Episode Details
Back to Episodes
How to Make Fantasy Maps: World Maps, Battle Maps, and Inkarnate Tips (With Expert Cartographers)
Description
This episode explains how to make fantasy maps, focusing on worldbuilding, map design, and using tools like Inkarnate to create professional-quality maps. You’ll learn how to design world maps and battle maps, draw maps freehand or digitally, and apply cartography principles to bring your fantasy setting to life, with insights from expert mapmakers Tyndall Doodle and Dread Maps. Ideal for fantasy writers, DnD creators, and worldbuilders who want to create immersive, visually compelling maps.
How do you create fantasy maps that feel real, immersive, and visually striking—and actually enhance your worldbuilding?
In this episode, I’m joined by talented fantasy cartographers Tyndall Doodle and Dread Maps to explore the art and craft of map-making in fantasy. Whether you're designing a vast world map or a detailed battle map for a tabletop campaign, this episode breaks down the key principles you need to know.
We cover both traditional and digital approaches to fantasy cartography, including how to draw maps freehand and how to use tools like Inkarnate to create professional-looking designs.
This episode covers:
- How to design compelling fantasy world maps
- Creating battle maps for DnD and tabletop RPGs
- Key principles of realistic and immersive map design
- Freehand vs digital map-making techniques
- How to use Inkarnate to build detailed, high-quality maps
- Common mistakes to avoid when creating fantasy maps
- How maps enhance storytelling and worldbuilding
We also explore the creative side of cartography—how maps can inspire stories, deepen immersion, and bring your fictional worlds to life in a visual way.
If you want to create fantasy maps that look incredible and elevate your storytelling, this episode gives you the tools, techniques, and inspiration to get started.
OUR SPONSOR
OUR GUESTS
Tyndall Doodle: https://twitter.com/tyndalldoodle | https://www.instagram.com/tyndall_doodle Dread Maps: https://www.patreon.com/dreadmaps | https://twitter.com/dreadmaps
JOIN OUR WRITING COMMUNITY
https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed
LEARN MORE ABOUT FANTASY WRITING
To join our writing community, access exclusive interviews, discussions, fantasy writing classes, books and more, head over to our Patreon page - https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed