milbysmaps posts
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The Two Palms Tavern - Patrons' Edition
Well, I decided to draw a palm tree on the map and call it the "Two Palms Tavern" after all. I'm not proud of having drawn a dad joke into the map, but it felt like the right thing to do at the time. I won't make a habit of it, I promise.The vote for the second civilization of Tir Thelandira is still open and I wanted to give patrons another chance to cast a vote before I end it in a few days, so if you haven't cast a vote, pl...
The Barre Sinister: A Spelljammer Pirate Tavern
I've made some fairly strange maps, but we might have a new champion today. The Barre Sinister is a tavern built on a giant, stone hand... in space. I also made a version with just the hand, which is arguably weirder. I suspect at least one of you has a use for that.If you don't play Spelljammer and you're wondering how this place could possibly exist, allow me to explain the first rule of Spelljammer: Never ask questions about how th...
The Barre Sinister: A Spelljammer Pirate Tavern - Patrons' Edition
I've made some fairly strange maps, but we might have a new champion today. The Barre Sinister is a tavern built on a giant, stone hand... in space. I also made a version with just the hand, which is arguably weirder. I suspect at least one of you has a use for that.If you don't play Spelljammer and you're wondering how this place could possibly exist, allow me to explain the first rule of Spelljammer: Never ask questions about how th...
The Second Civilization of Tir Thelandira
I've come up with three civilizations based on the ideas you've given me. This vote will decide which one will share the island of Tir Thelandira with the wild elves. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.The Kiyaran Khanate:The Kiyarans are horse-riding, nomadic people with a culture inspired by Turkmen, Tatars and Mongols. They rule a small empire on several distant islands.20 years ago, five ships of Kiyaran soldiers were caught ...
The George and Dragon Inn - A 17th-Century Coaching Inn in Southwark, London
This map is based on a historic inn in Southwark, London. The establishment's original name was The George and Dragon, although it's known today as The George Inn. Personally, if it was up to me to abbreviate the name, I'd have kept the Dragon part and sent George packing, but I suppose that's not the way the owners decided to go with it. They did keep the dragon on the sign, at least.The George and Dragon was originally a coachin...
The George and Dragon Inn - Patrons' Edition
This map is based on a historic inn in Southwark, London. The establishment's original name was The George and Dragon, although it's known today as The George Inn. Personally, if it was up to me to abbreviate the name, I'd have kept the Dragon part and sent George packing, but I suppose that's not the way the owners decided to go with it. They did keep the dragon on the sign, at least.The George and Dragon was originally a coachin...
The 51st Cartographic Congress Runoff
I'm working on last month's winner at the moment-- an Elizabethan coaching inn based on the George Inn in London-- so I'll get right to it. Here are your three finalists in this month's runoff:Silas proposes a grand Cathedral of Pelor built next to a lake. This will resemble an ancient Sun Temple, with a worship hall, accommodation for the clergy and a hiding place for religious artefacts.Shawn proposes a caravanserai built into t...
The Island of Tir Thelandira
People seem to like the wild elves, so I drew up a map of the island they'll be living on. The elves will occupy the left side of the island and their yet-to-be-decided neighbors will be on the right. I don't know what's going to be happening on that little island at the top, but we'll figure something out.My wife has asked me to name the elven ruler after her and I told her I would. Don't worry, this doesn't mean we'r...
Frog's Haven Crannog
In the last post, I talked about my plans for the first island of the as-yet-unnamed big project. There will be two civilizations living on the island, one of which will be a kingdom of wild elves.Over the past century, the wild elves have been shifting from a tribal, nomadic society to a settled one. While the elves have become better at building large structures of timber and stone, their skills at architecture are still well behind those of ot...
Frog's Haven Crannog - Patrons' Edition
In the last post, I talked about my plans for the first island of the as-yet-unnamed big project. There will be two civilizations living on the island, one of which will be a kingdom of wild elves.Over the past century, the wild elves have been shifting from a tribal, nomadic society to a settled one. While the elves have become better at building large structures of timber and stone, their skills at architecture are still well behind those of ot...
