I am trying to create a fantasy map and for islands I am:

a) Using Bezier curves to create a shape (I have tried both the curve and straight line options)
b) Single Left Clicking on the first node to make the shape closed.
c) Select the shape.
c) Selecting the Fractalize option.

The lines Fractalize, but the last line which makes the shape closed disapears so, for example, if I have used the tool to create a square I end up with a Fractalized |_| shape.

Am I missing an option, or do I have to somehow draw a new line after fractalizing that rejoins the first and last nodes and then fractalize that?

Hi.

Nice find!
You have probably "stumbled upon" a bug or "undocumented feature".
The original developer of the fractalize extension likely never tested the code on closed paths as he most likely "needed" the extension to work for open paths.

You have a few open options;
1. Examine the extension code and modify until it does what you want.
2. Post it as a bug and hope for the best.
3. Find a way to "circumvent" the problem.

One way to get it to work;
Insert an extra node between the last and first node of the path,
move the inserted node on top of the first node of the path. (Use snapping to get the nodes on top of each other.)
Run the fractalize extension. Your path will remain closed.

As far as I could see extensions always produce open paths.
Even the convert object to path option on texts (sadly).

Adding to Ragnar's workaround, with the node tool you can split any nodes of the path to two, resulting in a similar open path.
- break path at selected node

Thank you both for your quick replies. I will try your solutions ASAP.