About Arhet



How do I sign up?
As mentioned at the beginning, you can only join the Arhet community by invitation. To obtain this invitation you must write to Luciano, the owner of the project, via email at luciano@geofictician.net. Once you are admitted, your login information (username and password) will be sent to you through the email you used to send the request.

Your username will be the same as OGF's by default, and we ask that you keep it that way (read Can I change my username? for more information).

Where are the rules?
The "rules" of the geoficticion project appear on the Arhet page of the Geofictician wiki. We encourage you to read the "rules" before joining the project.

On the other hand, the rules of this wiki are:


 * You must be a member of the Arhet community to join this wiki. We ask you to avoid editing with IP addresses, to avoid confusion around breaking this fundamental rule.
 * Do not edit the wiki-articles of other users without authorization to avoid editing conflicts and unauthorized alteration of community projects.
 * Avoid adding spam, vandalizing articles, and including content not related to Arhet or OGF. Let's keep this wiki focused on its purpose.
 * Avoid adding offensive or inappropriate content or comments. In this community all cultures, ideologies and religious beliefs are welcome in a peaceful environment.
 * Avoid editing the Main Page, documentation articles, help and collaboration without authorization or if it is not necessary to improve spelling or structure.
 * Let's keep the discussions peaceful in the forum and talk pages. We all have different opinions, and they must be respected.

We appreciate everyone adhering to these rules to keep the wiki focused on its objective, and to keep the Arhet project on the right track.

Can I change my username?
Although the site allows it (due to an option that we forgot to disable), we ask that you do not change your username and keep the one that was given by default (the same as OGF).

By keeping the original username, we can have a complete and easy-to-recognize record of each user's activity on the wiki and map.

Is there a channel to talk about Arhet?
Yes, we have a wiki forum and a Discord server to talk about Arhet. If you haven't already joined the Discord server, enter through this invitation link, and once inside write in # countries-and-territories your username in OGF / Arhet and the projects you are currently working on so that you can be assigned a role.

You can find more information about the wiki forum and the Discord server in the Arhet communication and updates section of this page.

Where can I get more information?
On this page you can find useful information about the map, the wiki, the wiki forum and the Discord server. Click on any of the buttons to go to its section.

How to start an Arhet project
Welcome to Arhet! We are glad that you are a part of this amazing community. You have already got your Arhet account and now you want to start mapping, but you don't know where to start. "I'll start by getting a country!" you say, "But I don't know how to get it", you wonder internally later. Here we tell you how to do it!

First, we must clarify that the Arhet project is different from OGF. In Arhet you do not need to make a request to obtain your own territory, you simply choose a location and map it. Keep in mind that there are areas that are mapped under a common canon, so we suggest you check How to incorporate my country to a canon before choosing the area where you will work. If you don't want to map under any of the canons, feel free to put your country in any other zone.

In addition to the own territories (mapped by a single person), there are collaborative projects, available territories and reserved territories coordinated and assigned under different standards. We invite you to read the introduction of Portal:Countries and collaborative projects so you can better understand how these other types of territories work. If you want to join a collaborative project, please read the next point.

How to join a collaborative project
In Arhet, a collaborative project is a territory mapped by multiple users under the supervision and leadership of one or more coordinators. For organizational reasons, in the List of countries and collaborative projects we will place the coordinators as countryowners. Below the coordinators, a link to the list of all contributors will appear on a separate page.

If you are interested in joining a collaborative project, you should contact their coordinators through Discord. All collaborative projects are handled internally differently, but we recommend that everyone have a page here on the wiki (using the format  Arhet:Collaborative name ) with collaborative information about it. If instead of joining a collaborative project you want to create one, you are free to do so. We only ask you to take into account the points that we already mentioned.

How to incorporate my country to a canon
As we mentioned you in How to start an Arhet project, there are areas where territories are mapped under a common canon. A canon, within the context of the Arhet community, are all the territories mapped within a context, timeline and/or plot line defined and own in relation to other canons.

In order for you to better understand the concept, we will explain it with the Imperium canon. This is a great empire based on its own interpretation of magic, and has a theme of a modern Roman Empire and Ancient Greece (which implies that its mapping is based on modern Europe, West Asia and North Africa). The countries within its canon are influenced by the concept of magic, the Magonian language (Latin), and the Greco-Roman theme of The Empire.

