If you want to "clean it up" we can extend the deadline. I joined the usf map project because I thought that we would eventually create a full-fledged world, however we will never end up doing that if the core part of our map keeps on changing. I want to make different maps of the world, but I have been holding back on doing that because People. Keep. Changing. Their. Coastline. And making it not worthwhile at all to do anything.
I think it's a good point that people changing their coastlines is holding back making different maps of the world.
We could lock different parts of the world, such as Aeridani, so that you can make some of your maps for some areas.
But I don't think we should impose a deadline on people for locking. Give people the time they want to finish their areas.
Oh and that's not all; if we keep on expanding landmasses, adding islands, changing continents, etc., the history of those regions is going to change and it is going to affect the other regions which might make them have to change their history a little.
I think that's ok, we haven't locked the history yet either. If someone joins though, we could probably put them in a place where they wouldn't affect other people's history or whatever without their agreement.
If we never, ever stop "playing god" and decide that we should stop our wanton changing of coastlines in order to move on to other things like climate and history, then this entire project no longer is a worldbuilding project - instead it would become a hollow painting.
I agree, but I think we should at least wait until everyone finish their coastlines before we lock them, and give people the time they need.
I also think we should consider the new people who are going to join. I completely agree with the problems Naru mentioned. Is it fair to future members of the community to lock the map so they can't make islands and land masses like we could? How would we let them join, would we let them have some land that we drew? Would anyone in the community be willing to split up their country to give them some land? I don't think I'd like to give any of Blaist Blaland or Redbow away personally, but some people may not mind.
Would we create an extra continent or extra land that's unclaimed so new members could claim it for themselves? I think that would be a good idea.