NationStates Jolt Archive

Hello all. Over the last 4 years the IDU has been developing it's regional map, and with all due modesty, it appears to mine eyes to be the best that Nation States ever did saw.

I would like to share it with you.
http://www.idu.thefannish.org/images/7/7a/IduPolitical.png

For very full, high quality detail:

http://www.box.net/shared/fqplfsbso0

The file is nearly 7MB, so your patience will be rewarded.


Also mine own nation, Domnonia, has a fully fleshed out map.

http://www.idu.thefannish.org/images/a/ae/Dommainlandwithcities.png


The super high-quality, detailed map can be viewed here:

http://www.box.net/index.php?rm=box_download_shared_file&file_id=f_165480400&shared_name=t6rpws8008

Geography:
http://www.idu.thefannish.org/images/thumb/8/82/DOMtopo.jpg/800px-DOMtopo.jpg
Let us know what you think on our Factbook page: http://www.nationstates.net/cgi-bin/index.cgi/page=display_region/region=International_Democratic_Union

Also, use this thread to share your own efforts!

That's... wow. Pretty impressive. Nice work.

I think I recall congratulating you on it some years ago, actually. It still rocks like Zombie Elvis.

Mine is here (http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z78/GeffFletcher/GyreMap.gif), although Equus is the author of the Wysterian regional and continental maps which can be found here (http://wysteria.diamondq.com/Wysteria/wysteria_region.htm). I just bashed Gyre's map together in accordance with the regional map graphics system.

My map for the short-lived Arcadia-Nova, on the other hand, was based on the CIA World Factbook's real-world maps. Arcadia-Nova can be found here (http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z78/GeffFletcher/Arcadia-Nova-Map.gif). It was drawn on paper, scanned, cleaned up and made in Illustrator.

Yours is about 1000 times better, though. Now I want a giant atlas of the world and a lot of time!

Very nice. Haven's map isn't that level, but then again we like to have it easily accessible.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a220/Willink/Haven.png

That's the latest link, we're undergoing a major expansion. Individual nations have even better maps, which we could likely combine to one ubermap like you did, but in general we are too lazy XD

Credits for our map go to Edolia, who drew the original out by hand, Kashmire, who oversaw the first expansion, Questers/Hogsweat who has been mapmaker several times and helped extensively while he was delegate (this is currently his third term), No endorse, who did the latest expansion and revamped the old expansion significantly, Willink, the current mapper, and to a small part myself, as I cleaned up the borders in the northern section of the map.

We've managed to scrum together some of the old maps in the past and thrown them together in a PB folder, in chronological order (http://s11.photobucket.com/albums/a161/anomaly149/Haven/).

ZMI also threw this together for us, showing the underwater topography of the region.

http://doc-evilonavich.deviantart.com/art/Haven-Topomap-81124800

Thanks guys!

Gyres, Kampfers; very neat. I like the partitioning in Wysteria, quite colonial. Nifty! I agree Kampfer, hand-drawn is the only way to go. Nothing like a bit of imagination and paint, absolutely nothing. That Oceanographic map is wonderful! Kudos! I don't even want to imagine the number of hours we've spent on our maps and wikis and message board! All certainly worth it, but an absurd amount, no doubt.

While imagining your landmasses, did your regional cartographers have anything particular in mind? Was it a collaborative process? Or rigid? What do you find works best?

It's quite interesting how maps evolve overtime, as you gain new skills and your regions dynamics change. Our map three years ago was in Paint Shop Pro and looked like this;

http://x1.putfile.com/9/26019355797.jpg

Do the member states of your regions use the main map files as a guide for their own nations, or the other way around; A nation makes a map, and then the regional cartographer incorporates that into the main file?

Do you folks have national/localized maps of your own?

Well, it was originally hand drawn and then scanned into the computer. When they were drawing the new landmasses, there might have been references or they could have been freehanded, I'm not quite sure. The original 3 continents, the ones with Questers, Edolia, and Azaha on them, have not changed shape since their induction, or they have had very slight changes. The other three we just improve as we go along. We really don't have a set process, and while we prefer that they pick a spot on the map, we allow them to add their own islands and such, as Willink and ZMI have notably done.

Yeah, the main map files are the guidelines for our national maps (unless they added themselves, of course). Most of us crop the regional map to our nation, and then blow it up 6x to get a map in 5 km per pixel. Here is one such map, that a few of the members collaborated on together.

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a161/anomaly149/NorthPoint2.png

As Kampfers previously noted, my original, full-sized map (seen below) was resized to fit within its current location.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a220/Willink/Willinkfullsize.png

About eight hours of paint right there.

