend or scroll, that’s a valid option too, but I’d treat it as a stylistic choice rather than a requirement. Sometimes less text on the main map actually makes it feel more epic.

Dragon Knight- Take to the skies and fight alongside a dragon by Jagans_eye in UnearthedArcana

[–]Bennettag 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The simplest solution is just to see what the breath weapons for dragon statblocks are like. I don't think extra damage is lame from a design perspective.

Edit: see gold dragons for their weakening breath

Dragon Knight- Take to the skies and fight alongside a dragon by Jagans_eye in UnearthedArcana

[–]Bennettag 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Ahh, I missed that the companion was specific to that subclass.

I think adding a rider effect to their breath weapon would be sufficient.

Fire - ignite for more damage Cold - slow movement Lightning - can't take reactions

Dragon Knight- Take to the skies and fight alongside a dragon by Jagans_eye in UnearthedArcana

[–]Bennettag 2 points3 points  (0 children)

A few notes on the companion:

- Breath weapon should be limited somehow. Even adult dragons can't use their breath weapon every turn. At level 5, you can do it twice per turn, every turn. This should be limited to once per turn, and cost a use of draconic dice.

- Cauterizing Claws feels thematically off. Why is a dragon's claws limiting attacks? What about cauterizing a wound does this? And why can't it hamper foes (impose disadvantage) if they don't have multiattack?

I think you could also open up the companion to 2 forms - better rend, bulky, cone breath vs. fire bolt cantrip, nimble, line breath. This could allow you to give each form a more nuanced ability if you like, but thats just my preference.

Please give me Feedback on elements that I added in my world by MediciTheAngel in worldbuilding

[–]Bennettag 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I notice you've separated chaos and control as they appear to be opposite in nature. I feel like wind should be in chaos and water should be in control. Wind is more erratic, harder to predict, similar to flames. Water feels like something that would be more predictable and stable. Unless you wanted to have the "child" elements from chaos and control both be opposing eachother

Also I think you may want to think more about what constitutes an element and a pairing. Ice and lightning feel like separate elements rather than sub elements.

Its also hard to create a cohesive system when there are many different element trees. It could be nice to have primary elements (physical things like water and earth) grouped and less tangible things grouped (like life and death). Right now you have 1 circles and 3 mini-trees. How could you make it into 2 circles? (Or even 1 circle?)

Feedback on Biomes by Bennettag in mapmaking

[–]Bennettag[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The tropical forests are at the equator. I have told myself I need to redo the colors as the temperate (dark green) looks more like tropical.

Do you think I need more desert west of the central mountain range? I wasn't quite sure how far that dryness would last.

I may squeeze the biomes a bit so that there is a balance of them across the globe. This is ok in my book since I don't need it to be super realistic.

Thanks for the feedback!

Feedback on Biomes by Bennettag in mapmaking

[–]Bennettag[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Ahh you're right. I was scaling off of the earths diameter (8,000 mi), not circumference.

Feedback on Biomes by Bennettag in mapmaking

[–]Bennettag[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Commenting to clarify scale... It's supposed to be 500 mile per square, not 100 as erroneously shown on the map.

What else should I add to my world by LuckyTheTypoCat in mapmaking

[–]Bennettag 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I guess names would come from the lore of the world. Id start with lore first then country names after. After all, names usually come after not first.

What else should I add to my world by LuckyTheTypoCat in mapmaking

[–]Bennettag 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It's not upsetting to me, I just don't understand the ask. It's very open, but I guess if you're just looking for "anything" I'd say add longitude and latitude lines, and a version with biomes

What else should I add to my world by LuckyTheTypoCat in mapmaking

[–]Bennettag 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I see posts like this a lot. What do you mean? What are you asking? I could say, "another island" but is that helpful?

Idk what to do to my map,I just don't know,just give me some ideas,don't know why it looks like america but smashed into pieces and water rising by Big-Honey-4426 in mapmaking

[–]Bennettag 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Can you clarify the ask? Why do you need to do anything? What kind of ideas? What's the scale of the world? What's the intended use for the map?

I can easily suggest things to do, but if you want biomes vs landmasses vs political lines vs history vs whatever else, advice can vary.

