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So, some bad news, guys... The GIS software I used in college apparently is not really useful for creating a map from nothing like we're trying to do. It's more for creating and representing data to be used in a pre-existing map. I’ve been working pretty much all day to figure something out in it, but nothing really works. So sorry about that.

I've also been trying to create maps in other programs – mostly GIMP. The only real progress I’ve made is to simply create a pseudo-hexagonal grid that I then fill in one at a time to distinguish land from sea. It won't really look anything as good as I wanted since I'm only OK with GIMP, but it can get the job done of merely showing boundaries. So if that is an acceptable option, then I can continue down that route. Very similar to that is doing this: http://imgur.com/gallery/aVEIx/

But if anybody has a better option, we could try their idea. Also, really anybody can try to make a map using the above processes, so I’d completely understand if we had other people (who are more experienced in GIMP or have a specific idea of what they want it to look like) try to do it. I’m not trying to shirk my duties and I’d be glad to make maps still, I’d just understand since I’m not really able to bring to the table anything close to what I had originally thought.

I'll be back on in the morning.

This is unfortunate, but there's nothing you can really do about it, so no worries.

I have seen a bunch of map-making things on the net, but I didn't understand what the hell half of it meant. Perhaps you'd have luck with one of those?

So, some bad news, guys... The GIS software I used in college apparently is not really useful for creating a map from nothing like we're trying to do. It's more for creating and representing data to be used in a pre-existing map. I’ve been working pretty much all day to figure something out in it, but nothing really works. So sorry about that.

I've also been trying to create maps in other programs – mostly GIMP. The only real progress I’ve made is to simply create a pseudo-hexagonal grid that I then fill in one at a time to distinguish land from sea. It won't really look anything as good as I wanted since I'm only OK with GIMP, but it can get the job done of merely showing boundaries. So if that is an acceptable option, then I can continue down that route. Very similar to that is doing this: http://imgur.com/gallery/aVEIx/

But if anybody has a better option, we could try their idea. Also, really anybody can try to make a map using the above processes, so I’d completely understand if we had other people (who are more experienced in GIMP or have a specific idea of what they want it to look like) try to do it. I’m not trying to shirk my duties and I’d be glad to make maps still, I’d just understand since I’m not really able to bring to the table anything close to what I had originally thought.

I'll be back on in the morning.

I am pretty experienced with Paint.net (the image editor used in the imgur you posted), so I could give it a shot. I'm not sure how it would turn out though...

Edit: It may take a few days because I don't really have time on my hands.

This is unfortunate, but there's nothing you can really do about it, so no worries.

I have seen a bunch of map-making things on the net, but I didn't understand what the hell half of it meant. Perhaps you'd have luck with one of those?

Thanks. I have a pretty good understanding of geography in general, I just don't really have the tools I wanted to making a map from scratch. Could I have an example map-making thing from the net?

I am pretty experienced with Paint.net (the image editor used in the imgur you posted), so I could give it a shot. I'm not sure how it would turn out though...

Edit: It may take a few days because I don't really have time on my hands.

It couldn't hurt.

http://www.wherethemapends.com/writerstools/writers_tools_pages/world_builders.htm

Unfortunately, these cost money.

I previously saw some random map generators, but a cursory google search didn't turn them up this time. I'll keep looking and update this post.

Here's one:

http://donjon.bin.sh/

http://www.wherethemapends.com/writerstools/writers_tools_pages/world_builders.htm

Unfortunately, these cost money.

I previously saw some random map generators, but a cursory google search didn't turn them up this time. I'll keep looking and update this post.

Damn, those look pretty good, though.

Here's one:

http://donjon.bin.sh/

I've been looking for that one, thanks! The only problem is that you can't alter the maps, you just have to change the stats and keep clicking the generate map button until you find the right one. I'll keep trying, though.

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I've also been messing around with Civ V WorldBuilder, and that could potentially work.

Hey, everybody. I was able to create a bunch of maps using a map generator: http://donjon.bin.sh/world/ (thanks again to taulover). I created more than I'd like to admit, but I narrowed it down to six that at least somewhat fit the descriptions:

• Laurentus gets his own continent with an island or two near the equator (I situated each map so that this is on the right side to make it easier to compare)
• plenty of mountains for Commander Zemas
• enough land for the rest of us to fit on another larger continent or two
• scattered islands and archipelagos

Remember that I am able to change of each map the sea level and the amount of ice at the poles and can flip the maps horizontally and vertically, so just look at the shapes/sizes/locations of the land masses for now. We can also say that one pole is just ice (like Earth's north pole) and the other is the snowy diplomatic land created by Weissreich (somewhat similar to Antarctica).

So if anybody has any input on which of these work better or worse (or if none work -- whether because they just aren't right enough or you don't really like the site used), that'd be appreciated. Also, in case you didn't know, the colors indicate elevation: the white and red mean high (mountainous) and the green low.

Map 1

Map 2

Map 3

Map 4

Map 5

Map 6

The next steps would be to choose the best map, decide if the sea level/polar ice is good and flip the map to the best way, then finally create a layer over it to carve out our nations with borders.

Looks good to me. Could you perhaps add details like the hemispheres?

I forgot to note that Science needs to be heavily islands-based, with potentially a smaller continent as well. Though your maps satisfy this as well.

Looks good to me. Could you perhaps add details like the hemispheres?

Yeah, I could definitely add other details -- we would just need to decide which map we're using first. Also we'd need to decide where the prime meridian is since it's really just an arbitrary line.

I forgot to note that Science needs to be heavily islands-based, with potentially a smaller continent as well. Though your maps satisfy this as well.

OK, that's useful because it helps narrow it down. We'll have to choose the map everyone likes the most, so any specific features helps make the choice for us. Fortunately, that feature is pretty common in every map.
Map 1: there are lots of islands all over to choose from.
Map 2: plenty of islands in the upper parts, especially near Laurentus' continent.
Map 3: there are a few larger islands on the left. (Note: I'm not using "west" and "north" since the map may be flipped.)
Map 4: islands on the right side near Laurentus.
Map 5: that archipelago in the upper area.
Map 6: there are several larger islands throughout.
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Any input from you guys which maps would be better or worse for you? I can work with whatever, since mine will be a relatively small nation, preferably near mountains and on a coast, which you can see is pretty much anywhere on any of the maps. If people can even agree that one doesn't really work for anybody very much, then we can eliminate it and that just narrows the decision.

Thanks! My personal opinions on each:

1. Probably my least favorite out of the options. It has plenty of space for claims, but it feels like there's too much going on. Also, there's a couple of maps here that have continents near the poles that look really stretched out and distorted. This is an example of that.

2.  Looks... off to me, but I'm pretty sure that's just because I'm used to seeing maps with more stuff in the northern hemisphere. I don't mind it, though. Two of those continents resemble a vertically flipped Eurasia and North America, IMO. Overall, not a bad map; looks somewhat stretched near the poles again, but I like the continents/island chains on the left and right a lot.

3. I like this one a lot. It has a defined central area (the large continent up north), an easy spot for Laurentus, no distorted poles, some neat remote islands to choose from, and it doesn't look cluttered. The only potential issue I see is that I'm not sure there will be enough islands for taulover.

4. Those distorted continents really annoy me, they're really just a pet peeve of mine lmao. Other than that, I like this map a lot too - the north-south axis of the primary continents throws me off a bit, but, as with Map 2, I'm pretty sure that's just my Earthling sensibilities.

5. DISTORTED CONTINENTS *rips out my hair*. Not bad, but for once I feel there actually may not be enough on this map. It's not completely devoid of islands, but some more would be nice. There's also too much empty ocean imo.

6. My only issue is the continents abruptly stopping at the poles. It has enough islands, plenty of space to choose from, and that isthmus between the two continents looks like it could create some interesting RP opportunities.

Overall, 3, 4, and 6 are my favorites.

Thanks! My personal opinions on each:

1. Probably my least favorite out of the options. It has plenty of space for claims, but it feels like there's too much going on. Also, there's a couple of maps here that have continents near the poles that look really stretched out and distorted. This is an example of that.

2.  Looks... off to me, but I'm pretty sure that's just because I'm used to seeing maps with more stuff in the northern hemisphere. I don't mind it, though. Two of those continents resemble a vertically flipped Eurasia and North America, IMO. Overall, not a bad map; looks somewhat stretched near the poles again, but I like the continents/island chains on the left and right a lot.

3. I like this one a lot. It has a defined central area (the large continent up north), an easy spot for Laurentus, no distorted poles, some neat remote islands to choose from, and it doesn't look cluttered. The only potential issue I see is that I'm not sure there will be enough islands for taulover.

