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Ancient Cyclops Stronghold in the Icerime Peaks
Good looking map reference upon first glance.
There is a compass rose and scale present on the map.
Clearly drawn, and detailed both with some furnishings and a key.
Definitely lots here going on, would make a cool looking finished map.
I like it, the only fault I see is the grid should be over the whole map.
I would most likely draw a little side view of the location where the key is.
I do recommend this map to progress to round 3
Contributor
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The Good
I didn't like this entry at first glance, but the more I studied it, the more it grew on me. It has character, which can be tricky to pull of on a map.
It has a scale, a key, and a compass.
The encounter areas are varied, and there is obviously opportunity for many different threats, not just slug-ups with giants.
The Bad
This feels like we're only getting half the map. More specifically, it feels like this should be the upper half of a full-page map, with the stronghold interior below.
My Judgement
I'm seriously on the fence with this one: personality vs. only half-finished. I'll side with those cute cyclops faces and say I weakly recommend this entry for advancement to the next round.
Modules Overlord
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Drawing from my blog on maps, and the rules for the round, I’ll judge the maps on a number of questions.
Is It a Full Page Map?
Definitely. This is an excellent use of space, since it depicts a number of non-rectangular objects, but fits them well into the space allotted. It feels natural and organic, but still fits well on am vertical book page, making it easy for the GM to use.
Does The Map Have A Compass Rose and Scale? Are They Used Well?
Yes, and yes. Since the buildings could reasonable be oriented with North, there's no reason not to make N the top of the map, and the scale allows Large creatures to easily move around within a "Cyclops Stronghold," which is good.
I'd like the grid to be over everything, but that's a minor point.
Is The Map A Place I Want To Adventure?
Heck yeah! Waterfalls, Cyclops-sluices, aqueducts, towers, mountains and bridges? This place is bursting with flavor and possibilities. Even a fairly typical adventure would become more interesting for being set here.
Is the Map Clear?
Yes. I was pleased, for example, to see the big yellow sphere gets it's own map icon, which tells the cartographer 9and the end-user) what they are looking at. The colors make it easy at-a-glance to distinguish water, rock, and open space. We don't judge on artwork, but the Cyclops-face waterspouts are obvious enough that they don't need to be marked, and so the map doesn't need to be cluttered with descriptions of them.
Is the Map Detailed?
It's isn't a paragon of detail, but it's detailed enough. Rocks are marked, which could be relevant for combat with giants. Not much else is, but that's okay. Certainly no marks against this map on this point, just no bonus marks gained.
Is the Map Imaginative?
Definitely! from the idea of a set of linked mountaintop structures, to adding details like waterfalls and aqueducts, this map has lots of neat ideas connected in a believable and consistent fashion.
Final verdict, I strongly do recommend this map to move on to Round 3.
Nice job on this and one of my favorites of the round. I really like the idea of the cyclop watersprouts- adds a nice bit of pulpy flavor to the piece.
The cyclops spouts are a nice idea, but they were not marked on the key. Thus, I was struggling with the impression that the middle land mass was styled like a tearful, smiling Pokemon. It's not a huge flaw, but it's silly-looking, and the lack of a key entry is not just a technical weakness here, it actually impacted my (incompetent) ability to read the map. I like the map, but I only get eight votes...
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RPG Superstar 2014 Top 16, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 16
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Marathon Voter Season 6, Marathon Voter Season 7, Marathon Voter Season 8, Star Voter Season 9
aka Locke1520
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While they were clear to me, I DO see what you are seeing.
Just more proof that it's always better to tag things with quick explanations, even if the final map would't need a "key" for them.
Yeah now that it's been pointed out I see that too...Still an awesome map.
I'd rank this as my second favorite map of the entries this year. I love the style, and even your art (which I know isn't supposed to factor into the competition exactly).
In place of the key, I would hope a cartographer would include an interesting side-view of the whole place. That would make it all a little better in my mind. Maybe with a far off landscape image on a different page of the place too! <the fact that I want that extra artwork is a solid vote too>
20th map I have seen, your current rank is 6th.
I can see some of the criticisms about wanting more of this location's map, but I think what we do have is enough for me to want to go adventure in here. I like that it's literally among the clouds; very Mount Washington feel to me and that's cool. It's playing with elevation and mountain adventures, which is something I like.
