I have to admit that Geography doesn't ususally belong to my greatest strengths, but I try to come up with a few details, which I think are important.
Again, here is the - preliminary map of the setting, but it features only the coastal lines and the larger political entities.
The main setting of the Dark Golden Age is based on one big continent surounded by several islands and the like. The very North of the continent lows beyond a theoretical polar circle and is thus covered permanently in frost and ice. Below this, there are the typical boreal tundra and taiga belts, before the climate becomes more moderate, roughly along the line of Southern Rhyrgia and the Northern part of the Eastern League.
The very South of the continent - the southern coast of Venna and Ferron and the Whale Islands are a subtropical, arid climate. This means that the North-South expansion is roughly about the distance between Iceland and Sicily, or Anchorage and LA.
Don't ask me about winds and sea streams, but if I am not completely mistaken, the more central parts of the continent like Northern Thuria is probably quite dry, with a certain chance for desertification (which probably works best for the Sarkan tribelands/Thur border region, including a quite cold desert, like the Gobi).
Several large rivers cut through the land, as there are several mountain ranges. There is very likely the typical terminal moraine low mountain ranges in the North, with the land beyond very flat. On the other hand, there is likely a fold mountain range along the typical tectonic plate rifts, for example between the Ferronian Peninsula and the rest of the continent, and perhaps again between Sabscria and the rest, creating powerful rain shadows and comparatively fertila (or swampy) regions.
Comments
I would, most urgently, like to discuss this map with those who would like to be the ones to describe the weather and climate of the various countries upon this map. Since we are just starting out I can make some minor geological changes and shift the plan about in order to get a feel for where the equator should be. Also, based upon the notion that the planet is about 1g (earth-like gravity) I can make some assumptions and come up with an overall Cartesian track for it. I am working on fleshing some of it out so in an effort to create a number of plates that we can debate, consider, discuss and change I will need to simply paint the map to speed things along. Once we arrive at a consensus it will be easier to narrow down some of the features of the given areas.
At this point I am just getting started, however here is my plan from 35,000 feet
1) Paint the political map full scale with minor details
2) Paint the geological reference map based upon general assumptions
3) Upload the images to the site (It may be necessary to store the data on my site and add a link if I cannot get the file of given size up to this site)
4) Collect feedback on the 35,000 foot view
5) Adjust the map in discussion in order to reach a consensus
6) Finalize the map and upload the final map
7) Get a buyout on the painted map from everyone
8) Increase the level of detail to include major waterways, lakes mountain ranges and geological points of reference.
9) {perhaps} Create maps of the countries to be used as developmental references
I believe that with a proper map set and patterns for climate and conditions of the regions it will be easier to extrapolate the modules and to develop the milieu.
I'm really glad that this is an area of interest for you - I'm happy to give feedback, since like all gamers I've drawn more than my fair share of maps, but I really don't see it as a strength of mine. I'm happy to periodically give my two cents, however.
What seems to be happening is that we're starting both 'top down' and 'bottom up', with the overall continental map of Gondal being refined while we also work on the local layouts of set pieces for our first adventure module. You're right, thought, that as we iron out geography, many things will become more apparent (those nations must have had a war over control of that river; those people would have to be pastoralists because their land is so arid; etc.)
I think you have a lot of flexibility unless you'd like to have a lot of direction. The setting materials mention some mountains that I placed on the CC draft I started, and they also mentioned a great forest in the north. Beyond that, it didn't have much.
I also think that while the world currently has one continent, we may someday add another continent. A lot of fantasy settings follow that pattern, but we could also just ignore it if we wanted to do so and say that our world only has one continent. I'd put the top of the map at or near the arctic circle with the southern edge of the map approaching or perhaps going beyond the equator.
If you find that you need more file space here, let me know. I can put artists and cartographers into their own group that gives them more file space to upload images.
This may be an incorrect impression that I picked up, but I got the impression that this is the top half of the world, with the equator near the bottom of the map.
I also thought of the large mountain range on the left as being similar to the Rocky Mountain Range in the USA, tapering down to something more like the Berkshire range in the USA, (I can provide reference photos, if anyone needs)
as I recall there being a lot of raiding to and from Venna and Sascria.