The 51st Cartographic Congress Vote
We've got 11 proposals this month, so I'll let you get to it. As always, feel free to discuss, promote or ask questions!Odd proposes a zaratan that has been corrupted by the shadow plane, with black, jewel-encrusted buildings rising from its back. This dark influence has turned the zaratan into a vile monstrosity.Chaan proposes a beholder's lair, featuring vertical passages between levels for the occupant to levitate through.Jon propo...
The Black Loch: The Collected Free Versions - Also, news about the next big project.
I compiled all the free versions of the Black Loch maps and tokens, which you can download here. The image above is something I made to post on reddit. I think it explains what the Black Loch is pretty well.I also wanted to talk about what I'm working on now. A while back, I discussed the next big project I had planned: a series of islands. I finally have a plan for the first island and I want to see what you all think.There will be two civil...
Murud-Janjira: An Island Fortress in Maharashtra, India
I made an annotated version of this map, which was only possible with the help of Aditya, who translated the only labeled map of this fort I was able to find, which was in Hindi. I'm very grateful for the help and the least I can do is pay it forward and give the annotated version away to everyone.Murud-Janjira was built in the 1400s and was only taken by force once. The Maratha Empire assaulted it about a dozen times. They climbed the walls,...
Murud-Janjira: An Island Fortress in Maharashtra, India - Patrons' Edition
I made an annotated version of this map, which was only possible with the help of Aditya, who translated the only labeled map of this fort I was able to find, which was in Hindi. I'm very grateful for the help and the least I can do is pay it forward and give the annotated version away to everyone.Murud-Janjira was built in the 1400s and was only taken by force once. The Maratha Empire assaulted it about a dozen times. They climbed the walls,...
Murud-Janjira Fort (Work-in-Progress)
I meant to post this yesterday, but here's the art for Murud-Janjira, the island fortress just off the western coast of India.There's a temple to the Hindu god Shiva here, but I couldn't find a picture of the interior, so I had to do a little research to find out what a temple to Shiva would look like. Along the way, I learned a few interesting things: Shiva is the god of destruction and is known as "the Destroyer of Evil." Sh...
Akshardham Temple: The Interior
Several months ago, a patron said that India was underrepresented in fantasy settings and I agreed. Take the Forgotten Realms, for example. Faerun is inspired by Europe, of course. Then you've got Zakhara, the Arabian part of the world. And then there's Kara-Tur, which is East Asia, and Maztica, which is Mesoamerica. Technically, there's an Africa, but almost nothing is written about it, so that doesn't really count. But there'...
Akshardham Temple: The Interior - Patrons' Edition
Several months ago, a patron said that India was underrepresented in fantasy settings and I agreed. Take the Forgotten Realms, for example. Faerun is inspired by Europe, of course. Then you've got Zakhara, the Arabian part of the world. And then there's Kara-Tur, which is East Asia, and Maztica, which is Mesoamerica. Technically, there's an Africa, but almost nothing is written about it, so that doesn't really count. But there'...
The 50th Cartographic Congress Final Runoff
We're down to the final two proposals and, whichever you pick, there's going to be a bar. Do you want the classy, English bar with a place for horses or the bar on a big, stone hand with a place for ships or spelljammers? As always, feel free to ask questions or share your thoughts on the candidates.Jon proposes the Barre Sinister, a spelljammer pirate port built into the palm of a gigantic stone hand that orbits the sun. There are docks ...
50th Cartographic Congress: The Second Chance Final Runoff
We've got two final candidates and I'm glad they're both proposals from people who are still currently patrons. That saves me from having to send someone a map, tell them that I drew the thing they proposed to the Cartographic Congress three years ago and fill them in on exactly how and why that happened. That feels like a lot of typing.Anyway, here are your proposals:(11th CC): MacTorg proposed a small keep between two cliffs, wallin...
Akshardham Temple: The Exterior
Akshardham is a Hindu temple in New Delhi, India. This monument to the gods was constructed long, long ago, back in the year... *checks notes* 2005. Few remember what life was like in those ancient times, but historians say the telephones of that era could be folded in half. I didn't actually realize this place was so new until I'd already started drawing it, but I'm really happy that people are still building places that would make g...