I wish the grid were a little easier to see, but I think it is there.
This seems like it'd be a cool place to have several combat encounters, which would be a great prelude to whatever's down below.
I think this is one of the better maps of the round and I expect I'll be voting for it.
Challenge: Is this map difficult to execute? Does it in my opinion demonstrate the characteristics of a Superstar designer?
Technique: Did the designer show some skill and consideration in the choices made on the map. Are the words used in the key wise choices that add to the overall utility of the map?
Utility: Can a GM/cartographer make sense of the map and make immediate use of it?
Overall: I'll rate the Map as an A for strong recommends B for weak recommends C on the bubble D for weak rejects F for Do not recommends
Challenge: Mixes a ruin with natural features this is HARD mode.
Technique: Not only is it pretty but it's very functional and dynamic, I like how one level flows into another it's very organic.
Utility: I'd print this rather than trying to do it justice with my flip-matt
Overall: A for em and I almost missed it... Please vote for this people.
This is probably my favorite map. The name immediately gave me high hopes which the map didn't disappoint. I think any session set here would be incredible, from fighting your way up the path as giants throw rocks at you to fighting across the damaged bridge into the main fortress or rushing to prevent a ritual from being completed at the alter.
It would be nice if the interior of the stronghold was mapped but I think that would have cluttered the page to much.
BEEP BOOP for more information PLEASE SEE
Cyclopes, and that's the plural word for cyclops; the Icerime Peaks, which form a border between Brevoy and Iobaria; cockatrices, bat-like naked chickens with a petrifying peck; and slavery in Golarion.
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Like it a lot. A game would become better if it were played on this map.
The color scheme makes it look gritty, cold and wet - spot on.
The ice-plains-surrounded-by-mountains (right side) seem a little too convenient; What happened here that created these pits, such weird natural formations? If the island is, for example, an old volcano, I think it should look a bit more like one.
This is a very clear map with some strong imagery. I like the idea of waterfalls pouring out of Cyclops statues like massive gargoyles. This is an interesting location with lots of encounter areas.
I would have liked to have seen a cross section for showing the various elevations over numbers. When labelling the different sections for a dungeon key, the elevation numbers could get confused. And the floating golden orb and the tyrants tower produces a weird image as the shape of the tower feels forced.
I really like this map, but can only vote for eight. Since I have eight others that appeal to me more, I am not voting for this one, but I wish I could.
So simple, so elegant. And full of atmosphere.
Clearly marked, with visually interesting waterfalls, a mix of locations that makes sense, and brilliant use of the main color theme - in this case ice/snow.
And think of the combats!!!! Rope ladders, stone bridges, waterfalls - so it's a little evocative (or even derivative) of a certain (and even illustrated) ogre encounter/battle from RotR - who cares!
Good use of key to indicate what is going on, and clever use of plus and minus to indicate elevation in the absence of contour lines.
Not perfect but obviously designed with creativity and passion. Given your awesome round one entry I'm happy to see the awesome continue. Well done Kalervo.
My favorite thing: The idea of bull rushing a cyclops off of a mountaintop.
Other things I like: It's a pretty map, the idea is solid and those little waterfall cyclops are sooooo cute.
My least favorite thing(s): It seems unfinished to me, I think it was a huge misstep to not also draw the inside of that stronghold.
Will I vote for it: I like this map but do not love it. It was in a weird place for me, as it was hanging around in my maybe pile when I only had 2 votes left. Then I remembered that your item was my favorite of all the top 32 items, so I had to give you spot number 7.
It needs the building interiors. That's a big disappointment. But it does look like a really great place to adventure and it has rather nice details. It's a nice map. Definitely a cut above the rest and maybe enough to advance the designer. However, the unfinished parts are going to really hurt it compared to other great, finished maps.
And yes, I love the cyclops spewing statues.
Hands down my favourite map. Crisp drawing, fantastic location, interesting details, excellent theme, elevation, enough room for combat, the whole nine yards.
Though yes, I too would have liked to see the interiors as well, although I think this could warrant two pages, one for the exteriors, one for interiors. There's enough here that I wouldn't have wanted for you to shrink it to make room for the interiors as well.
