When I'm doing my own maps I approach it from the perspective of creating a Photoshop map. (I hand draw my maps, but sometimes do pictures in Photoshop).
I would draw out the outline of the map with no details and examine it for a while, tweaking it. (In PS this would be layer 1). Then I add rivers, mountains (PS layer 2). Then other areas like bogs, forests, and such. (Layer 3)Then cities and other habitations (PS layer 4).
All these layers are eventually merged.
In short, build up the map in stages. This enables a better idea of where everything goes and helps avoid clutter. It's so easy to get carried away making maps.
A great book I'd recommend is: https://www.amazon.com/How-Draw-Fantasy-Art-Maps/dp/1440340242
I hope you get the ideas. And apologies if you're not familiar with Photoshop.
I think the 4 Against Darkness are available on Amazon, but not the D100 dungeons. Amazon’s chunk is pretty sizable for single-person book developers I believe.
If you’re really looking purely for map making, there are a ton of YouTube videos you can check out too. There are also a bunch of results on Amazon for “how to draw fantasy maps, like this result”
Thanks! I drew it all on an iPad using Procreate.
Started with a super-rough sketch with where I was gonna put everything--towns, rivers, and all. Then I started on the "real thing." Coastlines (and lakes) first, making them more complex than in the rough sketch. Then mountains, forests, doing all the bits by hand. (If I'd been using Photoshop, I might have tried to clone or make some kind of "tree brush," but I think the hand-drawing makes it look more natural.)
Next came the coastline outlines and waves. Then rivers and cities. I separated as much as I could into layers so I could mess with it later.
Colored the water on one layer, then did the land on its own layer. In general, I'm very unhappy with the color and will probably do it over at some point.
I assume everybody in the sub knows about this book, but it's got step-by-step instructions that are more or less what I did (the book takes it a lot farther into labeling and stuff that I'm not planning to do on this map). Can't recommend the book enough--it's what I would have dreamed for twenty-thirty years ago when I was actively playing RPGs!
If they like fantasy maps this is a nice book:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Draw-Fantasy-Art-Maps/dp/1440340242
You can probably find it cheaper somewhere else. If they like different styles of maps then there will probably be books for that as well.
You could also get old atlases quite cheap which show different ways of making maps and how territory has changed over time.
If you're from the UK you can buy old OS maps of certain areas, there may be similar maps for different countries.
This book helped me refine my techniques.
How to Draw Fantasy Art and RPG Maps: Step by Step Cartography for Gamers and Fans https://www.amazon.com/dp/1440340242/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_i_GWRAS2KRX2D6SGWNPEAE
Read a book! It's how I learned.
Hi, it’s this one:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Draw-Fantasy-Art-Maps/dp/1440340242
Cool! Here are a couple of resources that I know about:
I don't know if there is any pdf form, but i bought it here: https://www.amazon.com.br/How-Draw-Fantasy-Art-Maps/dp/1440340242
While not exactly software, you might find this useful: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1440340242