Zooming in for Detail (CSC)

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Now that he has his world's major geography designed, where does the DM go from here? Since the world map shows the whole world at a glance, it lacks the details necessary for day-to-day adventuring. The next step is to scale down the world map to make maps that are useful for other purposes. These smaller scale maps, called regional maps, depict in greater detail the lands that the player characters will explore. The chapter on mapping explains the mechanical details of creating a regional map.
Initially the DM should create only a few regional maps, which will cover the places where the first adventures will take place and one or two adjacent regions. Transfer the major terrain features from the world map to the regional map and begin to add more details. Keep in mind that in most cases, terrain does not remain the same mile after mile. Break up large terrain features with smaller terrain details. A vast plain may be dotted with small forests. A vast forest may contain numerous small swampy areas, deep-cut ravines and lakes. Include special features on a smaller scale. Add in the streams that feed the rivers, border lakes with marshes. Put low, rolling hills into the plains.
Try to give each regional map its own bits of unique geography, things that are visible only when viewed more closely, like sink holes, small islands, or jagged cliffs.
If the DM desires it, he can zoom in further on parts of the regional map and create areas in even greater detail. This is particularly useful when detailing population centers like cities, villages, and gathering grounds for nomadic peoples.