The first area in my game are
plains. You know, flat places of land and grass:


If I remember learning anything from reading about mapping, it's that empty maps are
bad. Then again, so are maps cluttered with things. Plains would not transfer well in 2D map form for an RPG. At least I don't think so. When I think of plains in 2D top-down RPGs, I can't remember any.
They used world maps instead, didn't they?
I thought about just doing that instead, despite my loathing of world maps. I realize that I don't have the graphics to make everything I want fit together. For example, there are no auto-tiles using Celiana's parallax grass for water, beaches, and other miscellaneous, related things. I could use a different type of grass I suppose.
The question I bring up is, how would you deal with mapping such a
plain area?
Yes, the pun was intended. If the pun was existent at all.