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The Definitive Guide to Designing Fantasy Maps

There's nothing like cracking open a fantasy book to find a map on the inside cover. It's like a promise: a promise of a new world to explore, a new story to love, a new escape to lose yourself in. Maps can help readers by providing content, establishing aesthetic, and clarifying confusion. Maps can help readers keep track of storylines and characters, particularly when they're off in different places doing different things all at once. Maps can be helpful to us writers for the same reason. They can help us keep track of the threads of our story, or dive deeper into the worlds we've created. Designing the physical aspects of a world, however, can be intimidating. Hopefully, this guide will help.

First off, if you want to skip all this artistic design nonsense, this Fantasy Map Generator might be of use to you. This generator lets you do a little customization, but otherwise basically designs your map for you.

For those of you who are feeling a little more adventurous, or who want to create a world that is entirely your own, read on. But first, a few disclaimers. This guide isn’t about how to put pen on paper and draw a map. If that’s what you’re looking for, This Guide or This Guide may help. Instead, this guide is going to be a brief overview of the cartography and geology needed to create a believable world. That being said, this guide is not going to cover every topic. It’s also an extreme oversimplification, which means that there will be some generalizations. Your map doesn’t have to be perfect, just good enough to keep someone from looking at it and thinking, “That doesn’t make any sense.”

Finally, I’m not going to do your research for you. If your world is unique in ways that may alter the climate or geography (two suns, a ring of active volcanoes, etc.), that’s research that you’ll have to do on your own (though, at the end of the guide, I’ll provide you with some resources that may help).

Basics of a Map

Legend - a guide, usually tucked into a corner, telling you what symbols on a map mean. Maybe human cities are denoted with a square while elven cities are a diamond (looking at you, Paolini). Maybe mountains housing dragons are represented differently than regular mountains. You want to clarify any questions readers may have about the map.

Title - the name of your land, your world, whatever it is.

Orientation and Compass - Most maps include a compass with north pointing toward the top of the page

Scale - This is if you want to get really serious with your map. Including a scale (a ratio allowing you to shrink the map to a reasonable size, like 1 inch = 1 mile or the like) can help you keep travel times consistent, because nothing is more frustrating than a fantasy book where the characters spend a whole month traveling from point A to point B, then make it from B back to A in three days. Here's a good article about fantasy travel.

Climates

This isn't directly related to the act of mapmaking, but it's important to keep in mind when designing a world. The major influences on climate are: lattitude, winds, oceans, land-sea distributions, and mountains. Most important of these it latitude: the further you are from the equator, the colder it gets. That's only the beginning, though. Climates from region to region have a lot to do with wind circulation; generally, north of the equator, prevailing winds (which carry moist air from ocean regions inland) move in a clockwise direction. South of the equator, they move counter-clockwise. When these winds meet in the middle at the equator, the air rises. When it coos, it forms clouds and rain, which is why you tend to find tropical conditions closer to the equator.

How do you apply this to fantasy mapmaking? Don't sprinkle various climates around randomly. The first fantasy map I made, in high school, had a desert far north with the tundra, a rainforest not far west of it, and a continental climate much like the American midwest down closer to the equator. Make sure that what you're doing makes sense geographically. (On that note, transition gently. Don't make a desert go straight into a forest, or a marsh straight into rolling plains).

For more information on biomes and regional climates, check out This Guide.

The Ocean's Effects on Climate: (not exhaustive, just simplified) Strong ocean currents sometimes redistribute warmth to places located at higher latitudes. For example, the Gulf Stream begins at the Gulf of Mexico and deposits warm water around the UK, giving the UK milder winters.

Land-Sea Distribution's Effect on Climate: Coastal regions generally experience mild, humid maritime climates (cool summers and mild winters), while the interior regions of large landmasses tend to experience continental climates (seasonal temperature varies widely and there's little precipitation).

Mountains' Effects on Climate: Locally, mountains cause air to rise and precipitation to form, meaning climates directly around mountains tend to be wetter than surrounding areas. Overall, mountains redirect air flow. In fact, one of the main causes of deserts are mountains. A "rain shadow desert" occurs when prevailing rain-bearing clouds are blocked from carrying rain to a region because of mountains (see: the southwest corner of the United States).

That's all I have room for in this guide, but if you want to delve deeper into the world of climate-making, I recommend you check out Geoff's Climate Cookbook, which was specifically written to help writers create climates for their fictional worlds. Actually, just see his entire General Guide. It's better and more detailed than any guide I could ever write.

