Well, I was specifically thinking of Fonstad's world-map of Arda showing the Dark Lands and Far Harad, as opposed to the poster map of Arda done for MERP.Heilemann wrote:Anyway, while I love the detail of Fonstad's map as pertaining to the books and the journeys made therein, just as an example, the maps of Wilderland (http://cl.ly/image/3K1Z0b2t471I) feel rather empty in most places (although I do think they're considerably better than the one that comes with the game, which is simply too cartoony for my personal tastes). The first custom map I made was using Fonstads map (I seem to have trashed the file however, but it was basically a combination of several of her maps around Wilderland, given the aged treatment. I worked fairly well, although the scans I was using weren't great on the forest itself).
She also puts Rhosgobel further north, although I don't know if that's based on anything in particular, but TORs and MERPs maps put it more or less in the same place, further south. I like the idea of it being further north, as I find it rather hard to believe that Radagast lived next door to Dol Guldur for so long without figuring that something was seriously wrong.
And none of the maps can figure out where to put the Mirkwood Mountains it seems.
I have to agree that Fonstad placed Rhosgobel too far north. Elrond's folk crossed the Misty Mountains via the pass near the source of the Gladden River to attempt to find Radagast; they "returned over the high pass that was called the Dimrill Stair" near Moria. This seems to place Rhosgobel closer to Dol Guldur and certainly south of the Old Forest Road. MERP and TOR have it more right.