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A Map of Valoran and (Most) of Runeterra

Alchemist Prime·8/16/2016, 7:59:26 AM·21 votes·12,486 views

So I decided I am going to draw a map for Runeterra, because the current one in the old lore is outrageously outdated (its a f****** circle) and desperately needs updating. So I'm going to try my best and hand draw (Yes I'm seriously doing it by hand) and its going to take a while. I'll post it here to show how you guys how far along I'm going. Everything is a WIP until I say so.

http://pre07.deviantart.net/9095/th/pre/f/2016/229/e/2/runeterra_base_by_strikerprime27-dae7xw4.png

This is the base for the Map so far... I want to make this as detailed as possible and its going to be a challenge. I have have split the map into 4 quadrants So I can detail it much better. Also...Thinking of Making the Blue Flame Islands a bit bigger and shifting it more to the right...

Mountain Concepts: IronSpike, Tempest Flats, The Great Barrier, and Mt. Targon

http://pre02.deviantart.net/a899/th/pre/i/2016/229/b/8/mountain_lmc_by_strikerprime27-dae80pv.jpg http://pre00.deviantart.net/0194/th/pre/i/2016/229/1/e/mt_targon_lmc_by_strikerprime27-dae814u.jpg

Very Early Concept of the first Quadrant: Freljord, Piltover, Zaun, and the Ironspike Mts. http://img04.deviantart.net/975e/i/2016/229/d/3/piltzaun_lmc_by_strikerprime27-dae81bv.jpg

Here's the Location for All Major Landmarks. I've put in a lot of thought on where everything is and also using logic: http://img11.deviantart.net/86fe/i/2016/229/7/f/landmark_locations_by_strikerprime27-dae89or.jpg

[Tu ~7:00 ish AM]I am using this specific sheet as my final sheet, obviously still a WIP. Each square you see is 2inX2in. Drawing Freljord hurts like hell especially since I splitted in quadrants. Who can spot Rakelstake from the map? http://img01.deviantart.net/ceed/i/2016/229/5/a/pzf_map_by_strikerprime27-dae89jh.jpg [Tu 9:45 AM]Seriously I'm hoping that the current illustration of Freljord is still canon, at least I have that part of the map to work with...

[Tu 11:52 PM] Ok guys, heres my game plan from everyone's feedback. I will add a 4x24 in area down straight through Valoran, giving me room to expand the Runeterra, and especially the S. Valoran on the way. This will also give me some clarity, of the divide spreading the Supercontinent in half. Expanding this will also allow me to shift Ionia a few inches south.

[We 2:57 AM] Update made Ionia 35% bigger, and central Valoran larger :) here's the current map. Low quality as I don't want to use the scanner atm. http://img11.deviantart.net/e12a/i/2016/229/8/a/expanded_runeterra_map_by_strikerprime27-daec9bd.jpg Here's relative size, and that's a large notebook. http://img09.deviantart.net/2974/i/2016/229/9/5/map_size_by_strikerprime27-daecajm.jpg

[We 4:30 AM] I'm using this texture for the The Great Barrier which consists of Mount Targon, Tempest Flats, and Morgon Pass! Probably not that color for Mt. Targon though... http://pre08.deviantart.net/cdbf/th/pre/i/2016/230/4/5/gb_color_scheme_by_strikerprime27-daeck8h.jpg

I'm taking a bit of a break for a bit..

[Th 4:45 AM] A friend recommended I use a program to render the artwork, I'm playing around with it with some scans. Its going great!

[Th 7:52 AM] Progress being made, I have most of Runeterra drawn, Ionia has its landmarks, the city of Shurima has been drawn! Need to add more stuff though... like the damn jungles, Bilgewater, and the Shadow Isles. I felt like I could have done more for Noxus though... Well most if them live in the Immortal Bastion anyway... More to come!!!

http://img12.deviantart.net/2741/i/2016/231/4/3/runeterra_outline__1_by_strikerprime27-daehfg0.jpg

[Fr 6:54 AM] Sorry, a bit slow on the updates... I AM MAKING PROGRESS... I'm busy coloring some areas

51 Comments

RiotBioluminescence8/16/2016, 2:53:36 PM13 votes
Alright so I'm dancing with danger here. I probably shouldn't be here, in this thread. Plx don't kill me.

Not bad! Certainly closer than the old, no-longer-canon, map. There are a few things I'd change, a few seas I'd add (Gangplank boasts of his conquests) and nations I'd swivel or swap around, but still - not bad. Good work especially on the Freljord outline from the event map, though depending on your projection, it might be a little undersized.

I couldn't spot Rakelstake (I was looking for a frozen lake, but I guess at this scale it's not even going to be a pixel), but saw the Howling Abyss bridge.

