MAPS.... (they don't love you like I love you)

[Rson_DeLarge]

ok, so whenever I go to work on my game I notice one oh so overlooked obstacle of game making..

MAP DESIGN

seriously, that's the RPG world you're making.


I need help with how to organize my world, but I don't even know where to start.
I have four races in my game that live in different areas.
I should make note that I haven't given them names yet, but they will most likely be based on latin/mythology relating to their traits


1. the elf/human race- they live in the forrest and have cousins in the desertland.
2. the faceless mage/merchant race- they travel the world and obtain artifacts from different cultures, they live in a giant city in the east
3. pheasant humanoid race- the more militant and imperial race, but they're also the workforce of the fields blacksmithing etc...
4. the goblins- thieves and villans, they aren't the main antagonist but the races stay unified in their effort against the goblin menace.




so I hope that helps you see where I'm coming from.
I'm trying to work on the overworld map, I just don't know where to begin, how to arrange the continents...
maybe I'm overthinking it
trying to make the elven city a giant tree-fort, but when you get inside it looks more like a log cabin..   





at any rate.
I think
we need more discussion on the site about maps, maybe start showcasing chipset/level design more?

or even some tuts on making a basic world, I know it sounds silly, but I think it could really help

[DedlellyDeth]

Look at maps of the world millions of years ago between Pangaea and present day. You'll get the idea of landforms.

[Rson_DeLarge]

well, actually I was thinking about the peanut-brittle effect.

you take a hammer and smash a block of peanutbrittle once or twice. and voila that's your world.
except I have no peanutbrittle...

hmm.. what else could I use to a similar effect I wonder.