4. Those distorted continents really annoy me, they're really just a pet peeve of mine lmao. Other than that, I like this map a lot too - the north-south axis of the primary continents throws me off a bit, but, as with Map 2, I'm pretty sure that's just my Earthling sensibilities.

5. DISTORTED CONTINENTS *rips out my hair*. Not bad, but for once I feel there actually may not be enough on this map. It's not completely devoid of islands, but some more would be nice. There's also too much empty ocean imo.

6. My only issue is the continents abruptly stopping at the poles. It has enough islands, plenty of space to choose from, and that isthmus between the two continents looks like it could create some interesting RP opportunities.

Overall, 3, 4, and 6 are my favorites.

Well the beauty of that site is you can get different projections of the same map, that just happened to be the one I thought was best. But yeah since we'll just be using one map (not a 3D world we can look at), then I agree we should choose one that doesn't have as annoying distortions.

And yeah it's very difficult when something looks so different from Earth. Just seeing a map of Earth flipped upside down makes everything just feel wrong, so I get that. But on Map 1, if you raise the sea a little, then it makes it look a tiny bit less busy and cluttered, but that top strip is still very distorted. And on Map 2, if you turn your head or something to see it upside down (haha) it's not as bad, but it does still have the distortion all along that continent still. And for Map 4, we could try to photoshop that top little continent out if we want, too.

So. Seeing as how you'll be the "dungeon master" of the Wintreath Union rp and nobody else has an opinion yet, is it safe to assume that we can eliminate maps 1, 2, and 5?

Thanks! My personal opinions on each:

1. Probably my least favorite out of the options. It has plenty of space for claims, but it feels like there's too much going on. Also, there's a couple of maps here that have continents near the poles that look really stretched out and distorted. This is an example of that.

2.  Looks... off to me, but I'm pretty sure that's just because I'm used to seeing maps with more stuff in the northern hemisphere. I don't mind it, though. Two of those continents resemble a vertically flipped Eurasia and North America, IMO. Overall, not a bad map; looks somewhat stretched near the poles again, but I like the continents/island chains on the left and right a lot.

3. I like this one a lot. It has a defined central area (the large continent up north), an easy spot for Laurentus, no distorted poles, some neat remote islands to choose from, and it doesn't look cluttered. The only potential issue I see is that I'm not sure there will be enough islands for taulover.

4. Those distorted continents really annoy me, they're really just a pet peeve of mine lmao. Other than that, I like this map a lot too - the north-south axis of the primary continents throws me off a bit, but, as with Map 2, I'm pretty sure that's just my Earthling sensibilities.

5. DISTORTED CONTINENTS *rips out my hair*. Not bad, but for once I feel there actually may not be enough on this map. It's not completely devoid of islands, but some more would be nice. There's also too much empty ocean imo.

6. My only issue is the continents abruptly stopping at the poles. It has enough islands, plenty of space to choose from, and that isthmus between the two continents looks like it could create some interesting RP opportunities.

Overall, 3, 4, and 6 are my favorites.

Well the beauty of that site is you can get different projections of the same map, that just happened to be the one I thought was best. But yeah since we'll just be using one map (not a 3D world we can look at), then I agree we should choose one that doesn't have as annoying distortions.

And yeah it's very difficult when something looks so different from Earth. Just seeing a map of Earth flipped upside down makes everything just feel wrong, so I get that. But on Map 1, if you raise the sea a little, then it makes it look a tiny bit less busy and cluttered, but that top strip is still very distorted. And on Map 2, if you turn your head or something to see it upside down (haha) it's not as bad, but it does still have the distortion all along that continent still. And for Map 4, we could try to photoshop that top little continent out if we want, too.

So. Seeing as how you'll be the "dungeon master" of the Wintreath Union rp and nobody else has an opinion yet, is it safe to assume that we can eliminate maps 1, 2, and 5?

If no one has any objections (I'll leave this for a bit longer before making it official), then I think I'm leaning toward Map 4 out of all of them. If the top continent can be photoshopped out, that would be neat, but it's still a good map either way so I don't really mind.

And the thing with the second map wasn't so much a legitimate annoyance as an amusing coincidence. I flipped it 180 degrees in paint and the resemblance went away, then I flipped it back around and I saw it right away again. Odd.

I tend not to have opinions on things I know jack-shit about, so I'll go with whatever you guys decide.

I meant to say this earlier but forgot to log on for the most part yesterday. Since there appear to be no objections, we'll be going with Map 4. Tomorrow when I get home I'll get the threads for map claims and Wintreath Union signups created.