3D Isometric Map Creation for Grand Strategy Game

We are seeking a skilled 3D environment or technical artist to create a 3D isometric (2.5D) world map for an indie grand strategy and dynasty game set in 630 BCE. The scope is strictly the Fertile Crescent — a manageable region, not a full world map.
The visual target is the Crusader Kings 3 campaign map in its “paper” mode: a tabletop or parchment-come-to-life aesthetic with stylised terrain relief, soft atmospheric lighting, and clean, readable borders for political overlays. The map should feel like a high-quality physical artefact on a strategist’s table, not a hyper-realistic satellite view.
Region Scope
▸ Western edge: Eastern Mediterranean coast — Southern Anatolia to the Levant
▸ Centre: Tigris-Euphrates basin — Upper and Lower Mesopotamia
▸ Eastern edge: Western Zagros Mountains and the northern Persian Gulf area

Visual & Design Requirements
Terrain
▸ Heightmap-based mesh with recognisable mountains, rivers, deserts, steppes, and fertile valleys
▸ Textures: soft “paper” or “clay” feel — readability takes priority over photorealistic noise
▸ Atmospheric lighting: warm, directional, with soft shadows — evokes a physical relief map
Province Layout
▸ 100–150 clickable provinces (hard cap 200) defined by natural or historical borders: rivers, ridges, coastlines
▸ Each province must include a relatively flat “hub” clearing at its centre for 3D unit figures (army stacks, diplomats) to sit level without geometry clipping
Style References
▸ Historical maps of the Neo-Assyrian and Median spheres of influence c. 630 BCE
Technical Deliverables
Deliverable
Specification
3D Mesh / Heightmap
Unity Terrain Object or clean .fbx (Blender / Maya) — max 500K triangles, optimised for real-time rendering
Terrain Textures
Albedo/Diffuse, Normal, and Roughness maps at 4K resolution
Province ID Map
High-resolution uncompressed texture; each province assigned a unique solid RGB colour for shader-based interaction and political tinting overlays
Scale Reference
A 1×1×2 unit dummy block placed in at least 5 representative provinces to confirm terrain scale works for 3D game pieces
Source Files
Original Blender / Maya / PSD files with organised, labelled layers for future iteration