milbysmaps

The Next Historical Map - Runoff Vote

I'm still working on the Monastery of Varlaam in Meteora, Greece and it turns out this place is pretty big. Also, I'm incredibly sick right now, so I'll need a few more days to finish the drawings. This place will make an amazing map, though.

Anyway, the historical vote is down to the French Dungeon Castle and the Ital...

The Next Historical Map

I started my patreon 5 years ago this month and it felt like I should do something special, so I'm holding a vote for all patrons on the next historical map you'd like to see. I think all of these places would make incredible maps and I hope to draw them all at some point, but which one would you like to see now?

1. Château de Brézé - A French castle with an elaborate network of c...
   2023-09-17 00:25:07 +0000 UTC View Post

Ethermont House

Ethermont House is the guildhall of the Imperial Society of Extraordinary Adventurers, who have done pretty well for themselves over the years. As it turns out, breaking into the homes of evil wizards, killing them and selling all their stuff is a fairly profitable line of work.

When the job is done and you've finally cleaned all the little chunks of Saruman off your battleaxe, Ethermont is a great place to go and relax with some friends. Then, after a night in the beer hall and the bil...

Ethermont House - Patrons' Edition

Ethermont House is the guildhall of the Imperial Society of Extraordinary Adventurers, who have done pretty well for themselves over the years. As it turns out, breaking into the homes of evil wizards, killing them and selling all their stuff is a fairly profitable line of work.

When the job is done and you've finally cleaned all the little chunks of Saruman off your battleaxe, Ethermont is a great place to go and relax with some friends. Then, after a night in the beer hall and the bil...

Guildhall of the Imperial Society of Extraordinary Adventurers (Work-in-Progress)

This adventurers' guildhall is a large manor with a courtyard, library, music room, training hall and a gallery of various artifacts acquired ("acquired") by guild members over the course of their adventures. It could also make a nice base for the party or a good location for a classic armed robbery-themed adventure.

Anyway, I'm gonna get to work on coloring this place. Let me know what you think!

The 60th Cartographic Congress Final Runoff

Here are your two finalists. Choose wisely!

Shawn proposes Meteora, a Greek monastery built atop a tall pillar of rock.

Jon proposes the Black Citadel, a giant ziggurat floating through the astral sea, which serves as the base of operations of a sinister organization. A non-floating version would be made as well.

The Hall of the Bearded Men

This is the ancient ruin found on Tir Thelandira. The wood elves who inhabit the island don't know who built it or why, only that it was here before they were. The "Bearded Men," as the elves call them, are a great mystery. They certainly weren't elves and they don't look like humans, either. A few claim to have seen a Bearded Man who arrived on a ship centuries ago, but few believe them. Perhaps, one day, anot...

The Hall of the Bearded Men - Patrons' Edition

This is the ancient ruin found on Tir Thelandira. The wood elves who inhabit the island don't know who built it or why, only that it was here before they were. The "Bearded Men," as the elves call them, are a great mystery. They certainly weren't elves and they don't look like humans, either. A few claim to have seen a Bearded Man who arrived on a ship centuries ago, but few believe them. Perhaps, one day, anot...

The 60th Cartographic Congress Vote

This being the 60th vote means I've been doing this for five years, so I'll be holding a second vote to thank everyone. It'll be a list of places I've wanted to draw for a while, most of which are historical. Anyway, let's do the first vote first:

Parker proposes an advanced dwarven magical research center.

Shawn proposes Meteora, a Greek monastery built atop a tall pillar of rock.

Joe proposes a mechanized fortress deep underground. The magical, intelligent machine controll...

Fiachna's Knoll

Fiachna's Knoll is an elven town in Tir Thelandira. With this done, there are only two more maps to draw before the island is finished. The next will be the one proposed by Magpie and voted for by patrons: the ruins of a monument built by a civilization so ancient that it preceded even the elves' arrival on Tir Thelandira.

