I wholeheartedly agree with the KISS rule.
And not sure where the 16 tool impression came from…
A topo map can use upwards of 8+ tools across 20+ changes.
Including coastal bathymetric data for resin pours (for which there is only 2D data)
requires both 2D & 3D toolpath strategies. Minimizing tear-out in the details and easing the subsequent hand-sanding stage requires a range of tools.
The following is Southport Island off coastal Maine.
3D carved above the waterline with 2D bathymetric contours below. Some of the features (like the hills in the top right edge) sit proud of or even undercut the frame in the final product.
I’ve managed to get precise enough with the bathymetric pocketing to dodge the glue layers in the Baltic birch ply so the glue doesn’t darken the resin (which causes the dark patches you see in this pic…)
Sometimes I need a claymore and sometimes a rapier and I’ve only got one scabbard to work with.