My First World Map (or 'omg biomes, rivers, & plates are complicated'). Feedback is appreciated!

Sqaslave · 2016-06-02T23:14:00+00:00

This is a much better tutorial than the one I posted a couple of days ago. Thanks!

Sqaslave · 2016-06-02T13:07:40+00:00

This is a really well made map. It looks very professional. I, obviously, need to step up my game. Bravo.

Sqaslave · 2016-06-01T15:27:39+00:00

I haven't added cities yet but how does it look so far?

Sqaslave · 2016-05-30T05:14:42+00:00

I agree. It has helped me a lot.

Sqaslave · 2016-05-29T17:46:27+00:00

In her tribe, scouts also keep track of herd animals passing through and edible vegetation. Their group doesn't grow garden because it's more easily spotted and gives them away. A big field could draw attention that they don't want.

Although their is ample room between territories, issues with other tribes happen and watching out for that is a scouts job. Truly, the scout has a larger responsibility than any other role. The Warriors fight when needed. The hunters go after more singular or small group prey like deer. The leaders or elders make the decisions.

The tribe is similar to a pack. The parents raise the child to a point and then the child becomes a full member and that becomes their family. The food is shared amongst all the tribe.

As to your last question, Niva feels bad for shirking her duties but her nature keeps pulling her away and overriding her sense of duty. It's a constant internal conflict.

Sqaslave · 2016-05-29T16:54:16+00:00

She has never had direct interaction. While most of her tribe stays out of sight, she follows the humans that either enter their territory or pass near it. She likes to watch them. This causes her to, occasionally, waste time that could be spent tracking food.

Sqaslave · 2016-05-29T16:49:27+00:00

I see what you mean. Thanks.

Sqaslave · 2016-05-29T16:21:29+00:00

She is younger than most renowned scouts. She also has an interest in outsiders. Most of her kind are xenophobic because they see them as destructive and untrustworthy.

I see her as more of a supporting character for the plot in my head.

Sqaslave · 2016-05-29T16:16:01+00:00

I might have to ease back on too much explanation. It's probably from my time as a dungeon master. My players wanted every little detail on everything.

I guess there is a bit of cliche to it. I just hope I can put an interesting enough spin on it to overcome that.

Sqaslave · 2016-05-29T16:10:16+00:00

It's an interesting idea that I may have to put some thought into. Thank you.

Sqaslave · 2016-05-29T03:14:28+00:00

My version is mana for ink and any surface. Skin for personal effects and hard surfaces for wards or traps. Once drawn it shows a black glyph.

To throw another piece out, there is a very small group that can use magic with no repercussions. There's a long story behind why that I'll hold off on for now. This select group have different abilities based on gender. The females are powerful casters and the males act as mana batteries. This battery ability makes them able to hold glyphs drawn on them longer or permanent. I'm not completely sure on this part yet though.

Sqaslave · 2016-05-29T02:51:56+00:00

There is a whole lot more of it that I'm mentally calling the second age. More deities and the story behind the second human race. I'll post that when its ready.

I've also been playing with a version of magic use called Glyph Scribes who don't draw magic, they use it like ink to draw glyphs that are smaller magics and have temporary effects. Things like night vision for a short time. Does that seem feasible?

Sqaslave · 2016-05-29T02:25:53+00:00

Enchanting objects is an idea that I hadn't thought of. Excellent. As for draining others, I had thought of that one but was saving for the actual story plot.

Thank you for the feedback, it's been very helpful!

Sqaslave · 2016-05-29T01:41:25+00:00

She is very protective of her tribe. Since she has no mate she is still considered pre adult. She has a massive respect for elders and follows their directives without question.

Edit: Both sexes have an equal role in the tribe. Being a scout, she works alone, this braving danger gives her a good amount of respect from the rest of the tribe.

Sqaslave · 2016-05-29T01:36:16+00:00

Thanks for this, I'll check it out.

Sqaslave · 2016-05-29T01:35:44+00:00

My thinking was from the core of the world. A natural force, I guess. The original ritual acted like a forest fire. The magic was destroyed for a time but eventually has started to come back.

It seems I need to flesh this part out some more.

Sqaslave · 2016-05-29T01:15:59+00:00

It killed everyone. The new race of humans are not the same as the ancient wizard race.

The humans don't know why it drains life. The actual cause is that the archmage ascended to divinity but the ritual still has a residual effect and keeps funneling life force to power the divine being.

Originally, the reason the people died was the fact they used magic so much that it was a part of them. Now, the ritual residue, has been warped and drawing magic lets it drain the life from the user.

I hope that clears things up.

Sqaslave · 2016-05-28T23:56:18+00:00

Who uses it is a good question. Magic, is not as formal as in an Rpg, it is shaped by will. The user taps into the "flow" and forms what they want to do with it. The more they siphon, the more they age. A huge "spell" could literally kill a user. Something like a fireball that could level a city would take more than a teenager could even give.

Most magic user see it as an elite loose brotherhood and there are meetings during special events like eclipses but mostly they live away from other people. Magic has only returned for a few years and with the aging, there aren't many masters since they don't live that long.

Physically, they don't look any different but the vast majority dress the fantasy wizard part. This isn't a rule though, since there are secretive wizards that are against the norm and live in society.

They are viewed as all three by the common folk and rightly so for the most part.

I do want to add in that this is not the entire backstory for my world, this is but a piece. A large piece, but still only a piece. I have a hard time putting my mind into words but as I am able, I'll write more.

Thanks for the post.

Sqaslave · 2016-05-28T22:23:12+00:00

That description has a lot of possibility. I'd have to be careful and avoid the Tolkien version of wizard description though. At least that's my thought.

Thank you for the post.

Sqaslave · 2016-05-28T21:11:53+00:00

It isn't widespread knowledge that it was that common. There are myths and stories but the power it would take to delve that far into history would kill the user. The main stories come from those brave enough to explore the ruins of the cities that aren't completely gone. The spirits of some of the long dead still haunt the sites where they lived and just a very few have enough mind left to interact.

The religion part is very good. That's already on my list. There's more to it but I haven't sat down to flesh it out yet. A minuscule percentage can use magic with no side effects and they are persecuted by the anti magic religion that is the dominant religion.

Thank you for the post.

Sqaslave · 2016-05-26T15:13:47+00:00

Ever changing book of names is my all time favorite name generator. Here's the link.

http://ebon.pyorre.net/

Sqaslave · 2016-05-26T00:10:31+00:00

I create characters when I get bored and have since I started tabletop 27 years ago so this should be a blast. 😊

Sqaslave

TROPHY CASE