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How much detail do You put on maps?

Zustiur

Explorer
With an island adventure in mind I began making a map today.
I drew the outline easily enough. Then I placed a few rivers and streams.. And then I drew in contour lines!

Am I going too far here? Sure contour lines are useful.. but I don't even have any trees yet.
What do you guys/gals do?
Zustiur.
 

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2WS-Steve

First Post
Mapping hints I've read suggest putting in water features and hills/mountains first, then filling out the rest, so it sounds like you're on the right track.
 

Hand of Evil

Hero
Epic
I alway add the following in this order.
Coast Line
Contours (see below)
Rivers
Mountains
Cities and special locations
Roads or trade routes
Forest

I use CC2, Contours are are color changes showing terrian changes. This means I can hide levels on the map yet still use colors to show mountain ranges and forest.

I add forest last because they grow around everything.:)
 

Buttercup

Princess of Florin
In the following order:

Coast line
Geologic features, such as mountains, rivers, lakes, etc.
Flora, such as forest, swamp, etc.
Created features, such as ruins, roads, communities.

I figure that's the order things happen in the real world, so why not in map making?
 

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