Land Masses and Tectonic Plates

I'm mostly going to skip over tectonic plates. Unless you're N.K. Jemisin and you're writing about Broken Earth, you don't need to know where your tectonic plates are located. Just remember that if you're designing a world with multiple continents, they should roughly fit together due to continental drift. Also know that tectonic plates move 3 ways: side to side (which causes earthquakes), shifting away from each other (which causes continental drift), and pushing towards each other (which causes volcanic activity and/or the creation of mountains).

With mountains, new mountains come up in the center, pushing older mountains further out. This is why there are usually "foothills" to mountains-- the older mountains get weathered and worn down, rounding their tops and decreasing their size. New mountains tend to have jagged tops. Tectonic plates also explain why mountains generally form in chains (while Tolkien's "Lonely Mountain" is cool, it's not very likely). Mountain ranges that run along a coast may continue into the water as islands. Islands can also be formed by volcanic build up-- these would also be located along plate lines.

Rivers and Lakes

First of all: rivers never diverge as they flow toward the sea, they only converge. This is a mistake a lot of fantasy mapmakers make. Rivers tend to start from high in the mountains, flowing from areas of high elevation to low elevation (usually the sea). Water is lazy and always takes the path of least resistance. This means it'll put in as little work as possible, letting gravity do the work for it. Think of raindrops on a window. The raindrops never move in a straight line, and they often join with other raindrops and become stronger. So, too, it is with rivers. They never move in a perfectly straight line because the ground is never perfectly flat, and they often meet and join with other rivers on their way.

All I have to say about lakes for the purpose of this guide is that they only ever have one outlet. If they have more, it's for a very specific reason (like flooding), and it never lasts for very long.

Placing Cities

While placing cities on your map, you have to consider the surrounding terrain. Humans need food and water to survive, and they'll settle in places where they can easily meet those needs. You need a way to get water in and waste out; don't put cities in the middle of deserts unless you have an explanation for it.

Regarding roads: people are lazy, so roads are usually straight unless the terrain gets in the way (never perfectly straight, though. It's impractical). Roads don't meander like rivers do.

Map Aesthetics

I said this guide wasn't going to be about drawing maps, and it's not. But there's an important design aspect that overlaps: aesthetic. If you look at different fantasy maps, you’ll notice that they’re all aesthetically different. Each map gives its own insight into the world it depicts. Isaac Stewart, who designs maps for Brian Sanderson and many other authors, says he designs his maps "as if they were artifacts of the world they depict." He recommends perusing the David Rumsey Map Collection to find a map that aesthetically fits the feel of your world and then using it as inspiration. In the collection, you can filter the maps by date and location to better help you find the perfect inspiration.

Additional Resources

Map Generator Fantastic Maps - Helpful for physically drawing the maps Cartographer's Guild - Here, you can ask questions about mapmaking or get your map critiqued Geoff's Climate Cookbook Geoff's Guide to Creating Realistic Planets David Rumsey Map Collection

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Recipe File: Biltong

comes from the Dutch words "bil"(rump) and "tong" (tongue or strips) so roughly translates as rump strips. It was created by the early Dutch settlers who quickly realized that meat would not stay fresh for long in that hot climate and that you would need to make provisions for your journey as there was no guarantee that you would find meat along the way. When Voortrekkers where moving though the wilderness of South Africa, they changed the indigenous curing process from one that used salt as the key curing ingredient to that of vinegar.

They also used saltpetre and then of course they added the various spices including pepper and coriander which has come to be the signature taste of biltong today. Using this method they were able to take supplies along with them that would not spoil and easy to transport.

While we no longer need to make biltong for survival it has become a widespread and much loved snack and can be found all over the world now. Where ever there are Southern Africans you will find people making and selling biltong.

What type of meat can you use to make biltong? Because there was a shortage of livestock in the early days, people began to look at other types of meat they could use including the local animals. As a result of this today you will find that any self respecting South African butcher will stock a variety of meats ranging from traditional beef to Eland, Kudu, Ostrich and many more. There are even specialist shops that will make biltong out of almost any meat including Giraffe meat.

Having said all of this it should be noted that many of the different game meats are an acquired taste and I would recommend that you stick to the traditional sliver side beef when making this as this is the staple meat and one for the easiest to get right.

I would also recommend that you buy the pre-made seasoning packs as people spend a long time working to get the right combination of spices for this. For someone who is just looking to give it a go them this is the best option. It is quite easy to buy this spice mix where ever you are, just look on line there are people who sell it.