I've been thinking about what this place should be and I've decided to make it the ...

Fiachna's Knoll - Patrons' Edition

Fiachna's Knoll is an elven town in Tir Thelandira. With this done, there are only two more maps to draw before the island is finished. The next will be the one proposed by Magpie and voted for by patrons: the ruins of a monument built by a civilization so ancient that it preceded even the elves' arrival on Tir Thelandira.

I've been thinking about what this place should be and I've decided to make it the ...

Elven Town (Work-in-Progress)

This is one of the last three maps to draw for Tir Thelandira. It's a wood elf town with a layout inspired by motte-and-bailey castles. Anyway, just thought I'd give you a look at it. I'm gonna get back to coloring this thing. Let me know what you think!

Driftport - Spelljammer Version

A few people requested a space background for Driftport and that's easy enough, so here it is.

The response to the map I proposed in the last post was the most rapid and overwhelmingly positive reaction I've ever gotten to any idea I've ever had. So I think I'm gonna have to draw it. I'm going to finish up Tir Thel...

Driftport 40K: In the grim darkness of the open sea, there is only fog.

The other version of Driftport is a pretty nice place. This is the version for DMs who imagine it as a place where the residents might drink turpentine, engage in cannibalism and sacrifice outsiders to an ancient abomination lurking deep beneath the waves. Or it can just be the night version, I suppose. Your call.

Drawing this gave me an idea for a map of another large, seafaring settlement a...

Driftport 40K: In the grim darkness of the open sea, there is only fog - Patrons' Edition

The other version of Driftport is a pretty nice place. This is the version for DMs who imagine it as a place where the residents might drink turpentine, engage in cannibalism and sacrifice outsiders to an ancient abomination lurking deep beneath the waves. Or it can just be the night version, I suppose. Your call.

Drawing this gave me an idea for a map of another large, seafaring settlement a...

The Floating Town of Driftport

I'm going to say something wildly controversial. I probably shouldn't, but I'm going to anyway and I hope it doesn't offend anyone. I liked Waterworld. I haven't seen it in years, but I watched it a few times as a teenager and I thought it was a pretty good movie. Feels good to get that off my chest.

Driftport was sort of inspired by the town in that movie. It's the kind of town people might build if there was no land. A collection of salvaged ships and scrap wood Frankensteined togethe...

The Floating Town of Driftport - Patrons' Edition

I'm going to say something wildly controversial. I probably shouldn't, but I'm going to anyway and I hope it doesn't offend anyone. I liked Waterworld. I haven't seen it in years, but I watched it a few times as a teenager and I thought it was a pretty good movie. Feels good to get that off my chest.

Driftport was sort of inspired by the town in that movie. It's the kind of town people might build if there was no land. A collection of salvaged ships and scrap wood Frankensteined togethe...

Driftport: First Floor (Work-in-Progress)

Here's the first floor finished. I've got the second and third floors drawn already and I'll ink those today. So, what do you think so far?

Driftport (Work-in-Progress)

This is the first floor of Driftport, a floating town made of scrap wood and salvaged ships that have been spliced together like some kind of nautical Frankenstein. There will be a second floor above this and a small third floor as well. I got really inspired by the idea of this place and I think it's going to make a really cool map. All right, I'm gonna get back to it. Let me know what you think so far!

Tir Thelandira Location #3 - The Final Showdown

This is the last vote for location #3. I really like both ideas, but only one is going to make it onto the map. As always, feel free to discuss your options below. Good luck to J and Magpie!

J proposes a treetop village of wild halflings who ride giant seabirds and hunt over the ocean.

Magpie proposes the ruins of a monument built by a civilization so ancient that it preceded even the elves' arrival on Tir Thelandira.

New Giltwater - A Gold Mining Colony

New Giltwater is a gold mining colony in Tir Thelandira. After the last colony was burned to the ground by the island's native wood elves, the colonists have taken a few more precautions this time around, building a palisade and keeping a few companies of mercenaries close by.