Those were cool, but I am a fan of Ixnay's map. Its not to simple, not to complicated, heres the link.


http://ixnay.wikispaces.com

As Kampfers previously noted, my original, full-sized map (seen below) was resized to fit within its current location.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a220/Willink/Willinkfullsize.png

About eight hours of paint right there.

Beautiful! Have you thought of converting it to Illustrator, or SVG?

If my region ever needed a map, I would likely come to you.

I've been the regional cartographer over at Simtropolis for a while now. I think about 2 years. I generally do the cartography under my first nation, Kedalfax.

I started with MS Paint, and awfully garish colors. I still use MS Paint for the basic geographical layout, but I've started using the GIMP for names and such, as well as some other things. I tried a few times to go to SVG, but it's just too taxing on my computer, and my patience. I might give it another go soon, though.

Unfortunately (or maybe not, since it was pretty awful) the original map has been lost in the annals of Internet Time.
But the most recent version was just updated today, and can be found at
http://img78.imageshack.us/img78/4918/10june2008wb9.png

I've been the regional cartographer over at Simtropolis for a while now. I think about 2 years. I generally do the cartography under my first nation, Kedalfax.

I started with MS Paint, and awfully garish colors. I still use MS Paint for the basic geographical layout, but I've started using the GIMP for names and such, as well as some other things. I tried a few times to go to SVG, but it's just too taxing on my computer, and my patience. I might give it another go soon, though.

Unfortunately (or maybe not, since it was pretty awful) the original map has been lost in the annals of Internet Time.
But the most recent version was just updated today, and can be found at
http://img78.imageshack.us/img78/4918/10june2008wb9.png

Very neat! I really like the addition of time zones - that likely adds a nifty layer to RP. And nice to see that you're still kicking around! I also saw that you had rejoined the IDU, good work! Glad to have you back!

It's a wonderful map, well done.

That said, you should probably remove 'Dust' from the southwest corner of the Jageran island as I am not in your region anymore.

I started with MS Paint, and awfully garish colors. I still use MS Paint for the basic geographical layout, but I've started using the GIMP for names and such, as well as some other things. I tried a few times to go to SVG, but it's just too taxing on my computer, and my patience. I might give it another go soon, though.
Same here. MSPaint for the base, photo editing program for the names. Also, I hate svg. Any advantages of svg?

Brutland and Norden (56K warning) (http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/984/brutlandandnordenroadmaqb1.gif)

Same here. MSPaint for the base, photo editing program for the names. Also, I hate svg. Any advantages of svg?

Brutland and Norden (56K warning) (http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/984/brutlandandnordenroadmaqb1.gif)

Yes. For one, it's completely scalable, i.e. it doesn't look like crap when you try to make it bigger. See the IDU map in the first post for an example. Second, you can edit the lines easily. I usually use SVG for my national maps.

And that is quite an impressive map, there. How long did that take you?

Yes. For one, it's completely scalable, i.e. it doesn't look like crap when you try to make it bigger. See the IDU map in the first post for an example. Second, you can edit the lines easily. I usually use SVG for my national maps.

And that is quite an impressive map, there. How long did that take you?
That sounds nice, but really, I have no experience with SVG other than downloading SVG files (from Wikipedia :D). When I open those files, the background becomes black when I would usually want it to be white (that why I hated it...). And I think I don't have a program for it... Is it compatible with most editing software?

Also, thanks. Took me more than a month. So many names...

I dislike SVG, but vector PDFs seem great.

Beautiful! Have you thought of converting it to Illustrator, or SVG?

Usually I use Photoshop CS2 as opposed to Illustrator, given my rampart dislike for the program.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a220/Willink/forguyzond.png

Older map from a different region.

Fair enough, they both have their own advantages. In tandem, though, they are pretty super.

Thank you Mr.Dust! You have been gone a long while, though I've been in no hurry to remove you.

And I think I don't have a program for it... Is it compatible with most editing software?


Unfortunately, no. But it IS worth checking out, and there are lots of free distributions of commercial software floating about and even more open source stuff.

Try out:

InkScape (http://www.inkscape.org/)-svg
Map Height Editor (http://hme.sourceforge.net/)-tool
The Gimp (http://www.gimp.org/)-svg
IANVector Symbols Library (http://ian.umces.edu/symbollibraries/symbol_libraries.php)-great resource for cartographers and wiki article writers

(Speaking as the owner of a nation that's shown on this regional map...)


I've now uploaded a set of maps of my nation, and made them accessible to viewers: The link that you need to use is http://www.box.net/signup/collablink/d_151...5/3d53de0fa6073.

