A few years ago I read a book called "How to Draw Fantasy Art and RPG Maps", by Jared Blando. It was one of those "I didn't know I needed this until now" moments - a step-by-step guide to a subject that had long vexed me. While some of my older maps were okay, I had become rather dissatisfied with them, and especially given the availability of electronic tools that should have made the task much easier.
When I finished that book, the one other thing that struck me immediately was that it could do with a companion volume, dealing with how to draw fantasy cities and settlements. I guess Jared Blando realised the same, as he has now produced that book: "Fantasy Mapmaker". I finished reading this one over the weekend, and intend to try some of the techniques out over the winter break, time permitting.
My review of this book is slightly mixed. On the one hand, this one did not have the same transformative impression on me. How could it, given that the first volume already did that? On the other hand, it is probably the superior volume - perhaps Jared Blando has refined his techniques and/or style over the past few years, or perhaps he just has a greater passion for cities and settlements?
Either way, this is a great book, and highly recommended for any GM - it joins "The DC Guide to Writing Comics" and "How to Draw Fantasy Art and RPG Maps" on my list of unexpected resources.
Now, if he could only produce a third volume, dealing with dungeon maps...
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