Touzen shape (unrelated to RP future thread)

[Touzen]

So regardless of what way I end up taking with Touzen, I decided that it's time to unjapanify the island. One of the islands was a direct copy of Kyushu after all. So without further ado, here's what I've currently come up with compared to the current shape:

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I've combined smaller islands into one more distinct island that has no RL equivalent and changed the form of the main island as well, also shifting its axis to break the RL south/north axis. I've also created two distinct inland seas and destroyed the Kamchatka style island chain. I'm not sure yet if I want to change more and if yes in what direction, but I'd welcome some thoughts about it nevertheless. Is it a good idea to change the shape? Bad?

 

[Sixia]

I don't really like the big island in the middle that you've messed around with. It looks odd, even though there's the Indonesian Sulawesi island that looks something like that.

My personal recommendation is to either slim down either both peninsulas extending west and east or both of them.

 

[Ionia]

LOL it looks like a spider now.

 

[Touzen]

Here's a version incorporating Beishan's suggestion:

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Instead, I added a sort of "Ireland", which I would probably use to host a distinct culture or something. Steering away from the RL comparisons and all that. I've also been told though that despite their problematic parts, the current shape of my islands is also 'iconic' as part of the map, because they have been so consistent for so long. What do people think? Do the benefits of having a more unique shape outweigh the drawback of changing something 'iconic', or should things stay status quo for now?

(Of course, input on this new proposal is also welcomed.)

 

[Natal]

I'd say you should make a mix, adding that Ireland-like island, but without changing the general shape of the archipelago.

 

[Touzen]

The thing about the shape though is that it's remind a lot of people of Japan and I'd agree that its very, very similar in shape, as said one of the islands is basically the same shape as a RL Japanese island. Now we have areas obviously based on RL counterparts, the continents themselves come to mind, but I think there have been several people in the past mentioning Touzen as an especially obvious transfer from the RL world. Which is why I'm wondering whether it would improve our world overall if it were to undergo some transmutation, so to say.

 

[Josepania]

The thing about the shape though is that it's remind a lot of people of Japan and I'd agree that its very, very similar in shape, as said one of the islands is basically the same shape as a RL Japanese island. Now we have areas obviously based on RL counterparts, the continents themselves come to mind, but I think there have been several people in the past mentioning Touzen as an especially obvious transfer from the RL world. Which is why I'm wondering whether it would improve our world overall if it were to undergo some transmutation, so to say.

I feel some transmutation in the world overall to move us away from RL world map copy-pasta would not hurt.

Also, I like your latest proposal a lot. Definitely lost a lot of the RL Japan feel to it, which is a good thing in my mind.