Akshardham Temple: The Exterior - Patrons' Edition
Akshardham is a Hindu temple in New Delhi, India. This monument to the gods was constructed long, long ago, back in the year... *checks notes* 2005. Few remember what life was like in those ancient times, but historians say the telephones of that era could be folded in half. I didn't actually realize this place was so new until I'd already started drawing it, but I'm really happy that people are still building places that would make g...
50th Cartographic Congress: The Second Chance RUNOFF
Here's the runoff for the special vote. Which one of these do you want to see rise from the grave?(15th CC): Fraz-Urb'luu proposed a fortified settlement built inside the skull of a dead god.(11th CC): MacTorg proposed a small keep between two cliffs, walling off a mountain pass.(46th CC): Wagner proposed a Venetian-style palace by a canal, with gondolas passing by. This would be in a gothic or dark fantasy style.
Akshardham Temple (Work-in-Progress)
Here's Akshardham Temple almost fully inked. I'll be drawing the interior as well, of course.This is definitely one of the most elaborate maps I've ever drawn, if not the most. Between the tile pattern on the central walkway, the gardens and the roof of the temple. this place is full of tiny details.On a side note, I got a little confused while I was looking for information on this place. There was an Akshardham Temple in Delhi and an...
The 50th Cartographic Congress Runoff
We're down to three proposals in the runoff. I'm in the middle of inking Akshardham Temple, so I'll leave you to it. Your candidates are:Dezzicus proposes Germany's Hohenzollern Castle.Shawn proposes an Elizabethan coaching inn modeled after The George Inn in London.Jon proposes the Barre Sinister, a spelljammer pirate port built into the palm of a gigantic stone hand that orbits the sun. There are docks and several buildings, mos...
50th Cartographic Congress: The Second Chance Vote
For the 50th Cartographic Congress, I decided to compile a list of the best proposals from the past that didn't make it and give them another shot. I think all of these would make excellent maps and I hope you'll agree. Feel free to ask questions or discuss your choices below.(23rd CC): Jonathan proposed a large prison ship.(15th CC): Fraz-Urb'luu proposed a fortified settlement built inside the skull of a dead god.(14th CC): Andrew p...
Great Bombard: Spelljammer goes brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrt
The Great Bombard isn't a ship, it's a gun. A really big gun. This gun does has a ship attached to it, though. This accessory, mounted under the barrel, allows a crew to move the gun through space and blow things up in a variety of interesting and exotic locations.If you allow your party to acquire a Great Bombard, I don't think that's unreasonable. But you do need to keep it in mind when planning adventures from that point on. As...
Great Bombard: Spelljammer goes brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrt - Patrons' Edition
The Great Bombard isn't a ship, it's a gun. A really big gun. This gun does has a ship attached to it, though. This accessory, mounted under the barrel, allows a crew to move the gun through space and blow things up in a variety of interesting and exotic locations.If you allow your party to acquire a Great Bombard, I don't think that's unreasonable. But you do need to keep it in mind when planning adventures from that point on. As...
The 50th Cartographic Congress Vote
FUN FACT: technically, this is only the 49th vote because, when the first one happened 50 months ago, there was only one member of the Cartographic Congress. There was a vote held during the 2nd Cartographic Congress, but there was only one proposal, so the ballot looked like this.In a day or two, I'll be posting another vote on some proposals from the past that I thought were worth giving a second chance. But for now, here are your choices. ...
The Generalife: A Palace of the Alhambra
I visited the Alhambra a few years ago and, before I went, I was considering drawing a map of the place. When I got there, I realized how completely insane a task that would be. Here's the entire Alhambra complex. This map– the Generalife– is the little thing in the top right. I've drawn a four-level map of Mont-St-Michel and I'm pretty sure the Alhambra would take longer than that did.To give you an idea of how big this place is,...
The Generalife: A Palace of the Alhambra - Patrons' Edition
I visited the Alhambra a few years ago and, before I went, I was considering drawing a map of the place. When I got there, I realized how completely insane a task that would be. Here's the entire Alhambra complex. This map– the Generalife– is the little thing in the top right. I've drawn a four-level map of Mont-St-Michel and I'm pretty sure the Alhambra would take longer than that did.To give you an idea of how big this place is,...
