09/02/2014 - Grand Opening
Welcome to the thread everyone! With all the maps I've been making and some of map tutorials I have planned I decided to create my own thread for it. There's still work to do before it's fully functional, but I'll save that for when it's not after midnight. So far I have a Farengeto map archive set up below. I've reserved space for any tutorials, hopefully I'll have the map design one up soon. I'll add in an FAQ and requests section and see if I can do anything with them. Don't get your hope up too much for the latter though. Enjoy!
12/02/2014 - Cartography College Open
The first two entries in our Cartography College, "Expanding Your Claim: Enlarging Your National Map" and "The Virtual Electorate: Mapping the Vote", have been completed and are available to public. The Farengeto Department of Cartography is always looking for your feedback. Whether it's questions or comments don't hesitate to contact us.
21/03/2014 - Upcoming Projects
The Farengeto Department of Cartography is pleased to unveil some of their current projects.

The South Pacific Vector Map
Thanks to file from the Bureau of Cartography, the Department is producing a vector version of the TSP map. Traditional bitmap images are pixel-based, while vector maps consists of lines, curves, and polyogns. What does this mean for you? The reliance on pixels means that the image will blur as the resolution increases. Vector maps on the other hand do not face this restriction, meaning they can be enlarged to any size with no blurring. Once finished and ready, the Department plans to distribute this publicly and hopes it may be used to greatly accelerate the creation of enlarged maps. However, the department would like to make it clear in advance that they will not be adding political features such as country names or cities.

Collaboration with Farengeto Electronic Corporation
The Department has begun working on a project with a regional leader in digital entertainment, Farengeto Electronics. Details of the project have not yet been released, however the department will be seeking international contributions for the finished project to make it a success.

[Image: ReV0kiU.png]

[Image: WFaUhZK.png]

2010 Elections:
[Image: JHv0Mid.png]
2013 Elections:
[Image: rzLDMsj.png]
Information to be added to the legend:
Political Parties:
Liberal Party - 132 seats - Center-left
Democratic Party - 48 seats - Left
Progressive Conservative Party - 29 seats - Right
Conservative Party - 11 seats - Far right
Cephio Party - 3 seats - Regional party for the Cephio Isles
Green Party - 2 seats - Environmental party
Other/Independent - 6 seats

[Image: qERTIzH.png]

