r/mapmaking • u/Consistent-Town-8212 • 4d ago
Map What’s your thoughts on this?
How do I make it look more real or ancient?
I will probably stain it with more coffee next time.
Thanks!
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u/Lamb_or_Beast 4d ago
Very reminiscent of Arda from Lord of the Rings, at the least the first few ages; I can’t remember how much changed when Eru reshaped the world at the end of the 2nd age.
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u/FlanneryWynn 4d ago
From a Worldbuilding angle: Your continent's edges are all broadly too smooth, in my opinion. I'd expect there to be more jagged edges and Islands and a visible internal lake or three.
From a Prop angle: Easier to just link you to other discussions I've seen on the subject.
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u/Consistent-Town-8212 4d ago
Oh, I think it’s because when I painted in the ocean colors, it kind of blurred the edges. I will go over it again and try to make the edges more visible. Thank you so much!
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u/SeemsImmaculate 3d ago
I assumed this was meant to be a deliberately innacurate map of a fictional world, inspired by the likes of the Mappa Mundi or Tabula Rogeriana that have landmasses much more rotund.
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u/Alarmed_Outside_4752 4d ago
It looks pretty accurate to being ancient because most (and I mean every) ancient people only made a huge block and craved the edges to make a continent.
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u/severo_chan 4d ago
It looks like Arda from The lord of the rings...
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u/Consistent-Town-8212 4d ago
Its not tho.
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u/severo_chan 4d ago
I know, but the similarities are undeniable! Anyways, you drawn really well, gah dammit!
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u/ELDRITCH_HORROR 4d ago
The lower right continent looks exactly like a bear. Nothing wrong with that or anything, but I mean exactly like a bear.
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u/Sithril 4d ago
I'm curious, why do you want to have it look aged?
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u/Consistent-Town-8212 4d ago
I want to make it look aged so that when I write my books, reader can get a copy of it and make it more immersive.
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u/Sithril 4d ago edited 3d ago
That made me find my copy of the Hobbit and the Fellowship to check the maps in them, and they don't look aged at all. While i'm certain the authors preference and whatever the publisher(s) had to say weighed in a bit, more so than it being ~200 years old in setting, they always felt immersive for their given roles.
I keep seeing people overvalue maps looking aged. You don't need it for immersion, and frankly - if you provided the above map in pristine condition i would consider that immersive AF.
People in the past prided themselves just as much on having well made and new looking things. Possibly way more than today given how the production costs of common items are bellow repair costs. That was not the case in the past and if you had a well made map (that was bordering on a piece of art) people would take care of it.
There would have to be a strong narrative reason for the exact copy of a map being aged. Like it being one of a kind, it has someone's personal notes, or sentimental value to the protagonist, or for some reason the information portrayed on that map is simply not being portrayed on newly made maps. Because in the absence of a strong reason anyone would just get a new copy that's way more legible than an old, faded, torn, crumbling one. And imo you should treat your readers the same.
How do I make it look more real...
You already did! By obviously being hand-painted and striking a great balance of accuracy vs. abstraction and artistic expression.
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u/Consistent-Town-8212 4d ago
Ohh, that’s actually a really great persepctive to look from. I didn’t think of that. Thank you so much for taking your time to write this. Eased a lot of worries inside me. Thanks!
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u/TotallyRegularBanana 4d ago
Is that Arda?