OpenGeofiction
Last month I focussed on a small area of territory as part of Luciano’s challenge. It was the first time I’d managed to do that, and I found it really rewarding. I don’t know if I’d be able to do it again – my attention is already wandering. Meantime, it would be great to get some feedback, so if you’re interested and, while its still fresh, here is the [District of Sanaray, Urne, Yshon etc] in the Free Doonist Republic of Shadze-Ma. Maybe its not all of interest to you - but skip down to the end.
The main settlement is the town of Yshon, vaguely modelled on the town of Castro, Chile – approximately the same latitude and level of development. So we have a ferry port, docks and various other features. No rail infrastructure on the islands, but I intend to add buses in future. More buildings and features still to be added.
The north-western islands are pretty rural, some with tracks rather than roads, for example Otaeay, Jangruy, Nerezen/Valizen.
The same goes for the north-eastern islands, but the main (international) airport is located on the only flat ground suitable for a big runway, on the island of Urne. The independent island district of Tayfir – with old castle – is situated not far away.
The southern islands are much less cultivated, with areas of largely unmanaged austral forests. I suppose they’re hillier with much steeper slopes, as on Dshon.
There are a few peculiarities – which will be wikied at some point when I have more time:
The micro-state of Dulan situated a few km to the south (I can’t tell you why its a micro-state yet – I’ll work it out some time).
The Semi-Autonomous Area of North Karg – a pilgrimage site for Tlönists, with the site of ‘the Non-Clock’ a ‘‘hrön ‘’. Various other bits and pieces continuing the same themes: agriculture, docks and light industry, religious tourism.
Finally, the statue of the Pointing Man famous throughout Shadze-Ma, (and maybe beyond). I give you a challenge, not a hard one: spin the man – make him point to something you find interesting. Could be in Shadze-Ma, could be somewhere else in OGF. Try not to move him off his pedestal, just rotate him (easy in JOSM: just press ctrl+shift - but I don’t know about ID and Potlatch). I’ll have the first spin, then its down to you…
Happy mapping - and thanks again Luciano.
Udi
Discussion
Comment from Luciano on 7 June 2016 at 22:49
I want to say I followed your progress in Shadze-Ma during the last month and it is all quite impressive. It’s great work, and full of little intriguing bits. I’m glad that the challenge was inspiration.
Comment from Luciano on 8 June 2016 at 13:29
Should the Pointing Man be oriented on the basis of cardinal direction (mercator compass bearing) or great circle bearing? If the latter, we need a calculation tool, perhaps - I think there is Paxtar’s great-circle calculator, but you’d have to eyeball the resultant bearing.
Comment from Ūdilugbulgidħū on 8 June 2016 at 17:22
That’s a bit of a technical question Luciano! Especially since the Pointing Man’s arm and elbow aren’t aligned, and his finger is a bit crooked. Generally, I don’t think it needs to be 100% accurate. But here is an answer of sorts so that, if you want to get it accurate, it can be:
The angle from the man’s elbow (ref:elbow) to the tip of his index finger (ref:fingertip) is the line of pointing direction (I’ve just assumed that). If you’re using JOSM, download the pointing man and the location/place/feature you want him to point to, in two separate layers. In the ‘Pointing Man layer’, delete the old ‘ref:pointing direction’ way and draw a new way using the node at the man’s elbow as one end and and central point of the location/place/feature he’s pointing at as the node at the other end (that can be a very long way). Tag this way with ref:pointing direction. Rotate the man so that the line passes directly through the tip of his little finger. Split the line, to somewhere just inside the border of Shadze-Ma. Upload the man and the new way tagged with ref:pointing direction.
I guess that is cardinal direction (mercator compass bearing) rather than great circle bearing. But as I said, it doesn’t need to be 100% accurate - he may be pointing at something that doesn’t exist (though at the moment, he isn’t).
Comment from kingfries on 8 June 2016 at 18:52
Great work, of course I also kept a close eye on you. You really made something out of these islands. Keep it going :) -k
Comment from Demuth on 9 June 2016 at 06:55
As you always manage to do, here is a little masterpiece of a map and story for OGF. For me, your mapping always evokes a place so very strongly - I look at the map and I get such a strong feeling of the place, I don’t even need to read the wiki to understand quite a bit about what, to paraphrase Gertrude Stein, the there there is. Of course reading about it gets you the much deeper story (hröns!!!!) and I’m hooked and enchanted.
Comment from tparigo on 11 June 2016 at 13:29
It looks really great. I really like the detailed coast line and the way the you mapped the countryside. The micro state is a good idea.
Comment from zhenkang on 3 December 2018 at 13:29
Has this been nominated for featured map?