THE LEARNING ARCHIVES

Whether you're creating maps for a novel, rpg, or just for fun, this collection of tutorials and map tips will help you create more professional and believable maps for your story!

Drawing Cliffs in Different Perspectives
Map Tip Josh Stolarz Map Tip Josh Stolarz

Drawing Cliffs in Different Perspectives

When you sit down to draw a fantasy map for your story, one of the first things to decide is the perspective you’ll use. The most common tend to be isometric and top down, but which should you use? Here we will look at some of the benefits of each using something like cliffs to show some of the differences.

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Plateaus, Mesas, & Buttes - What’s The Difference?
Map Tip Josh Stolarz Map Tip Josh Stolarz

Plateaus, Mesas, & Buttes - What’s The Difference?

Plateaus, mesas, and buttes can look very similar and it can be a challenge to know the difference. Things become even more confusing when you listen to the average person describe these cliff formations, because they’ll often use the names interchangeably. So how can you tell the difference so you know what to name them on your fantasy map? Much of it comes down to the overall size, but there are a couple other things simple things to keep in mind which will help you distinguish them.

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How to Draw a Cliff Drop-Off
Tutorial Josh Stolarz Tutorial Josh Stolarz

How to Draw a Cliff Drop-Off

How do you draw a cliff that is facing away from you on your fantasy map? If you have ever drawn a plateau, canyon, or chasm but wanted it facing away from you, then you know this can be a challenge. In this tutorial I'll share some simple tricks you can use on your maps.

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How to Draw Plateaus & Cliffs
Tutorial Josh Stolarz Tutorial Josh Stolarz

How to Draw Plateaus & Cliffs

Drawing a plateau on your fantasy map is a simple way to make the landscape of your world stand out from the flat terrain you see on most maps. In this tutorial, you will learn how to draw impressive cliffs that rise out of the landscape. Which can become key storytelling features in the world you're creating for your next book or role-playing campaign.

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