Because canons constantly make changes, we chose to list them in Portal:Canons. We invite you to review the canons and their themes, to see if any of them fit the vision you have for your territory. Once you have selected one, we encourage you to notify the Canon Board (via the canon channel on the Discord server) that your country will now be a part of it.

How to create administrative boundaries
You now have a location for your project (or you chose a collaborative project), and incorporated it into a canon or decided to create a new one. Next you will map your country.

To define the location of your country you must draw its border. Do not forget that the borders are mainly drawn following natural characteristics, which usually cause the borders to be not straight. Once you have drawn the border (it is recommended that you divide it into 2 or more sections based on its size), you will create a relation with the following elements:

Remember that all border lines must be marked as  and constitute a closed polygon so that the country is represented properly. Do not forget that the borders of your country (if it has a coastline) must cover the 12 miles (approx. 19.3 km) of territorial sea that corresponds to any country. Read How to make natural mapping before continuing with the administrative divisions within your country.

How to map the administrative divisions within your country
Using this same method you can map the national and lower subdivisions of your country. The most common admin_levels for subdivisions lower than the country one are:,   and. Do not forget that as the admin_level has a higher number the subdivision will be smaller (compared to those with fewer number). Thus,  must be a subdivision of   (country),   must be a subdivision of , and   must be a subdivision of. Keep in mind that if there is an enclave within your country (either an own country or part of another), the boundary of that enclave should be marked as  in its country relation, while it is   in its own relation (the relation of the enclave).

If you want to know how admin_levels work in any country in the world, visit Tag:boundary=administrative on the OSM wiki. You can also visit Help:Administrative boundaries on the OGF wiki for more information on how to map administrative divisions and how they are represented on the map.

How to make natural mapping
Great, you have already mapped the border of your country! Now is the time to map the main natural features before moving on to the administrative divisions within your country. As you surely know from OGF, the administrative subdivisions of your country usually depend on natural features (a river, a mountain range, a chain of lakes, a notable coastal feature).

We consider it easier to map natural features and then set limits than to set and then match them to natural features. We recommend that you start with basic natural features and then focus on details, for more efficient mapping. There are a wide variety of landuses that you can use to map your natural features (see Key:landuse, Key:natural for lists).

Take inspiration from your mapping in OGF, notable examples in OSM and also from the natural mapping present in Arhet. Natural features are also allowed in this fantasy world that would be unlikely in our world, so the only limit is your creativity.

How to make human mapping
With the natural mapping and administrative boundaries already mapped, it's time to work on human mapping. Human mapping involves cities, towns, villages, isolated houses, roads, highways, airports, buildings, space launch centers, inhabited underground caves, villains' lairs in volcanoes, and huge palaces amidst fantastic gardens.

You can find the most common landuses for developed land on the OSM wiki. Also in the OSM wiki you will find a table of values ​​for buildings, amenities and highways. You can take inspiration or trace from any OGF or OSM site to map your project. You can start with general aspects such as highways, main landuses, some amenities and important buildings, and then enter the details that will make your project something incredible!

How can I edit the map?
Great, you already have everything planned for your territory! But wait, you don't know how to add it to Arhet's map. You may have problems using the iD editor, downloading data in JOSM, or you don't even know what the Arhet API for JOSM is. In any case, here we present solutions for any of those problems!

Editing with iD
Although there is an iD editor for Arhet, which you can access with the "Edit" button at the top of the page, we recommend mapping with JOSM to avoid major inconveniences. However, if you prefer to use the iD editor we give you a quick guide on how to use it.


 * If you had not previously logged in, clicking Edit will take you to the Login section (https://arhet.rent-a-planet.com/login?referer=%2Fedit). If you don't have an account check How do I sign up? at the top of this page.
 * Don't forget to press "Remember me" so you don't have to log in the next time you edit.
 * If you have an error when logging in, update the page with Ctrl + F5. If it doesn't work, feel free to contact the community at #help on the Discord server.
 * Once you enter the editor, remember to replace the background with Arhet's map. The tile URL for the Arhet background is: . When you add the tile URL, click Save and the Arhet map should appear in the background.
 * Once you set the background, you must find the area you want to map and zoom in to edit. You can only edit zooms 16 and up with the iD editor.
 * Once you finish adding your changes, click Save. In the changeset comment indicate what you have done on the map. It is recommended to avoid comments unrelated to what you did, and instead indicate appropriately what you are changing.
 * As soon as the successful upload notification appears, you can close the editor and return to the map.

