Update: 03/15/2024: (finally...) Link to a folder of the latest images of my d20 Globe. Note that the photos show freshly applied Matte Mod-Podge, so that is why some of the labels appear white.
Finally made progress on my d20 Globe Project... Analysis Paralysis took hold of me: there were many ways to possibly add the lettering to the globe, but I finally decided upon using a text editor, placing the names inside table cells (white text), and filling in the boxes with either Blue (water), or Red (continent names).
I started out cutting the paper labels with a paper cutter: too tedious, paper slipped yielding angled cuts... Switched to scissors, and it was much faster, must easier to get straight cuts.
I used Matte Mod-Podge, applying it to the bottom of the paper labels, first. After positioning, and pressing/burnishing in place, I applied a 2nd coat of the same Matte Mod-Podge to seal them to the globe's surface.
I had to make a lot of decisions as to what to label, and what not to label. That was a challenge.
Is it done?...No. I need to finish painting the mountain ranges and the land masses. Right now, they are just three colors. After that, I plan to seal the whole, to age it, and to protect it. I might insert a metal rivet or something similar, to allow me to hang it, or to mount it so it can be spun. That, however, is a future project...
I knew, from the beginning, that this was something I, as the DM, would use for inspiration. It is not really for my players, except as a curiosity, to show them my entire game world, and how small the campaign setting continent (
Cegia) really is.
One of my sons wishes to DM a campaign in a different region (
Kee's Hand island grouping), so it will give him a better perspective on the relative isolation of that island cluster region. The
Continental Shelves are something I really wanted to map out, as it is a dream of mine to run an underwater campaign, at some point before I die, using the Aquatic races for PC's: Tritons, Mermen, Sea Elves, etc. The
Continental Shelves are variable, likely too big in some regions, but I decided that I could not make it too accurate/realistic, mostly due to my limited 6th Grade Crafting Skills.
The massive continent of
Sauria is ruled by Dragons. It is big enough to have every type of Dragon's favored terrain available, and to accommodate large clans of Adult Dragons. I have the
Council of Wyrms hardcover game setting book. I've read it, and I know that the Dragon leveling/aging system is broken. I believe I can surmount that issue. That is another campaign idea I really want to pursue before I die. It would allow us to really dig into Dragons, which are one-half of the name-sake for the game! Now to sell my players on the idea so we can launch this new campaign into orbit around my fantasy planet's globe...
I plan to "seal" the whole globe, when all of the continents are fully painted, with Urethane Stain, to give it an old, worn feeling, as if it were more than a century old. It may help the paper labels to blend a little bit better into the surfaces -- I hope! The final coating of urethane should protect the surface finish (decoupaged paper and craft foam layers) from wear.
This has been, and it continues to be, a fun project. To my knowledge, no one has done this before. The Hot Glue assembly technique for the MDF triangles has worked better than I had hoped. So far, it is holding together exceptionally well. I expect it will survive for decades -- longer than I will. My two sons with whom I play AD&D with, are very keen on keeping my game world alive: they've been gaming within it for 20+ years; they feel as if they know it, and that they helped shape it, through their role playing (very true!). They feel like they own it, at least in part, because their PC's names, and exploits, are within the pages of its history.
Cheers!
PS:
On another forum, someone pointed out a Bob Ross,
Happy Little Accident, on the Sauria photo: it resembles a dragon skull. Hah! Never saw it until he pointed it out. Totally an accident -- thank you, Bob Ross!