1. Plot 062: Novus Niciae - 434278 km^2
   
2. Plot 177 - 425568 km^2
   
3. Plot 076: Sierra Lobo - 408131 km^2
   
4. Plot 153: Esfalsa - 387875 km^2
   
5. Plot 056: Hammerstar - 361260 km^2
   
6. Plot 079 - 354502 km^2
   
7. Plot 158: Nejopia - 351157 km^2
   
8. Plot 071 - 339690 km^2
   
9. Plot 187: Costa Estre - 332227 km^2
   
10. Plot 064: Qvait - 307681 km^2
    
11. Plot 154 - 295528 km^2
    
12. Plot 055: Kringalia - 293313 km^2
    
13. Plot 075: Zadiner - 288534 km^2
    
14. Plot 176 - 273831 km^2
    
15. Plot 151 - 262204 km^2
    
16. Plot 157: Darakin - 253453 km^2
    
17. Plot 080 - 252364 km^2
    
18. Plot 063 - 250114 km^2
    
19. Plot 072: The Sanghelios Legion - 247556 km^2
    
20. Plot 152 - 243593 km^2
    
21. Plot 083: Liberum Hominis in Terra - 242486 km^2
    
22. Plot 061: Tir Chonaill - 230409 km^2
    
23. Plot 150: Sanden - 225554 km^2
    
24. Plot 057 - 223873 km^2
    
25. Plot 149: Torchwood - 207553 km^2
    
26. Plot 046: The United Expanse - 204351 km^2
    
27. Plot 217 - 199187 km^2
    
28. Plot 099: Farengeto - 198233 km^2
    
29. Plot 215 - 198134 km^2
    
30. Plot 042: Noctenos - 195116 km^2
    
31. Plot 073 - 189319 km^2
    
32. Plot 068: Seythennia - 188519 km^2
    
33. Plot 040: Resentine - 183705 km^2
    
34. Plot 037 - 181491 km^2
    
35. Plot 180: Ukhiross - 181276 km^2
    
36. Plot 165 - 179004 km^2
    
37. Plot 043: Bonaugure - 178481 km^2
    
38. Plot 186: Opplandia - 177472 km^2
    
39. Plot 052 - 176416 km^2
    
40. Plot 095: Kesshite - 176290 km^2
    
41. Plot 192 - 174593 km^2
    
42. Plot 025: Feirmont - 174501 km^2
    
43. Plot 041: Karlstadt - 171459 km^2
    
44. Plot 179 - 170170 km^2
    
45. Plot 053 - 169158 km^2
    
46. Plot 044 - 168797 km^2
    
47. Plot 216 - 168372 km^2
    
48. Plot 170 - 167909 km^2
    
49. Plot 155 - 167182 km^2
    
50. Plot 051 - 165266 km^2
    
51. Plot 144 - 163688 km^2
    
52. Plot 193 - 161082 km^2
    
53. Plot 104 - 160555 km^2
    
54. Plot 107: Ragristan - 159016 km^2
    
55. Plot 098: Zarisa - 152827 km^2
    
56. Plot 084 - 151812 km^2
    
57. Plot 175 - 151528 km^2
    
58. Plot 039: The Wasteland - 149132 km^2
    
59. Plot 100: The Solar System Scope - 148609 km^2
    
60. Plot 169 - 144275 km^2
    
61. Plot 086 - 141602 km^2
    
62. Plot 054: Rebel-topia - 140199 km^2
    
63. Plot 047 - 137322 km^2
    
64. Plot 225 - 134650 km^2
    
65. Plot 050: Glenavar - 131951 km^2
    
66. Plot 085 - 129962 km^2
    
67. Plot 065: SJS Republic - 129533 km^2
    
68. Plot 178 - 127286 km^2
    
69. Plot 035: Yishevyu - 127229 km^2
    
70. Plot 164 - 125438 km^2
    
71. Plot 220 - 124251 km^2
    
72. Plot 188: The Serres Republic - 123339 km^2
    
73. Plot 066: Belschaft - 121964 km^2
    
74. Plot 224 - 117499 km^2
    
75. Plot 218 - 117382 km^2
    
76. Plot 214 - 114472 km^2
    
77. Plot 202 - 112144 km^2
    
78. Plot 049: Scyllaland - 110103 km^2
    
79. Plot 089 - 109994 km^2
    
80. Plot 221: Melgrove - 109184 km^2
    
81. Plot 203 - 107910 km^2
    
82. Plot 060: Kyrini - 104117 km^2
    
83. Plot 106: Zesathrium - 103907 km^2
    
84. Plot 227: Stephenopolis - 102491 km^2
    
85. Plot 162 - 102126 km^2
    
86. Plot 078 - 101898 km^2
    
87. Plot 018 - 101629 km^2
    
88. Plot 163: Aramanchovia - 99223 km^2
    
89. Plot 201 - 97993 km^2
    
90. Plot 145: Punchwood - 95877 km^2
    
91. Plot 019 - 95058 km^2
    
92. Plot 092 - 94165 km^2
    
93. Plot 105 - 92912 km^2
    
94. Plot 212: Gemeinburg - 92207 km^2
    
95. Plot 205: The Derpy Democratic Republic of Herp - 89460 km^2
    
96. Plot 081: Dictatorship of Kings - 89427 km^2
    
97. Plot 199: Ubesii - 88909 km^2
    
98. Plot 213 - 88876 km^2
    
99. Plot 159 - 88332 km^2
    
100. Plot 023 - 88315 km^2
     
101. Plot 036 - 88108 km^2
     
102. Plot 010 - 87951 km^2
     
103. Plot 094 - 87510 km^2
     
104. Plot 219 - 86462 km^2
     
105. Plot 070 - 84536 km^2
     
106. Plot 204 - 83916 km^2
     
107. Plot 189: Sedunn - 83502 km^2
     
108. Plot 022 - 82745 km^2
     
109. Plot 198 - 80746 km^2
     
110. Plot 167 - 79586 km^2
     
111. Plot 222 - 79301 km^2
     
112. Plot 058 - 78591 km^2
     
113. Plot 146: USSGA - 77946 km^2
     
114. Plot 173 - 76417 km^2
     
115. Plot 034 - 75704 km^2
     
116. Plot 148: Sibardan - 73479 km^2
     
117. Plot 196 - 72428 km^2
     
118. Plot 194 - 70950 km^2
     
119. Plot 097 - 69411 km^2
     
120. Plot 016 - 69193 km^2
     
121. Plot 102 - 69136 km^2
     
122. Plot 074 - 68082 km^2
     
123. Plot 033 - 65987 km^2
     
124. Plot 013 - 65198 km^2
     
125. Plot 168 - 64065 km^2
     
126. Plot 166: Port Yalenia - 62456 km^2
     
127. Plot 184: Federated States of Omega - 61593 km^2
     
128. Plot 093 - 61072 km^2
     
129. Plot 228: Copernecium - 58413 km^2
     
130. Plot 009 - 58337 km^2
     
131. Plot 211 - 57870 km^2
     
132. Plot 014 - 57553 km^2
     
133. Plot 182 - 57227 km^2
     
134. Plot 143 - 55903 km^2
     
135. Plot 172 - 55721 km^2
     
136. Plot 223 - 54673 km^2
     
137. Plot 209: Eta Carina 2 - 54177 km^2
     
138. Plot 069 - 53259 km^2
     
139. Plot 045: Karnetvor - 52606 km^2
     
140. Plot 090: Bruuma - 51943 km^2
     
141. Plot 160 - 51493 km^2
     
142. Plot 020 - 50943 km^2
     
143. Plot 108 - 49573 km^2
     
144. Plot 181 - 49391 km^2
     
145. Plot 077 - 48998 km^2
     
146. Plot 082 - 48589 km^2
     
147. Plot 024 - 48051 km^2
     
148. Plot 103: Certania - 45911 km^2
     
149. Plot 008 - 45605 km^2
     
150. Plot 026 - 44450 km^2
     
151. Plot 190 - 43135 km^2
     
152. Plot 029: Awesomiasa - 42710 km^2
     
153. Plot 210 - 42656 km^2
     
154. Plot 140: Tsunamy - 42562 km^2
     
155. Plot 015 - 42467 km^2
     
156. Plot 032 - 42434 km^2
     
157. Plot 112 - 42021 km^2
     
158. Plot 059: Vercopa - 41825 km^2
     
159. Plot 156 - 41373 km^2
     
160. Plot 012 - 39192 km^2
     
161. Plot 067: New Livonia - 38861 km^2
     
162. Plot 027: Sovonor - 38109 km^2
     
163. Plot 171 - 35590 km^2
     
164. Plot 111 - 34749 km^2
     
165. Plot 048 - 34370 km^2
     
166. Plot 114 - 33180 km^2
     
167. Plot 088 - 32713 km^2
     
168. Plot 185 - 31926 km^2
     
169. Plot 226 - 31776 km^2
     
170. Plot 113 - 31480 km^2
     
171. Plot 031 - 30588 km^2
     
172. Plot 007: Vastraenn - 26994 km^2
     
173. Plot 028 - 24979 km^2
     
174. Plot 206 - 24035 km^2
     
175. Plot 011 - 22940 km^2
     
176. Plot 126 - 21815 km^2
     
177. Plot 110 - 21779 km^2
     
178. Plot 191 - 20379 km^2
     
179. Plot 003 - 18343 km^2
     
180. Plot 021: Baliish - 17806 km^2
     
181. Plot 229 - 16593 km^2
     
182. Plot 195 - 14829 km^2
     
183. Plot 207 - 14114 km^2
     
184. Plot 030 - 12725 km^2
     
185. Plot 197 - 11574 km^2
     
