So I am doing some work on an over world map for a Tactical RPG game i want to make (think fire emblem/advanced wars) and I'd like to get some input on my rough drafts of the spirits for Towns, and Capitals as well as ideas for forests in use for the over world. Lol not even going to get into battle animations and backdrops yet

Here is a pic of my "towns"
1&2 are European, 3 is nomadic/barbarian,4 is middle-eastern, and 5 is far eastern


Then these are the "capitals/castles" for each nation in game. 1-3 are European, 4&5 are nomadic, 6-8 are middle-eastern, 9&10 are Asiatic


also here is a sample of how it all looks together on map, any ideas as how I can make a nice looking forest? everything I've tried looks like total rubbish
and the map looks way to sparse W/o them


**keep in mind i haven't even begun shading or softening the land outlines, but if you have any ideas as far as colours go I'm open to pallet suggestions. currently I'm using 3 colours
1 for the country borders/towns, 1 for land, and one for mt and water

I wasn't clear maybe. the only unit going on this map would be a small cursor representing the player and some "points of interest" to represent 'battle fields' also thats not that small