I personally like to add in some dry crushed chilly as I love spicy food.

Biltong is best eaten with friends, if you are having a sports night with friends or a BBQ in the back yard biltong is the snack of choice. If you were to go to a similar event in South Africa there will almost always be biltong there.

Making biltong

What you will need to make biltong Two kg of meat if you can (silver side if possible; American's would most likely call this rump roast). 1-2 litres of brown vinegar (malt vinegar). Pre made biltong spice (at least 45 g for every kg of meat you have). Wire s hooks to hang the meat with (must be strong enough to hold the weight of the meat). Flat bottom container big enough to hold all of the meat. Very sharp big knife to help you cut the meat well. Somewhere warm and dry to hang the meat

There is a very definite process when you are making biltong, it is advisable that you have all of the spices and vinegar marinade ready before you start as once you have started you will need to see this through until the meat is hanging to dry.

The other very important thing to remember is that making biltong in not science, it is an art and you will need to practice it to get it right. I will tell you this, if you get this right it will be worth it as there is nothing like it anywhere else in the world.

Cutting the meat Cutting the meat right is one of the most important things to do in the process, depending on how thick that you make it will get you different results. It should be noted that drying meat will loose about 50-60% of its weight(meat is about 80% water remember. If you make the strips to too thin they will become too dry (unless that is what you are looking for) and too fat will mean that the inside will not dry and will still be red and wet when cut open(this is the way that I love it).

Make sure that what whatever thickness you decide that you cut the meat as consistently as possible so that you get a stick of biltong that is the same consistency all the way through.

It is a good idea to start with a medium thickness, I like to make them just over an inch thick and you really should try to make sure that there is a line on fat on the one edge If you are using the silver-side cut this should be OK as there is a fatty edge to it.

There really are a few ways to do this and other people will use different cuts, at the end of the day it is a matter of personal preference. What I am offering here is a good safe bet that will most likely hit the spot.

Marinating the meat Once you have meat sliced into stripes you will need to add it to the brown vinegar marinade and leave it there for a while

The best method of doing this is to have a container that you can lay the meat down in. Your container should be big enough so that you can lay the meat out fully. Your best bet is to have a container that has a flat bottom Once you have you have your first layer of meat then you can sprinkle on the brown vinegar. You don't want to pour the vinegar on, rather use your hands to sprinkle it so that you get an even cover on the meat. Once you have done this on one side then you will need to turn the meat over and do the same process on the other side.

Once you have done this process you will want to add the biltong spice. You are going to be looking at using about 45 grams of spice for every kg of meat that you have. You need to make sure that this is evenly spread over the meat as well, so you should repeat the process above with the spice, if you have two layers of meat them do this on the first layer and then on the second.

At the end of this process you should have meat that has been covered by vinegar and them by the spices. You can rub them a little to make sure that everything is as even as possible.

You are then going to leave the meat in the container for about 24 hours. You can turn the meat every once in a while to make sure that both sides of the meat are getting an even cover. Make sure that the container is covered and left in a cool place.

Drying the meat

Once the meat has been sitting for 24 hours it is time to hang the meat.

At the top of the strip of meat and about 2 cm in make a hole in the meat and put the hook on once this is done then you will need to hang the meat to dry.

You should be looking to find a place where it is warm and dry. I would also advise that you use a place where there is some ventilation so that this process works as best as it can. For people in the colder areas one of the ways that you can create this is by having a light on in the cupboard or area that you are drying the meat, this will help you keep the temperature up a little. You need a warm place to make sure the process of drying is relatively fast but you do not want to cook the meat so be careful.

For most hanging it in the garage will do the trick nicely.

How long should the meat hang? Usually this process will take about 3 days, but again there is no real accurate answer as there are so many variable that will need to be taken into account( air temp and humidity etc)

You will notice that the meat will go black and this is perfect the process has begun, for me the best way to tell how it is getting along is to pinch the meat with your thumb and forefinger. The more give there is the wetter the biltong is. As I like mine a little wet I will not let the meat sit there for so long. I am afraid that this will be a bit of trial and error, if you have strips that are different in thickness this will also make the drying time different. If you aim for 3 days you should be ok, start testing on the second day to see how it coming along.

You can also take some off early to see if you like it and leave the others longer until you find the sweet spot for you.

You should also see that the little bit of fat on the biltong has gone slightly transparent, when it has done this then you are good to go.