The maps of BA's "Mainland" section are all completed & definitive, apart from the small section of the former nation of Keeslandia that the Bears would like to annex, unless Mikitivity objects to how I've interpreted any of the details about our mutual border to which he'd previously agreed in principle.
The only map of BA's "Northland" section that I've included so far might still be subject to replacement: Apart from any alterations that I myself might think of, the various coastline changes & extra islands that I've added to Domnonia's map still need official approval... and so does the precise line of the western end of the Bears' frontier with Frontenax, which might be a bit further south than that nation's own player is happy with...

I'll add an expanded key to the maps, in that file and here, next week.


Other maps on which I've already started work _
1/. A set of ecological maps for the "Mainland" section, originally drawn over a year ago and consequently needing some changes to the borders (between BA, Roumberre, The Marches, & Wilderlands Protectorate) that are shown... and from which I intend to remove the cities & towns whose locations were previously shown, instead of adding all of the extra towns that I've placed on the political & economic maps since then.
2/. A set of historical maps for the "Mainland" section, also originally drawn over a year ago: These need changes made to some internal boundaries as well as to the external borders, and I've worked out some additional details about the Bears' history (including the existence of an entire phase that will probably require at least 2, & maybe 3, maps of its own) that also need to be considered.
3/. Two more 'demographic' maps of the "Mainland" section, one of them showing which religions are most important in which areas and the other going into more detail about the relative sizes & importance of the cities & towns. (These are both recent projects.)

Other maps that I'm considering: "Northland" equivalents for all of the "Mainland" ones.

Wow, that's a pretty interesting map. The detail is great, and I like the colors you choose to distinguish the areas.

That is a great map, would it be too much if i asked you could do me a map? perhaps not of that quality of course.

I've now uploaded a set of maps of my nation, and made them accessible to viewers: The link that you need to use is http://www.box.net/signup/collablink/d_151...5/3d53de0fa6073.
"Please see the files I've shared with you by creating a free account" - erupp@ganspugh.comWell, that's just great.

Well, that's just great.
Sorry! There might be another way to make them available, without you having to create that (free) account, but computer-wrangling isn't one of my strong points...

Bears, you have to make your file public. Click on the little down arrow beside the file in you BOX, select "Put In Public Box" or whatever. After you've done this, select that arrow again and select "get link", this will provide a link for everyone, even those unregistered,to see your file.

Okay, I've fiddled around a bit with the Box programmes: Try these links, for the country's "Mainland" section

BA 01 General Full (http://www.box.net/shared/1a0w4azgg4)
BA 02 National Provinces (http://www.box.net/shared/g1675k3k00)
BA 03 Natural Features (http://www.box.net/shared/tqt3mjmok8)
BA 04 Economic Activities (http://www.box.net/shared/io52epbc48)
BA 05 Special Features (http://www.box.net/shared/iq0ayn7cwg)
BA Clans 01 Basic Types (http://www.box.net/shared/kipr9w44c4)
BA Clans 02 Ursine Ancestry (http://www.box.net/shared/bqlg44y2sc)
BA Clans 03 Areas of Ancestral Awakening (http://www.box.net/shared/skbyy8d9gg)
BA. Demog 01 Relative Population Densities ( http://www.box.net/shared/jhntgvnk4w)

and its "Northland"...

BA.N 01 General Full ( http://www.box.net/shared/9q5b3nmsk4)

The Regional maps of Caprecia:

The overall super-continent:
http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z281/thekaladorian/Capreciasupercontinent1.png

The sub continents:

Caprecia minor:
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o199/Blacksmith_05/ns/maps/Caprecia-1.png

Zara:
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g212/xiP_sllessuR/Zara-21.png

Galdea:
http://img397.imageshack.us/img397/3015/galdeauccr2mk5.png

And Novreal:
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a281/lightningchoc/Novrea30607.png

Are those ever great, Canalk!

Bears Utilise Mighty Powers.

Bears Understand Many Phings.

Nasicournia was to have a super map interactive map in flash with 3 different views to choose from, 6000 x 3000 pixels and a zoom mode up to a point. You could also click territories and another panel would open.

I was at the 'create terrains like mountains and such' when my PC crashed, got burnt, and all the data lost.

Never did I recreate it again, but in a near future it might be possible.. anyway it is, I really like your map, especially that one with a relief!

Domnonia... oh my goodness. That's so amazing.

I wish my map was that detailed. Damn. O_O

Same here. MSPaint for the base, photo editing program for the names. Also, I hate svg. Any advantages of svg?

Brutland and Norden (56K warning) (http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/984/brutlandandnordenroadmaqb1.gif)

That is insane.

Bears Upset Malevolent Plots.

Bears Undertake Mysterious Projects.

Same here. MSPaint for the base, photo editing program for the names. Also, I hate svg. Any advantages of svg?

Brutland and Norden (56K warning) (http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/984/brutlandandnordenroadmaqb1.gif)

Dayum!

How'd you make it?

They're really impressive maps