CALYstra
FANTASY MAP
The Calystra project is a high-resolution world map designed for a long-term Rol campaign. The objective was to create a functional and display-worthy piece for both in-person gaming and digital tracking, featuring a complex geographical layout. The final map serves as the primary visual anchor for the campaign's lore, spanning diverse biomes and civilizations.
WORK PROCESS
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Brief
The client required an immense, printable map with the ambitious goal of maintaining a 1:1 scale relationship between roads and cities and natural elements like mountains and trees. This requirement posed significant challenges regarding both digital scale and final print production. Architecturally, the project called for a high-fantasy aesthetic with a strong Nordic influence, reflecting the client’s own cultural background and heritage.
Design Solution
After several meetings and performance tests, it was determined that a literal 1:1 scale was too resource-intensive for the budget. To resolve this, I proposed a hybrid system: representing cities with clean icons on the main map while providing a detailed sidebar guide, similar to an antique map but with a modern UI for improved campaign functionality. The final map displays the continent's biomes alongside land and air routes, while the new side-display integrates custom city icons and short narrative descriptions, ensuring the final piece is both an immersive work of art and a highly practical gaming tool.