How to Make Good Maps

Are you tired of making bad maps? This guide will show you how to make maps that look nice and fresh!

(Note: Thanks for all the awards , i really appreciate it :)

Step 1: Creating a Base

First off, you need to start a new map. You should use is an empty iceberg map, so you can fit in the most land possible.
Then, create a base for the land you'll make.
Use the 'Close Ocean' to make an outline of what you're thinking of making

Step 2: Coastline

Then, you need to use the 'Shallow Ocean' to line the inside of the 'Close Ocean'
Next, you need to use the 'Sand' to line the inside of the shallow ocean, with a smaller brush.

(TIP) Make some areas of the sand larger than other parts, and make some areas thin.
After that you should have something like this:

Step 3: Mainland

After the sands done, you need to use the 'Plain Soil' to fill in the land you're making

Step 4: Vortex

After everything is filled in, you need to use the 'Vortex' tool to Mix everything up, and make sure the brush size is on this:
(TIP #2) Hold the Vortex on the ocean tiles to mix them up more, do light taps to mix up the sand and soil. It will look better.

After Vortexing it should look something like this:

Step 5: Adding Forests

Once You've done Vortexing, you need to add forests to make the land look nicer.

First, Use the 'Forest' Tool with a 1 pixel brush and scribble all over the land with it (I promise it'll look good)
Then, you will need the Vortex again, and use it to mix it all up with the same brush you used to mix up the coastline until the forest looks something like this:
( There's no straight-lines in nature, so mix it up so there is none)

Step 6: Mountains And Ravines

You might need to save the world here, but usually it comes out looking good, but just in case, save.

Next, you need to use the 'Earthquake' tool on your land. The Earthquake makes some really nice looking mountains, and they're unpredictable so they're different every time. They can also go down instead of up, which creates ravines or cracks in the ground.

Step 7: Rivers and Lakes

To create rivers, Use the shallow water tool again with the 1 pixel brush. Then Create squiggly lines going around the land, as that's how rivers flow in real life. If the water gets stuck travelling through the river, widen it up slightly so the water can pass. If you want to create a lake, use a slightly bigger brush to make a shallow water hole in the land. Then make all the rivers connect to the lake like this:

Step 8: Biomes, Trees and Flowers

After everything is done, it's time for the Biomes.
You can use any biome/s you want for this, and i used grass for the tutorial to make things simple.

After you've placed your biome/s, You need to place the trees and Plants. Put the trees in the area of the dark forest tiles, and put the flowers beside the rivers and lakes( This is where i would put my trees)

Step 9: Ores

You can use ores and minerals if you want, though they spawn naturally with a world law. The Ores are entirely up to you.

Enjoy

There is a more in - depth video on YouTube about making maps, which I'll link. It explains it a lot more clearly and i highly recommend it.

This is the finished map:
Anyway that's basically it hope it helps.

[Peeperboo]

Super helpful!

[TheTrufflator]

I see that more copypastas have spread.
Also, nice map! I'll be using this technique!
Thanks for the tutorial!

[AgentDave]

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Paste This On 9 pages And Your Wish
Will Come True! Hurry, You Have 20
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[raulnatan.edo]

bro my maps its looking better for god nvl thanks

[MEMEKAISER]

thanks my worlds look WAY better now!

[Marshall]

where the fuck is the tree tool? i cannot find it. i want to add trees but cannot figure it out

[alexbswan]

nice

[Lonestar713]

To make the rivers realistic make them start at mountains then flow down to the coastline, I also reccomend making diaganol sand bridges so units can cross them, but ships can also go through them aswepp

[Rebel Plays]

This is a great tutorial! But can you specify what brush size you use for the close ocean, shallow ocean and the sand?

[÷0]

Very cool!