Storing the meat You can store biltong for while but there is a catch, the longer you want to store the meat the drier it will have to be. For most people biltong will not last more then a few days so this is never really an issue.

There are a few things to consider with biltong. Your biltong can go moldy if stored incorrectly. The wetter the biltong is the greater the chance of mold popping up. If you like wet biltong then you will need to consume it with in a few days. You can put it in the fridge to help it keep better.( if you store biltong in the fridge take it out and let it warm to room temperature, it tastes better that way)

The best way to store biltong is to simply leave it hanging where you have been drying it. One of the things that can ruin your biltong is putting it into a packet or paper bag as this will create a damp environment which will potentially bring on mold.

You should remember that the drying process does not really stop so if you leave biltong in a confined area then moisture id going to build up.

Some people will vacuum pack and freeze it and this will work to, but to be honest if you want to be getting the best out of your labors you should just eat it as soon as possible. To be honest we have never had this issue in our house as we just eat it, it is one of the most more-ish foods I know.

Once you have done this a few times you will get hang of it. One thing I will say with certainty, you will either love biltong or hate it. But if you love it, you will never get enough of it.

Happy eating!!?>

Originally from Zimbabwe, Sebastian now lives in the UK where he spends some of his spare time in the kitchen cooking and experimenting with food and the gadgets that you find in the kitchen. You can visit his site http://www.twokitchenjunkies.com/ covering his take on cookware and kitchen gadgets that interest him.

Source: http://www.cookingforengineers.com/recipe/342/Biltong

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Travel experts share the top 10 most popular destinations to visit to soak up some sun

With the start of winter next week Australians living in colder climates are desperate to find a way to escape.

Luckily Wotif has revealed the best holiday destinations for those wanting to chase the sun.

They have compared accommodation costs, weather patterns, year-on-year search growth, traveller reviews and proximity to the coast.

From Thailand to a variety of towns in Queensland, FEMAIL shares their top 10 suggestions. 

With the start of winter next week Australians living in colder climates are desperate for a way to escape so luckily Wotif has revealed the best holiday destinations to chase the sun

1. Townsville, Queensland

This winter and beyond, Townsville is the perfect tropical escape without the need for a passport.

From the beaches to the rainforests, to Magnetic Island and the Great Barrier Reef, whether you’re an adventure seeker or looking to relax, there is something for everyone in Townsville.

Not only are there fantastic and affordable accommodation options in town, with a predicted accommodation rate of $144 per night, several new foodie events have launched including the monthly Townsville Eats food festival bringing together the best local food vendors and market stalls.

For the ultimate tropical escape, book yourself into the new The Ville Resort, complete with infinity pool, onsite restaurant and swim-up pool bar.

This winter and beyond, Townsville is the perfect tropical escape without the need for a passport

What are the stats? 

· Jeju Island in South Korea is this year’s up and coming hotspot, with year-on-year accommodation interest up a huge 180 per cent on Wotif

· Townsville has taken out this year’s top spot, beating international powerhouse Bali – thanks to a combination of affordable accommodation, great weather, good traveller reviews and YoY growth

· Queensland and Western Australia prove to be the country’s best winter destinations

2. Jeju Island, South Korea

Known as the Hawaii of South Korea, Jeju Island has long been a favourite for Korean locals and now Aussies are starting to catch on with searches for Jeju Island on Wotif spiking by a huge 180 per cent.

As an island, it goes without saying you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to beautiful beaches but there’s also incredible nature experiences like waterfalls, rock formations, mountains and volcanoes to explore.

With direct flights to Jeju Island from Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur and Jetstar set to launch direct flights from the Gold Coast to South Korea in December, this emerging gem is one to watch.

Known as the Hawaii of South Korea, Jeju Island has long been a favourite for Korean locals and now Aussies are starting to catch on with searches for Jeju Island on Wotif, spiking by a huge 180 per cent

3. Bali, Indonesia

With winter accommodation searches up over 25 per cent when compared to last year, Bali remains a firm favourite for Aussie travellers.

Luckily the the winter months are one of the best times to visit, aligning with Bali’s dry season.

From modest bungalows to luxurious private villas, there’s an endless list of new resorts, restaurants and bars opening in Bali, meaning even if you’ve been once or twice before, Bali is the perfect winter getaway, just a short flight away from Australia.

With winter accommodation searches up over 25 per cent when compared to last year, Bali remains a firm favourite for Aussie travellers

4. Bowen, Queensland

Bowen’s prime location near the Whitsundays means you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to exploring this local slice of paradise.