Some of the details, like the floating sphere, are also a bit odd, but I'm more intrigued than bothered by them, so I'll give it a pass. The path also seems kind of narrow to me. A cyclops can use it, but only just. Then again, some of the details are awesome, like the snow shelf or the crumbling bridge.
All in all this is an excellent map. It could be improved, yes, but there's enough quality here for me to definitely vote for this.
This feels like we're only getting half the map. More specifically, it feels like this should be the upper half of a full-page map, with the stronghold interior below.
Regarding the interior, I wonder if the 'stronghold' mentioned on the left side of the page with the spiral staircase down refers to the right side of the page with Guard Post, Barracks, and Alter functioning as the stronghold.
I don't know, but I love the map.|
RPG Superstar 2013
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Dedicated Voter Season 6, Dedicated Voter Season 7, Dedicated Voter Season 8, Star Voter Season 9
aka Steven T. Helt
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This and the dwarven axe map might be my favorites. The cyclops face details tell a story, and the open spaces feel like a giant stronghold. I agree the space could be used a little better and we could have more interior details or a side view, but all I can really think about is cyclops monks jumping from one peak to another to confront the PCs.
Good luck next round, Kalervo!
I like this one. It has a good look and feel to it. Being above the clouds, you've got the chance to use altitude rules and I'm a big fan of bringing environmental rules into play.
Cockatrice pen? Pets, guardians, or perhaps cooked with 11 secret herbs and spices for some CFC (Cyclopean Fried Cockatrice)? There are a lot of interesting locales here. Definitely a place I'd want to explore as an adventurer.
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Modules Overlord
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Official Round 2 Note: On Map Resolution
We’ve had some comments on legibility of smaller type on the maps, and the contestants are (by the rules of the contest), not allowed to clarify anything, so I want to make a general statement about maps and resolution.
When we required all contestants to present maps at a specific dpi and size, we did so because in past years we’ve had some issues with maps (for the encounter round) being sent to us in different sizes, resolutions, and dpi, making it difficult to give them all a high-quality presentation for the contest. We found that asking for a higher dpi than we’ll use in the end allowed us to create a standard of presentation that kept all images crisp and clean. For encounter-round maps, this has worked well.
Unfortunately, since this round requires all text be provided on the maps themselves, many contestants used the dpi and size standards we required as the basis for making sure their text is clear, and otherwise tried to keep words as small as possible so as to not clutter their maps. This was done in the (reasonable) belief that the maps should look good at the size we asked for, rather than in any different size we might present on our website. When resized for smaller, high-quality images, this can result in words that aren’t clearly legible.
We’ve made a change to rescale everything to the higher end of maximum image size for uploaded images for all maps that were entered this round. This should allow for better legibility for voters when selecting their favorite maps to advance in the contest. It is our fault that this process was not properly communicated to our contestants, so consider this when adjusting or finalizing your selections.
Obviously, we’ll explain what is going to happen to the images of maps, and how to allow for it, more clearly in future rounds (and future contests). My apologies to any contestant with a map that has suffered as a result of how we handled scaling in this round.
I am critiquing this without having read anyone else's thoughts yet:
Off the bat this is very nice looking map. Irregular shapes, nicely generated, with nice background stuff, and easily readable key. I will try not to factor the artistic niceness in.
Ooo I like the Cyclops waterfall thing. And what looks like a giant waterslide down to the stronghold.
Tyrant's Tower is either too generic or too specific (if you intended to insinuate the Whispering Tyrant).
Arched entrances. Natural feeling levels of height.
Ice!
Valley exit!
Barracks and a cockatrice pen!
Overall, I really like this map. There's something interesting going on here, I want to adventure, or run an adventure here, now. This tells a cool story (multiple possible stories), is shaped interestingly and naturally. Top pick so far.
RPG Superstar 2013 Top 4, RPG Superstar 2011 Top 16
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Dedicated Voter Season 6, Star Voter Season 7
aka primemover003
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This map simply Vrocks Kalervo! Good use of color, well labeled elevations, nice little details here and there. Love the artistic touches as well. Even though map turnovers aren't judged on that merit its definitely helpful (and more fun) for the cartographer if you include a flourish or two. Gives the map some personality!
--Vrock Superstar
Here are my ratings for this map:
First Look: A
This looks extremely cool.