Because I've had this issue myself, and worked out what I believe is a tolerable solution, have you encountered 'The Serpentine Problem' yet? Any thoughts on how you're going to resolve it? From the looks of your map, this isn't the first one you've ever drawn, but quite a few people can get tripped up by rivers. (And that's not even including Azir's shenanigans!)

(I'm really hoping we get to release a map to players some time before the heat-death of the universe, but I don't know what the dates would be on that. I know it's unacceptable - I try to convey that in meetings and such, but quite understandably it doesn't stack very high on the priority list against updated bios, new champs, the new client, and other more far reaching things. Progress is being made, I swear.)

TouchFluffyTaìl8/17/2016, 6:44:39 AM4 votes

I vote to get this thread sticky, at least until completion.

GreenLore8/16/2016, 9:38:05 AM2 votes

Looks good so far. Though keep in mind that apperantly Shurima sits on its own continent now(the shurima page mentions that it is located on the southern continent)

Alchemist Prime8/16/2016, 3:45:15 PM1 votes

Ok guys I must sleep... no suprises... till I wake up 10 hrs later.

Ryugi Kazamaru8/16/2016, 7:31:47 PM1 votes

[{quoted}](name=Alchemist Prime,realm=NA,application-id=6kFXY1kR,discussion-id=WQzalK3E,comment-id=,timestamp=2016-08-16T07:59:26.226+0000)

As someone who also made a map of Runeterra a while back, please allow me to give you a suggestion or two! =)

Firstly, though we're not sure of sizes, Jaredan has confirmed there are at least (meaning there are likely more) three continents on Runeterra. The ones we know about are Valoran, Ionia, and the "Southern Continent." Valoran contains most of what we're familiar with on the top half of the map from the old "Pancake Map" as I call it. The "Southern Continent" contains Shurima, and likely things from the southern half of the map we're familiar with. Ionia is probably larger than it once was, and is its own continent now as well to some degree.

Honestly, the biggest thing I can suggest is that you should do your own thing!

Don't feel constrained by the old pancake map, and let your creative juices guide you. Take chances, break from the established mold, and do things your own way. Runeterra is a world, with continents, seas, and all kinds of huge geographical areas and features. These things are your playground to do with as you please! There are lots of hints hidden in newer lore, especially the Shurima lores, that give away how the area is put together, and you can use those to help guide you too.

In any case, I wish you the best of luck. And remember to have fun, even when the damn Serpentine River makes you want to tear your hair out!

Fillai8/16/2016, 11:51:16 PM1 votes

This map is cool but it seems like in your map Ionia should be frozen at least like half of the cotinent, it's as high as the Freljord. Good job anyway

Alchemist Prime8/17/2016, 2:27:49 AM1 votes

Ok guys I'm up! Thanks to all the current feedback. I might shift Ionia a little down or expand the Island a little bit. Due to "frozen location".

The Earth is about 7,100 in diameter... Runeterra was never specified, I might make the diameter from 1 end larger or smaller due to the size of the map and uncharted territories...

Alchemist Prime8/17/2016, 8:10:28 AM1 votes

Will anyone believe me if I say that majority of my topographical texture ideas come to me when I am in the shower? or at the Gym? I remembered that since RyzeRyze came out, the rune wars is still canon, so I used more jagged terrain that the ones posted above. I think you guys will like the new drawings of it. Think of that one edge in top plane of SR.

Tesla Effect8/17/2016, 3:53:20 PM1 votes

I wonder where the massive hole near a sea is where Ryzes village was once ?

Alchemist Prime8/18/2016, 12:03:05 PM1 votes

I NEED FEEDBACK GUYS!!! I want this map to be not just my own creation but the community's as well!!! As far as feedback goes, unless its a MAJOR mistake I've made I prefer to move forward, adding something, and not changing anything major. Landmarks may of may not be to scale!

monofazna sruja4/5/2017, 8:28:13 PM1 votes

dude are you still working on this??? PLS TELL ME YES!! IT LOOKS AMAZING!!! GREAT JOB

River C Lake8/16/2016, 8:00:49 AM1 votes

I think it's a great idea and it should be featured as the new one

Tesla Effect4/5/2017, 9:13:21 PM1 votes

Welp, time to remake the whole map :C

JayHog19928/16/2016, 9:00:35 AM1 votes

Hope it gets finished, we could use ANY enlightment on locations that Riot ain't giving.

Alchemist Prime8/16/2016, 10:39:21 AM1 votes

Guys, I'll take a break for a couple of hours. I'm heading out. I'll post updates later :)[slayer-jinx-catface]