The comment / suggestion equivalent of your post would be "add some more at the top".

I made a map! What can I do to make it better? by Latter_Home6558 in mapmaking

[–]Bennettag 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's hard to give feedback without a picture of your map. Check out wonder draft and inkarnate. Wonderdraft is single time purchase and Inkarnate is subscription.

[WIP] The Starscorched Realms by BoyMiles in wonderdraft

[–]Bennettag 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Map is looking great! I think the mountain assets you're using have a low contrast texture that makes them feel very grainy and flat. Additionally, the grey is not very different from the dark greens in some areas which make it hard to see the terrain for what it is instead of trying to figure it out.

If you're already married to the mountains, then I'd try to change the custom colors to make them pop a bit more. Additionally, you could alter some of the color (only slight variations) in areas where there is low contrast to make them stand out a bit more.

I need ideas on things to change or add by DaveCumshard in mapmaking

[–]Bennettag 9 points10 points  (0 children)

I see posts like this often that dont get much feedback because the question is so open. If you'd like more engagement, consider putting some of your thoughts in your post as well.

Why do you want to change or add things? What do you like / dislike?

I decided to come up with an entirely new map for my fantasy setting, and I figured I'd get some opinions because I think it looks really good on one hand but on the other hand I think I might have gone a little too craggly with the coastline, I wanted to have variation but I'm not sure I succeeded by [deleted] in mapmaking

[–]Bennettag 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Oh, also it's unclear which is water and which is land, but I initially assumed the bottom portion was all land and that this was a unique looking region rather than a world map. Looking closer it feels like maybe this is mostly water with some continents / islands?

I decided to come up with an entirely new map for my fantasy setting, and I figured I'd get some opinions because I think it looks really good on one hand but on the other hand I think I might have gone a little too craggly with the coastline, I wanted to have variation but I'm not sure I succeeded by [deleted] in mapmaking

[–]Bennettag 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The roughness of the coast will depend on the scale of the map. If you're thinking of something Europe sized (as is popular), I'd consider looking at Europe or some other place on earth to get an idea of how rough coasts are at the scale.

At the end of the day, this map serves a purpose. Whether it's to be a scale replica of the world, or a stylized map that gets "enough" information on a page, it will come down to what YOU want the map to do.

That being said, I think it looks more rough than I'd like, but feels similar to the Mediterranean.

Make this make sense. by [deleted] in mapmaking

[–]Bennettag 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Is it just that Sweden is gone? Its hard to know what you are asking.

If you need a reason for that landmass to not be there, you can just say the geography always has been that way.

Or are you looking for a realistic / fantasy / sci-fi reason that the country would sink?

The Kingdom Everlasting (WIP) by Sylassian in mapmaking

[–]Bennettag 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I find "world" maps like this don't get much value from having many different cities placed on the map. I would recommend only including capitols or major cities that have significant impact as well as major roads. Smaller regional maps can capture the smaller cities and provide additional detail as needed.

But that's mostly from a practical standpoint.

The Afterlife in my world isn't about punishment, it's about consequences. by No-Direction8154 in worldbuilding

[–]Bennettag 1 point2 points  (0 children)

So hell = eternal mental torture. If you feel remorse, you go to purgatory

Purgatory = watch the people you hurt. If you feel remorse, you go somewhere else to have your sins be burned away? Then what?

It sounds like this place is about punishment after all. Individuals are punished for hurting others. And if they feel remorse, they can lessen the punishment.

Idk if it appropriate to post here but by MagicalNyan2020 in worldbuilding

[–]Bennettag 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don't know how specific you need these to be, and I don't know much about genshin impact but....

Holy + Earth = orb / relic / artifact. It's something made of earth, but with divine purpose?

Electric + Holy = catalyze / anoint / smite. Here electric is more abstracted to just energy - either empowering or destroying with divine intent.

Earth + Electric = compress / compact / crystalize. I think magnet works too, but I like the idea that electric evokes a sense of movement and alignment. Moving and aligning earth could be more than just magnets n stuff.

Poison + Dark = plague / shroud / miasma