fantasy maps and normal geological formations

[alsih2o]

historically people have explained geologic features thru myth. the great lakes were formed when paul bunyan got in a wrestling match, a mountain rises when god x piled dirt for a place to rest his head or a sea was formed by goddess the tears of goddess y.

we play in a game where usually all of that is the truth. mountains, rivers and canyons are formed by gods and prehistoric critters. lakes, volcanoes and vast plains were formed by non-geologic forces that men may still have to contend with.

but i hardly ever see this reflected in maps for games. many talented mapmakers come here to show their work (have you been to art, cartography and miniatures forum lately?) but they all seem to be striving for "realistic" topography and logical placement of various geological attributes.

am i the only one who would like ot see some funky maps or, failing that, some maps that explain various lanmasses via the pantheon or mythos of a world? looking upon a mountain range and knowing it is there because dust built upon the back of the great god whosiwhatsis while he slept a magically ewnchanted sleep for 10,000 years before the elves were born would really add something. imho.

 

[Tonguez]

But how would you tell the difference?

For instance one of our local legends says that the Pacific Ring of Fire was formed when a powerful priest called for fire to be sent to him because he was freezing to death on a mountain top

the path the fire-spirit took is a line of geothermal activity stretching across the Pacific

how can anyone tell whether the story is true or not afterall the path is there...

 

[diaglo]

check out the FRIAtlas. look up the Dalelands.
see what Moander did to the Forest.

 

[Hand of Evil]

I normally do it in the history I given my players but I have called places on my maps by their history/myths/nature.

One of my maps has an area between two mountain ranges called the Dragon Basket. Dragons nest in both mountain ranges, flying and taking herd animals from the basket. They keep this area tree-less with controlled burns. I have a group of nomads that have also gathers some of the herds (and bones/irory) to sell at market, in return they give tresure to the dragons!

 

[haiiro]

Here's a couple that I can think of:

In the Forgotten Realms, the desert of Anauroch was bordered by the Great Glacier for many years - directly bordered, too: there was no transition area. This was brought about by very powerful magic at some point in the past. I'm a little fuzzy on the details.

I believe that there are a number of elements of Scarred Lands geography that are directly attributed to the clash of gods and titans. There is an ocean, for example, that is red in color because it is tainted by the blood of a titan, who is chained to the sea floor, his heart exposed and bleeding into the waters around him.

In general, though, there's no reason why a DM can't simply choose to work mythological elements into the geography of her world. Sometimes coming up with an interesting explanation for an apparently mundane piece of terrain can be a lot of fun.

 

[Storminator]

My PBeM features a very recent apocalypse, and the terrain is a direct result of the god's battle.

My players are based in a very nice, safe place, and surrounded by dangerous areas. When the two new gods, Areon and the Beast, battled for control of the world, they smashed continents and destroyed oceans. At one point in the titanic fight a lonely human voice offered up the first prayer, "please lord, spare us." Both gods noticed this voice at the same time.

The Beast sought to destroy the voice, while Areon saved him. The giant forces of the gods met on the poor man, the Beast from under the earth, Areon blocking the Beast's blow from above. For hundreds of miles all around the terrain was pressed flat and raised up, a wide plain with poor drainage and redirected rivers. Miraculously, most life survived. The plain is called Areon's Palm.

Surrounding the plain are the five Claws of the Beast. These "mountains" tower over the plain, impossibly thin, impossible tall. When the sun passes behind them, all of Areon's children pray for deliverance from the Shadow of the Claws. Furthermore, between the great Claws are low, broken, cursed hills where the deities still war for supremecy. These hills are called the Knuckles.

http://fomoss.rpgoffice.com/Areon'sPalm.html

PS

 

[alsih2o]

But how would you tell the difference?

i think these kind folks answered both our questions


thanks everyone, this is exactly what i was looking for

 

[Henry]

I was just about to mention the Scarred Lands as an excellent example of this idea in action. In Scarn, the geologic features really ARE the remnants of divine battles. Not just some of them -- MOST of them. This mountain, that crag, that canyon, these oceans, this lake -- it seems like the Scarred lands must have been pretty featureless until the gods and Titans mixed it up about 400 years ago!