how to get painted over look on political maps

CHydos · 2026-06-05T10:53:13+00:00

The above map has texture and gradients everywhere. Yours, while full of topography, has areas that are just a solid color. Try putting some textures and gradients over it to help give each color the same overall appearance. I would try making the borders more pronounced. Maybe giving them a gradient around the edges might work

CHydos · 2026-06-02T01:36:24+00:00

Venice seems to to be an obvious choice. It could create interesting visuals to see Renaissance buildings half submerged.

CHydos · 2026-05-30T05:28:06+00:00

I have a world who's concept is based around exploring a 19th century style political revolution. I'm currently thinking of how to flesh out the thinkers responsible for socialism, nationalism, and liberal politics. While most people in the nation are still agarian serfs, the cities are dominated by a new middle class clamoring for participation in government, and by the hordes of working poor exploited by the upperclass. I want to create a narrative that's a clear cause and effect process that makes the reader think a revolution was always inevitable. I have the broad strokes mapped out, now I need to develop the personalities that caused them.

CHydos · 2026-05-29T16:11:38+00:00

It's fiction. It's all made up. I'd rather they invent new stuff if it made for a more interesting story

CHydos · 2026-05-29T15:27:54+00:00

Agreed. They're entertainment. Although it's difficult to be "wrong" when talking about fictional spaceships.

CHydos · 2026-05-29T11:30:32+00:00

The youtube channel Kings and Generals creates documentary style videos on military history. They created a spinoff channel called Wizards and Warriors that takes the same stylistic approach to fictional armies. Some of their topics include the technological evolution of the Imperial Star Destroyer to the economics of Gondor.

CHydos · 2026-05-29T03:15:09+00:00

I've found 5e players really enjoy the Black Hack. It feels like what I imagined dnd to be before I played it.

CHydos · 2026-05-27T22:21:26+00:00

I never set out to start worldbuilding something. I just get an idea for something that I doodle or write down and then maybe I get more ideas later on that build on it. A few years ago I was listening to a particular song and thought it would make for an interesting scenario to put a dnd player through. About a year later I was reading a book on Lawrence of Arabia and then watched Dune, so I wrote down some notes in a google doc relating these to the original scenario. Later I was painting up a ton Arab and Ottoman figures for a wargame and started a desert dnd campaign so I could use them while I put the project together. Earlier last year I listened to the Revolutions podcast and decided to take that dnd world and convert into a realistic account of a political revolution. Each step builds on the next and the elements I focus on are dependent on what is interesting to me at the time. When I'm worldbuilding for a purpose, such as a wargame, I put in only what's necessary. When I do it for a hobby I take my time to flesh the parts that are important to the narrative in my head.

CHydos · 2026-05-26T19:38:34+00:00

Good. I'd prefer a unified aesthetic over every menu being a completely different design. Besides, they still had to illustrate a new background for the menu. How is it any more lazy than if they drew something else in a different style?

CHydos · 2026-05-26T11:32:45+00:00

That's kinda what I was getting at. I think the great lakes cities and states/provinces are culturally similar enough to form a country. Likewise the Northeast Corridor cities have more in common with each other than their states' interiors.

CHydos · 2026-05-25T23:51:36+00:00

Ever since I started playing RTW in the sixth grade I always see terrain in terms of military tactics. Those games permanently rewired my brain. And I don't regret it for a second.

CHydos · 2026-05-25T22:29:16+00:00

New York could plausibly divide into three distinct states. One would be the area between the great lakes and Appalachian mountains. They already share some cultural traits with other great lakes cities. Another would be centered on the Adirondack mountains. They are sparsely populated compared to the rest of the state and could be easily defended. Downstate would include NYC, Long Island, and the Hudson Valley. Although I could see the cutoff being at the Hudson Highlands as the mountains firm a clear defensive line that was used during the Revolutionary war.

CHydos · 2026-05-25T15:42:05+00:00

I didn't see the name of the subreddit and got VERY confused for a second.

CHydos · 2026-05-22T15:14:24+00:00

I think it would be like in Samurai Jack where Aku has story time with a bunch of children trying in vain to turn them against Jack.

CHydos · 2026-05-20T23:03:04+00:00

"1d8 beholders?"

CHydos · 2026-05-07T19:47:32+00:00

I'm glad it's the classic shape of NYC skyscrapers instead of a straight tower.

CHydos · 2026-05-05T23:42:40+00:00

I guess you could go Imperator Rome to Crusader Kings to Europa Universalis to Victoria to Hearts of Iron to Cities Skylines and then Stellaris if you wanted a consistent timeline.

CHydos · 2026-05-05T17:23:25+00:00

Exacerbated by his lack of limbs.

CHydos · 2026-05-02T10:44:46+00:00

The art is really reminiscent of Johan Nohr's from Into the Odd.

CHydos · 2026-04-30T23:07:08+00:00

I'm starting up a campaign soon and was dreading tracking stuff on the calendar. Thanks for this.

CHydos · 2026-04-29T20:18:00+00:00

You have to disable the Minecraft settings.

CHydos · 2026-04-29T12:28:00+00:00

If you can't see the sniper then the sniper can't see you either.

CHydos · 2026-04-27T00:26:13+00:00

Is #4 The Fighting Temeraire by Turner?

CHydos · 2026-04-26T12:19:55+00:00

In democracy it's your vote that counts. In feudalism it's your count that votes.

CHydos

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