Interest Level of Location: A
I really want the interior maps. Not because this map feels unfinished, but because its so interesting the I want more of it.
Tactical Depth: A
The platforms at different elevations, the ice, and the bridge are enough to earn an A.
Adventure Potential: A
This makes me want to adventure there.
Clarity: A
No problems.
Logic: B
Where does the flowing water come from? Shouldn't it freeze? I suppose its all magic. Otherwise this makes sense.
Overall: A
First off: Congratulations on making Round 2, and the best of luck in the votes!
Coolness: Do I look at this, and want to use it in a game? Does it provoke wonder or amazement? Does it hold potential for interesting encounters, adventures or roleplay? How much mileage does this map have in it?
Usability: How usable is this for me as a GM (being that GMs are actually the primary audience of most maps)? Is the legend clear and in logical order for play? Does it give me enough information to easily visualize the parts and wax poetic about the varied locations? Does it have the necessary details for me to run with it on the fly, or will it involve a lot of improvisation? Does it have any glaring oddities that stop me mid-breath to go "what the hell is that?!"?
Craftsmanship: Is it clear, legible and containing all the necessary bits and bobs? Does it make good use of the space? Is the scale appropriate for the detail (and visa versa)?
(I suppose you could also call them "Creativity, Functionality and Skill", but I like my terms better :P).
Coolness: B
- Positive: Ancient cyclops stronghold? You have my attention. The scale is deliberately done to a cyclopean scale, giving the feeling of walking in the footsteps of giants and the terrain is varied and riddled with subtle challenges for the would be adventurers. Niiice.
- Negative: Ancient Cyclops Stronghold: Stronghold not included. Seriously, where is the stronghold interior? This thing was A-grade cool right up until it one realizes that it isn't the whole thing. When the package says a half-dozen donuts, I want a six donuts, not four, no matter how tasty they are.
- Verdict: B due to missing content.
Usability: B
- Positive: Terrain is labeled, elevations are clear… even the symbols are all labeled.
- Negative: Having to make up entire segments, including the actual stronghold interior, to connect the dots.
- Verdict: B. Would be an A, but again, missing content = work for GM.
Craftsmanship: A-
- Positive: The craftsmanship of this thing is gorgeous; space is used well, key is clear, terrain is used well, as is scale.
- Negative: Don't include openings to interior terrain that you don't intend to put on the map. There's a time and place for teasing, and this isn't it =/
- Verdict: A-
Overall: B+
This was one of my favorites. The map was excellent, and it looks like a great place to explore. Lots of varying elevations and such make this great.
I have this ranked #2, good luck!
This map is creative, clear, and dynamic, and draws me in.
It's one of my top two—a certain vote.
Thank you for all the comments.
It has been very interesting to see the multitude of different perspectives on maps when it comes to R2 and in general.
Finally, thank you to everyone who voted for my map. I'll post some thoughts on my entry after the results are in.
Life is still crazy, but internet is finally working well again, so here's some feedback:
Cyclops Stronghold - Wow! Mountaintop awesome-scary vistas of deadly boulder exploration and neat cyclops fountains!
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Great job! This map got my vote. :)
Thank you for inspiring adventures in my mind!
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Thanks, Lady Firedove. :)
My thinking was that the outside should be full-page map and the interiors would be on other page(s). Since there's the tower, caves, and the mountain stronghold, which probably should have been renamed to a fortress, so the different elements combine into a stronghold.
Also, I didn't want clutter up the map but I can understand wanting to see what's in there.
In hindsight I would have added some more details (barricades, braziers, objects to the guard post / barracks) as well as added the cyclops heads & mountain tops to the key.
My starting point was to imagine what the adventurers would see when they climb up the side of the mountain ascending above cloud cover and seeing the archways, waterfalls, then the tower and sphere looming above them and so forth. Then I wanted to add some natural hazards like the ice and snow shelf (avalanche). At those heights the thin air and winds would provide their own challenges as well.
Overall I'm really happy with what I managed to put together in the time allotted and how the map was received.
Congratulations on making the top 16! I did vote for this even if I really wanted a side view/cross section/some sort of third dimension. But that is forever my disagreement with caves and indoors maps, when it isn't there.
Still the concept and idea and great Golarion tie-in really worked for me.