186. Plot 087 - 11242 km^2
     
187. Plot 142 - 10763 km^2
     
188. Plot 161 - 10094 km^2
     
189. Plot 005 - 9991 km^2
     
190. Plot 115 - 9489 km^2
     
191. Plot 174 - 9357 km^2
     
192. Plot 147: Phlontopia - 9028 km^2
     
193. Plot 138 - 8936 km^2
     
194. Plot 125 - 8242 km^2
     
195. Plot 123: Darkstrait - 6722 km^2
     
196. Plot 129: Imkitopia - 6306 km^2
     
197. Plot 116 - 6283 km^2
     
198. Plot 136 - 5958 km^2
     
199. Plot 139 - 5920 km^2
     
200. Plot 127 - 5771 km^2
     
201. Plot 121 - 5664 km^2
     
202. Plot 038: Tasternine - 5513 km^2
     
203. Plot 004: QuietDad - 5351 km^2
     
204. Plot 118: Sundoarna - 5333 km^2
     
205. Plot 122 - 5284 km^2
     
206. Plot 109: Scalten - 5007 km^2
     
207. Plot 101: Cathalea - 4930 km^2
     
208. Plot 120: Ice Cream - 4701 km^2
     
209. Plot 124: Winston Island - 4331 km^2
     
210. Plot 137 - 3927 km^2
     
211. Plot 128 - 3920 km^2
     
212. Plot 119 - 3728 km^2
     
213. Plot 006: RASPAT - 3618 km^2
     
214. Plot 091: Puerto Pollo - 3400 km^2
     
215. Plot 208 - 3319 km^2
     
216. Plot 117 - 3137 km^2
     
217. Plot 135 - 2866 km^2
     
218. Plot 130 - 2726 km^2
     
219. Plot 096: Alodia - 2664 km^2
     
220. Plot 017: Mrs Ethel J Bundy's Birthday Island - 1867 km^2
     
221. Plot 131 - 1793 km^2
     
222. Plot 134 - 1780 km^2
     
223. Plot 141: Sriwijaya - 1616 km^2
     
224. Plot 132 - 1257 km^2
     
225. Plot 002: Sandaoguo - 1031 km^2
     
226. Plot 133 - 846 km^2
     
227. Plot 001 - 674 km^2
     
228. Plot 200: Cephio Islands - 222 km^2
     
229. Plot 000: Government Island - 221 km^2
     
230. Plot 183: Siculite Islands - 195 km^2
     

While you like your claim, it may lack the size and detail you desire. In this guide I will explain the basics of creating an enlarged map on your nation.

Required:

• Computer (duh. )
  
• Image editor which supports layers
  
• B&N's TSP Map
  

Notes:

• Don't be afraid to draw outside the lines a bit. It doesn't need to be exact down to the pixel.
  
• If you're using a laptop I actually recommend the trackpad here. I find it allows for more precision.
  
• While I used the freeware GIMP, anything with layers and your basic tools should work.
  
• I use a lot of layers for my image; the current full file of the Farengeto map has over 70. Keep in mind these unflattened images get much larger in size for each layer, and may also use more power while open.
  
• This guide presumes a basic knowledge of the functions of your editor. If you need clarification, let me know.
  

Step 1: Crop
First, you need to isolate your section of the map. There are many ways to do this, but the simplest way is to just do a rectangular select over your nation's area. Try to leave a bit of extra space around your borders. From there either crop it or put it in a new image.

Step 2: Resize
Now you need to scale up your image. Whatever you do, don't change the side length ratio, and try to keep the scale in even multiples. If your image was 450x250, then make it 900x500, 1350x750, etc. For our purposes I find the optimal dimensions to be 4x the original. By this size the file is typically already larger than your screen, and is starting to get blurry at 100%. The more you increase the size the blurrier it will get. After increasing my islands by 8x they were essentially a blur.

