Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Eric Anondson 09-24-07, 05:34 PM	I'm getting a kick out of the GHotR. The scope of the project is amazing, and I'm impressed. But I have a single complaint I want to address that, to me, is just a big issue. It could have been so much more excellent had there been more maps, especially of the early timeline. Migration maps. Before/after maps of the early cataclysms. Also, while the maps are pretty, some use overly dark colors for many areas making the whole map difficult to read.
Yaeri 09-24-07, 05:41 PM	As far as I understand, their budget for the book was pretty limited. They already had to recycle a lot of art to be able to invest most of their art budget into those maps. (It's still about 10 days until I get my own copy) It could be their budget was really low because they didn't expect too many sales. It being FR only and fluff only. (Well fluff only shouldn't wipe out too big a part of the realms audience, but it is pretty hardcore I guess) *shrug* Might be a question for the ask the designer's thread.
Yaeri 09-24-07, 05:50 PM	Okay I found Brian's post on the matter: http://forums.gleemax.com/showpost.php?p=13831831&postcount=323
Dark Wizard 09-24-07, 05:54 PM	Brian James answered this in this thread I believe: http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=859389 Basically, from what I gather GHotR is what I call very art-starved, since it's a massive amount of text and timelines that could use a lot of art to highlight certain points, break up the pages, give the eyes a rest, provide eye-candy, etc. However, the budget for the book was a bit low. This is understandable given that it is a fluff only book, bit of a risk and it's the last book of FR 3e. I do not blame WotC for conserving a bit on art given that the book is about lore and they may want to save up for the FRCS 4E. Brian suggested the budget for new art be spent on maps rather than new illustrations, so what few we got are as much as the company could spare for the book. Overall I think it came out pretty good, most of the recycled art fit well with a few exception, but it's not bad. And really, they showed maps of most of the major fallen empires, which was more than we've ever had before. People can spend years pouring over just want we have now.
Eric Anondson 09-24-07, 06:35 PM	Brian suggested the budget for new art be spent on maps rather than new illustrations, so what few we got are as much as the company could spare for the book.There were very few new maps though. I mean new maps, not redrawn with a pretty style. They reused art, they could have reused more maps too. The Year of the Tusk map, for instance, didn't really need to be redrawn. I admit, I'm biased. I'm a geographer with a ton of cartography background. :)
Iakhovas 09-25-07, 10:17 AM	I admit, I'm biased. I'm a geographer with a ton of cartography background. :)Aah, another who shares the same love of maps as I do. Welcome Eric! If you have the spare time and the desire, you should create some Realms maps and submit them to Candlekeep. I would certainly love to see them.
MarkusTay63 09-25-07, 10:31 AM	Aah, another who shares the same love of maps as I do. Welcome Eric! If you have the spare time and the desire, you should create some Realms maps and submit them to Candlekeep. I would certainly love to see them.Uh-oh... there's gonna be a turf-war.... :P ;) The only thing I fear right now, is that with the over-zealous re-use of old art and the obvious astronomical sales of this tome, WotC may think "They love OLD art! We'll never need commision any NEW stuff again!" Sorry for pointing that out, but after spending a week trying to find a single copy to purchase, record sales may send the wrong message where art's concerned. :raincloud
capnvan 09-25-07, 11:04 AM	Well, if you're looking to solidify your position, I'm on the lookout for a really good map of Thar... :cough: I mean, it has been almost two weeks since the Shaar went up...
MarkusTay63 09-25-07, 11:10 AM	The Shaar map was just a 'quickie' to help someone's campaign - it's not nearly in any sort of complete state. :P Actually, I have Calimshan done, and was going to post it, but I realized that I need to make an entirely new map key for all of my future maps. I've come up with a better system of symbols to represent certain settlement types, and until I complete that the other stuff is on hold. It takes me forever to complete a project that I'm not having 'fun' doing. :rolleyes: Also, I was waiting for the GHotR, and to be honest, all of the negativity flying around the last few weeks has sort of killed my desire to map a 'dead world'. Most of what I'm doing will completely change a year from now. :(
capnvan 09-25-07, 02:45 PM	You know what they say: In the long run, we're all dead. :doh: If it helps the productivity at all, I find your maps astonishingly impressive.:bow: Well, even if it doesn't help...
Fingoldfin 09-26-07, 05:02 AM	The Shaar map was just a 'quickie' to help someone's campaign - it's not nearly in any sort of complete state. :P Actually, I have Calimshan done, and was going to post it, but I realized that I need to make an entirely new map key for all of my future maps. I've come up with a better system of symbols to represent certain settlement types, and until I complete that the other stuff is on hold. It takes me forever to complete a project that I'm not having 'fun' doing. :rolleyes: Also, I was waiting for the GHotR, and to be honest, all of the negativity flying around the last few weeks has sort of killed my desire to map a 'dead world'. Most of what I'm doing will completely change a year from now. :( I love the maps that you make. Thank you for creating them. I'm not playing in the "new" Realms so if you keep making maps for the "old" Realms I will use them.
Chloramantis 09-26-07, 10:07 AM	I was all excited when I saw the Crown Wars map, but it seems cut off. Didn't the Crown Wars take plece in the north too. (I know it says 2nd and 4th Crown Wars, but why not all of them.)
MarkusTay63 09-26-07, 10:39 AM	You'll have to wait for GHotR II for the northern one. ;) Since people still want 3e maps (modified with 2e material), I will continue them. I should have Calimshan and the Lake of Steam up later. :)
Chloramantis 09-26-07, 11:00 AM	For some reason I believe you?
MarkusTay63 09-26-07, 11:36 AM	If this book does nearly as well as I think it will - you don't think a company wants to make money? ;) We still don't know all that much about the history of the Gnome, Halfling, and Dwarven cultures. Also, there was an entire period when humanoids had their own empires and kingdoms, so they could do a seperate book just detailing non-human (and Elvish) history.