Editing with JOSM
As we mentioned earlier, we recommend using JOSM for editing in Arhet. If you don't know how to use Arhet visit the JOSM Guide on the OSM wiki.

To map in JOSM you must have the Arhet API. The API is. To enter the API you must go to Edit > Preferences > OSM server > OSM server URL. Don't forget to press "Use basic authentication", enter your username and password, and press "Validate" to make sure you entered the API correctly.

After configuring the Arhet API, you must set the Arhet background image with the tile URL. To set the Arhet background image you must go to Edit > Preferences > Images > Selected sources. Click on TMS and add the tile URL:. The maximum zoom for the TMS URL is 20; therefore, at the end the TMS URL should be. Name the layer as "Arhet".

Once you have done all this, you will be able to map without problems. Take into account the recommendation about the changesets comments that we made in the previous point, and make sure to upload the changes before closing the editor. Remember that you can also check the recent changes in https://arhet.rent-a-planet.com/history.

How to cooperate with my neighbours
A fundamental part of this project, as well as OGF and any collaborative project, is the cooperation. Cooperating with other users is essential for the proper development of your project and the community in general. Learn about the ways you can cooperate with your neighbors:


 * How to solve mapping conflicts
 * How to discuss worldbuilding with neighbours
 * How to discuss common mapping features

How to solve mapping conflicts
A mapping conflict occurs when two mappers with adjacent territories have different visions for their mapping, a user's vision produces a lack of cohesion between its territory and the adjacent one or the unauthorized mapping of other users in your territory.

If the first case of mapping conflict occurs, it is recommended that you talk with the user of the adjacent territory to define a plan that matches their visions for their territories. This discussion can be done in the channel #countries-and-territories of the Discord server or to that user's personal DM. If you don't reach an agreement, we recommend you to consult with the community so that we can give you a recommendation to help you make a decision.

In the second case, you must send a message in a friendly tone to the user who mapped in your territory and explain the situation for which should not map in it. If the user does not relocate their mapping to another location (as long as they have not requested assistance to do so from the community), you can remove that unwanted change.

In both cases we ask you to handle mapping conflicts in a friendly manner, ensuring the prevalence of coherence and the cooperative spirit of our community. If you need the help of the community in relation to these conflicts, do not hesitate to ask for it.

How to discuss worldbuilding with neighbours
As it will be explained to you in Developing your project worldbuilding, worldbuilding includes the history, government, commerce, diplomacy, military and sports of your country or collaborative project. Unlike the previous point, worldbuilding discussions mainly involve the development of these concepts on the wiki rather than on the map.

Therefore, the differences in the worldbuilding could not directly affect the map, but the general vision of the user for its territory. Taking this into account, any element of worldbuilding that involves them should be discussed with the corresponding users. When you start a worldbuilding discussion you should mention all the points that you plan to include in the common worldbuilding, so that they can be evaluated by the users involved and even by the community at large.

How to discuss common mapping features
Before the guide, we want to clarify the difference between this point and How to solve mapping conflicts (mapping conflict Type 1), since maybe they can be similar. This point is to give you a guide on how to define common mapping features (boundaries, natural and human border mapping) before they are mapped, unlike the previous point that talks about resolving conflicts when the idea is already developed on the map. In both cases, the solutions can turn out to be somewhat similar.

It is recommended that you discuss with the user in the adjacent country your vision for the mapping features bordering its country. If the user does not like the idea, they can dialogue until they reach an agreement that follows what both plan for your territories.

How can I present my project to the community?
Now that you have mapped the main aspects of your country, you know how to map properly and the ways to cooperate with other users, it is time to present your project to the community! Formally presenting your project allows the community to congratulate you on your achievements and make suggestions on what to change.

It lets you know what is okay, what needs to be tweaked a bit, and what shouldn't be there. It allows you to develop a good relationship with the community and for it to reward your achievements. Your mapping and the general idea of ​​your project can appear on the main page!

Go ahead and present your project on the Discord server (#arhet-projects)! Very soon you will be able to present your project on the wiki-forum! Stay tuned to the bulletin!