With eight palm fringed beaches, relaxed bays and a great foreshore, Bowen is a fantastic option for those looking to unwind with the kids this winter.

With a predicted accommodation rate of $136 per night, enjoyable winter temperatures and an abundance of local fruits and vegetables grown in the region, Bowen remains a reliable Aussie getaway this winter.

Bowen’s prime location near the Whitsundays means you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to exploring this local slice of paradise

5. Agnes Water, Queensland

Already a popular local hotspot for Queenslanders, Agnes Water is gaining serious credibility this winter, with searches up over 30 per cent when compared to last year.

Located at the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef, Agnes Water is surrounded by secluded beaches and untouched nature discoveries.

Opt for a tour to Lady Musgrave Island, visit the twin town of Seventeen Seventy, head to the most northern location to surf on Australia’s east coast, or pay for your getaway using cryptocurrencies at Australia’s first beach town to accept digital currency – there’s plenty to learn and discover in Agnes Water.

Already a popular local hotspot for Queenslanders, Agnes Water is gaining serious credibility this winter, with searches up over 30 per cent when compared to last year

6. Carnarvon, Western Australia

With accommodation searches jumping up 50 per cent when compared to last year, Carnarvon is one of the fastest growing regions in Western Australia right now, surely thanks to Chris Hemsworth and Matt Damon choosing to holiday in Carnarvon with their families in March.

This under the radar gem sits at the southern end of Ningaloo Reef, between Shark Bay and the Ningaloo Coast World Heritage area making is a must-see destination, boasting what is said to be some of the best winter weather in the world.

Commonly referred to as the fruit bowl of WA, the region is home to an abundance of local produce to sink your teeth including choc-coated bananas, mango smoothies and locally caught seafood along Carnarvon’s famous ‘Fruit Loop’ drive.

With accommodation searches jumping up 50 per cent when compared to last year, Carnarvon is one of the fastest growing regions in Western Australia right now, surely thanks to Chris Hemsworth and Matt Damon choosing to holiday in Carnarvon with their families in March

7. Cairns, Queensland

Cairns remains one of the most popular destinations over winter and this year, there have been no signs of the city’s popularity slowing down with year-on-year interest on Wotif up close to 50 per cent.

The new five-star Riley Hotel is one of Australia’s best new coastal resorts to open within the last year and is the perfect place to stay for a relaxed tropical getaway. 

From land to air, sand to sea, the endless adventures and affordable accommodation means Cairns truly has it all.

Cairns remains one of the most popular destinations over winter and this year, there have been no signs of the city’s popularity slowing down with year-on-year interest on Wotif up close to 50 per cent

8. Monkey Mia, Western Australia

With blue skies and sunshine almost every day of the year, Monkey Mia is an ideal winter destination.

Not only does Monkey Mia’s popularity continue to grow, with year-on-year searches up by close to 25 per cent but new and improved accommodation make it a top place to visit this winter.

The recently renovated and impressive RAC Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort has reopened after a $20 million refresh and now includes beach-front family villas, extra camp sites and a new swimming pool.

For a getaway that is as relaxing as it is beautiful, get to Monkey Mia this winter.

With blue skies and sunshine almost every day of the year, Monkey Mia is an ideal winter destination

9. Exmouth, Western Australia

The Coral Coast is full of bucket-list attractions and swimming with Whale Sharks along Ningaloo Reef, near the township of Exmouth is quickly becoming one of Australia’s most sought-after experiences.

This huge tourist drawcard has firmly put Exmouth on the map with accommodation interest continuing to grow, up close to 25 per cent when compared to last year. 

Snorkeling and diving are an absolute must and winter is the best time to do so, when temperatures are a balmy 25 degrees, with little to no predicted rainfall.

Swimming with Whale Sharks along Ningaloo Reef, near the township of Exmouth is quickly becoming one of Australia’s most sought-after experiences

10. Phuket, Thailand

Whether you want to experience the local culture, island hop or lay low at a resort, Phuket is a great option this winter and offers fantastic affordability with an average accommodation rate of $123.

While you should expect a few showers as we head into Thailand’s wetter season, there’s still plenty of sunshine.

Even better the beaches and attractions are often far less crowed over the Australian winter, meaning you can really make the most of your overseas adventure.  

Whether you want to experience the local culture, island hop or lay low at a resort, Phuket is a great option this winter and offers fantastic affordability with an average accommodation rate of $123

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