Spirits of the Earth

So like, I just felt like drawing a map >_>
and SotE just happened to be my inspiration. I reviewed all of the areas and used the old map (loosely) as a basis for some locations but I tried to stick with how the locations were described as well as trying to figure out details in a geographical sense where it would make sense (like where a river starts and would end, etc) and though it won't be canon, I'm just having fun with it so gonna post pics here of my wip :D
This is my progress so far (a screen shot of the photoshop file)
I'm going for a 3 dimensional look and THERE WILL BE COLORS
for now, this is just the WIP (as location names, colors, more details will be added, etc)

ALSO
the red line represents the 'equator'- for where I was trying to figure out where it would sit in SotE's earth (to make sense with the warmer Tuor ocean, Yorieq, and the Moraki desert and jungles in Kishan~

There is also an angry man (or old woman, that's up for debate) in the shape of the continent.  Just FYI.

AAAAAAAAAAND
some wip of the color :T
(http://fc00.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2015/032/6/c/colors_wip_sote_map_by_visualspice-d8gcg2s.jpg)

Quote from: Lion on February 01, 2015, 05:59:36 PM
There is also an angry man (or old woman, that's up for debate) in the shape of the continent.  Just FYI.

(http://i.imgur.com/u1O1EZS.jpg)

OMG loooooooooooooooooooooooooool

xD I totally saw it on the right side of the continent but to each their own.

me too, lion 8D

(http://fc07.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2015/032/a/6/map_wip_locations_by_visualspice-d8gck2z.jpg)
with locations

(http://fc00.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2015/032/3/a/map_color_wip_by_visualspice-d8gcvkl.jpg)
more color progress

(http://fc03.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2015/032/2/3/sote_globe_map_by_visualspice-d8gd3ls.jpg)

Okay this is good enough >_>
if I feel like tweaking it or adding to it I'll do it later x.x

This is incredible Spice. It looks amazing (and very Spicy ;))!

Dat geography tho.

I assume Essyrn's going to be a lot more yellow when it's done? Or is this continent actually super massive and the entirety of the desert's in that speck at the tip of the river? XD

Omg, I agree globster! Next pass I'll edit that color XD

Yeah, it kind of stood out to me. I always thought the desert around Essyrn was just this big, piss-off ocean of sand!

Other than that, I kind of like how Le'Ranna's a relatively thin strip. It really leaves it open for peeps who want to make characters from really far off places, like other continents and such.

Okay, first of all, I LOVE THIS, it's beautiful!

But can I add some nerdy, science-y, geographical comments? (Remember, I'm a geologist, so I can't help it!)

Mainly, the equator should be lower. Firstly because right now it's not at the "fattest" part of the globe. :D But assuming that the SotE Earth had similar atmospheric circulation patterns as our Earth (let's assume it does), then the equator should be surrounded by jungle/tropical/humid regions... so on this map maybe at the bottom of where you've drawn the Kashahn jungle, or at least in the middle of it. Deserts occur around 30˚ (north and south), where dry, "cold" air cycles back down towards the globe. All the moist, rainy air rises up from the equator and rains out there. Science! (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hadley_cell)

The rest I guess are little finicky things. :D But if Serendipity isn't a delta system (like Essryn), then rivers typically have lots of branches/tributaries in the highlands/mountains/inland that flow together to form one big river further down until it meets the ocean (where it might splay out again as a delta, but this is a much smaller structure).

Also, I actually think the area around Essryn looks pretty good how it's colored now. Most deserts won't be all sand sea, and it looks like part of it is now already (color-wise)? A lot of a desert will be vaguely shrubby, stoney, and not entirely covered in sand.

There should also be some band of taiga (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiga) or boreal conifer forest before the snowy tundra starts in the north. But that's pretty nit-picky.

But the more important thing is I LOVE THIS. A lot.

Thanks, klemens! I'm just super excited it turned out so nicely and quickly! I didn't add all of the details I could, but if/when I make another pass I'll be sure to review and implement your assessments!

Quote from: visualspice on February 02, 2015, 05:34:06 AM
Thanks, klemens! I'm just super excited it turned out so nicely and quickly! I didn't add all of the details I could, but if/when I make another pass I'll be sure to review and implement your assessments!

That's okay, they're all pretty nerdy. XD

And all those comments are really trivial compared to how much I REALLY LOVE this map! <3

Edit: And when you're a geologist who ever reads books with maps of their made-up worlds, you end up with a lot of pent-up feelings about geologically inconsistent fantasy world maps. ;D This one is actually way better than most, and I really like how you did the mountains!

Compliments from the rock lady mean a lot :D

Awesome sauce spice.

This is super great and excellent!

thanks, star! I had a lot of fun with it 8D

Quote from: visualspice on February 01, 2015, 08:30:48 PM
(http://fc03.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2015/032/2/3/sote_globe_map_by_visualspice-d8gd3ls.jpg)

Okay this is good enough >_>
if I feel like tweaking it or adding to it I'll do it later x.x

Just bumping this for @TreeFolk !

Just bumping this thread, and the finished image, so it's more accesible.

(http://fc03.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2015/032/2/3/sote_globe_map_by_visualspice-d8gd3ls.jpg)