Step 3: Base Layer
Now that you have your original file ready, it's time to start enhancing. Your first step is to create a base terrain layer. Add a new layer amd select your lasso tool. Create a selection along the border of your nation. Zoom in a bit, and create your selection piece by piece for better accuracy. Fill this selection with your base colour. (I used the ones from B&N's map, use the colour picker tool to copy from the original image if you choose to use them.)

Step 4: (Optional) Oceans and Foreign Countries
Create a new layer and fill it with your water colour. Change the layer's level so it's below the base layer. Make it transparent for now.

Create another layer and add your base layer to the selection using the magic wand. Use the lasso tool to select all land on the image. Remove your base layer from the selection and fill the new layer. A medium gray works best.

Step 5: Elevation
Now you need to add elevations. Create a new layer and deselect if you haven't already. Repeat the lasso select process for the base layer for the next elevation. Don't worry about the edges on the border, go past the base layer and when you're finished use the Magic Wand and use the subtract or intercept settings to remove sections which do not overlap with the base layer. Fill the selection with the paint bucket. Repeat for all elevations.

Step 6: Rivers
Create a new layer and set your foreground colour to your water colour. Select the paintbrush tool. Draw your rivers in whatever size you please, I found 10px good for large rivers and 5px for small rivers (e.g. where they split). Select the base layer before drawing to keep your lines inside the area.

Step 7: Cities[/size]
Set your paint colour to black. Select a brush size, your largest or most important cities should be larger than others. I used 20px from the capital, 10px for provincial capitals and 5px for other major cities.

Step 8: Borders
Finally, take your base layer and use the selection tools to create a border around the image.

Congratulations! You've created your map!

It's election season and you'd like to show the world how your citizens voted. If you want to really pull it off it will take some extra thought.

Step 1: Political Divisions
First of all you need to create a map of your nation's political divisions. You can display each constituency, but you'd be dealing with at least a hundred, possibly two or three hundred, using typical representation. Alternatively, you could use a regional format where multiple ridings are displayed as a single group, which doesn't necessarily contain an equal number of ridings. This would be the equivalent of a state map for the US, however not all seats may go to the same party. It is particularly useful for dealing with cities, which often contain many small constituencies.

Drawing this is up to you. The simplest format would be to draw borders a couple pixels wide to create solid map sections. In the attached image I had created a seperate layer of just the regional box fill

Step 2: Political Parties
Next you need political parties to vote for. You don't need detailed platforms, just major party names and their basic ideology.

While the USA is very bipartisan, most nations around the world have several major parties. There's no right party types or size. A few common ones include:

• Liberal
  
• Conservative
  
• Socialist (Often use terms like "Democratic" or "Worker's" for party names)
  
• Green
  
• Regional parties (smaller, patriotic parties which generally push for further autonomy of their region. Common in regions with cultural differences or physical seperation)
  
• Other/Independent (there's absolutely no shame in using unnamed minor parties or independent members)
  

Step 3: Electoral Results
Note: You can skip this step, but this is to maintain consistency and an extra level of detail.

You need to calculate how many seats each party got and where they got them. I overthink these things a bit, as you can see in my detailed spreadsheet. (Upon request I can share a blank version.) These statistics can be useful for political roleplay.

Step 4: (Optional) Percentage Data
Next you need to calculate the percentage of vote for the leader in each region.

If you're using a riding display, the percentage can be anything above 100/number of parties. This is the theoretical minimum.

If you're using a regional format, calculate the % of seats won by the leading party. The percentage is up to you, but the typical range would be +/- half a seat.

Step 5: Colouring the nation
Now we're on to the design portion.

Select a colour for each party. It can be anything you'd like, though using many party types have a colour associated with them.

If you wanted a basic map, just fill in using the colours and you're done.

However, we'll be adding some more detail. If you look at real election maps you'll notice they often are shaded deeper based on vote percentages. To do this, first take the party colour and open your colour selection menu. From here, set your saturation (S) value to the vote percentage for that region. Fill the region fill the resulting colour

Repeat the colour process for each section of the map.

Now, step back and take a look. Your nation has voted and the results are in. The winner is...