There are ...

New Giltwater - Patrons' Edition

New Giltwater is a gold mining colony in Tir Thelandira. After the last colony was burned to the ground by the island's native wood elves, the colonists have taken a few more precautions this time around, building a palisade and keeping a few companies of mercenaries close by.

There are ...

Tir Thelandira Location #3 - Final Round Runoff

We're down to three in the runoff. Which one do you want to see on the map?

J proposes a treetop village of wild halflings who ride giant seabirds and hunt over the ocean.

Kevin proposes the underground sanctum of a Baelnorn-- a benevolent, undead elf similar to a lich-- who is sworn to protect the eastern forest.

Magpie proposes the ruins of a monument built by a civilization so ancient that it preceded even the elves' arrival on Tir Thelandira.

Tir Thelandira Location #3 - Final Round

These are the top two ideas from each of the previous 3 votes, one of which will be drawn at location #3 on the Tir Thelandira map. If necessary, there may be one or more runoff votes after this until there is a clear winner. Thanks to everyone who submitted a proposal and good luck! As always, feel free to discuss, debate or promote your choices below.

Silas proposes ...

The Brass Koi: Spelljammer Version

As promised, here's the spacefaring version of the Brass Koi submarine. I don't know how many Spelljammer DMs were specifically looking for an amphibious ship, but it does open up a few interesting possibilities. And, in any case, it's another spelljammer map, which there still aren't a ton of out there. It's unfortunate that Spelljammer gets so little support in terms of maps, but I'm 2023-07-22 20:12:17 +0000 UTC View Post

The Brass Koi: Spelljammer Version - Patrons' Edition

As promised, here's the spacefaring version of the Brass Koi submarine. I don't know how many Spelljammer DMs were specifically looking for an amphibious ship, but it does open up a few interesting possibilities. And, in any case, it's another spelljammer map, which there still aren't a ton of out there. It's unfortunate that Spelljammer gets so little support in terms of maps, but I'm 2023-07-22 20:12:09 +0000 UTC View Post

Tir Thelandira Location #3 (Vote 3 of 3)

The top two proposals from the last vote were the Underground Baelnorn Sanctum and the Ancient Ruins Built Before the Elves. Those will join the winners of the first vote in the final round, along with the top two from this vote. As always, feel free to discuss your options in the comments. Good luck!

Diresquirrel proposes the nesting site of a large group of terror birds (giant, prehistoric murder emus).

Troy proposes a large henge of standing stones used by the elves for seasona...

The Brass Koi

When I first started drawing this map, I was trying to avoid making it look too modern, since most people are probably going to use it in a fantasy setting. Then I saw a picture of a fighter jet and I thought about how cool a canopy like that would look on a submarine, so I drew one in. I still think it's within the realm of "something a gnomish inventor might build," but I apologize if I went too far. You've gotta admit, though-- that canopy is pretty sweet.

I'm giving out the 2023-07-21 18:33:37 +0000 UTC View Post

The Brass Koi - Patrons' Edition

When I first started drawing this map, I was trying to avoid making it look too modern, since most people are probably going to use it in a fantasy setting. Then I saw a picture of a fighter jet and I thought about how cool a canopy like that would look on a submarine, so I drew one in. I still think it's within the realm of "something a gnomish inventor might build," but I apologize if I went too far. You've gotta admit, though-- that canopy is pretty sweet.

I'm giving out the 2023-07-21 18:33:28 +0000 UTC View Post

Tir Thelandira Location #3 (Vote 2 of 3)

This is the second vote for location #3 (on the right side of this map). The two winners of the previous vote were the Tomb of the Sleeping Centaur King and the Treetop Halfling Village, which will move on to the final round. Here are your proposals:

Kevin proposes the underground sanctum of a Baelnorn-- a benevolent, undead elf similar to a lich-- who is sworn to prot...