|
1 year ago ::
Mar 05, 2012 - 12:30AM
#1
|
|
|
What do you guys use for maps when you DM LFR games? Do you use dungeon tiles, draw them, or print them out? In NETH 4-1 we put "clean" versions of the maps (i.e., without monster tokens) in the appendix for people who like printing their maps. I guess I was just wondering how useful that kind of thing is for DMs.
Lori Anderson
WotC Freelancer, LFR author
@LittleLorika
CALI3-3 The Agony of Almraiven (co-author)
NETH4-1 Containing Shadow (co-author)
CALI4-1 Plain of Stone Spiders (author)
QUES4-1 Liberation (co-author)
EPIC5-1 Plaguewrought Prism (co-author)
TotalCon: http://www.totalcon.com/RolePlaying.html
|
|
|
|
1 year ago ::
Mar 05, 2012 - 12:44AM
#2
|
|
|
To answer my own question...  I use different things for my maps depending on the map and where/how often I am DMing the adventure. I use dungeon tiles if the map is easy to create with them. I also draw a lot of my maps with markers and graph paper for easels (available at most office supply stores). I guess there are pros and cons to each. Drawing the map takes longer to do initially, but it is also faster to set up at the table and easier to transport, so I like using them for conventions and/or if I am running an adventure multiple times. The dungeon tiles are great if the map is fairly simple, but drawing is more flexible. I personally like drawing maps because I can make them colorful and add artistic flares.
Lori Anderson
WotC Freelancer, LFR author
@LittleLorika
CALI3-3 The Agony of Almraiven (co-author)
NETH4-1 Containing Shadow (co-author)
CALI4-1 Plain of Stone Spiders (author)
QUES4-1 Liberation (co-author)
EPIC5-1 Plaguewrought Prism (co-author)
TotalCon: http://www.totalcon.com/RolePlaying.html
|
|
|
|
1 year ago ::
Mar 05, 2012 - 12:47AM
#3
|
Date Joined:
Nov 23, 2003
|
I usually put the maps together graphically, and print them out. When prepping Neth41, I found the return-on-effort to not be worth it, and just used the clean maps (albiet, mucked with them slightly to clean them up and/or make them more visually appealing)
Edit: I'm a bit ... particular about the maps I create & print. The tile sets usually aren't quite lined up enough for my taste, and too low resolution, so I've rescanned a lot of the tiles. I clean up tile scans, I clean up the edges where the tiles meet up, and I add grid lines at the end.
I don't typically make whole map edits, like the 2nd example in Neth41, but I've been known too sometimes for water maps, or the like.
"Nice assumptions. Completely wrong assumptions, but by jove if being incorrect stopped people from making idiotic statements, we wouldn't have modern internet subculture." Kerrus
Practical gameplay runs by neither RAW or RAI, but rather "A Compromise Between The Gist Of The Rule As I Recall Getting The Impression Of It That One Time I Read It And What Jerry Says He Remembers, Whatever, We'll Look It Up Later If Any Of Us Still Give A Damn." Erachima
|
|
|
|
1 year ago ::
Mar 05, 2012 - 4:10AM
#4
|
|
|
Depends on the situation. Usually I run an adventure once, at which point I will simply predraw the maps on my battlemap beforehand when running locally or graph paper when I cannot carry three battlemaps with me (such as when going to the States). On the other hand, when I know I will be running the same adventure several times I have printed them through pmapper (costs a lot of ink though). I have all the tiles, often multiple copies, but that is mostly to help me design maps before recreating them electronically. It is too slow, confusing (no clear markings on the tiles, and the printed maps) and easy to disrupt the map to do so just before the game.
|
|
|
|
1 year ago ::
Mar 05, 2012 - 4:48AM
#5
|
Date Joined:
May 29, 2004
|
I've recently become a fan of pre-printed "clean" maps, although my group's play style (show up at the game then figure out what we're playing) doesn't often work well with that. I'm also with current writing projects experimenting with terrain that is more dynamic, so a single preprinted map may not be sufficient to depict the encounter from start to finish; I'm brainstorming ways to handle this as well, starting with putting a clear sheet of acryllic over the map and drawing on that.
John du Bois
Living Forgotten Realms Writing Director, Netheril story area
Follow me on The Twitter: @JohnduBois
Follow my presence on The Intertubes: johncdubois.wordpress.com
|
|
|
|
1 year ago ::
Mar 05, 2012 - 7:56AM
#6
|
Date Joined:
May 29, 2001
|
I've gotten into the habit of heading to the local art store and picking up a 36"x30" ruled sheet for each map I need to use, then inking up the maps on those sheets. I have an carrying tube for maps (from back when I played the D&D Minis skirmish game), and it's easy to carry those maps in the tube to and from an LFR session.
--
Pauper
|
|
|
|
1 year ago ::
Mar 05, 2012 - 8:07AM
#7
|
|
|
I have an carrying tube for maps (from back when I played the D&D Minis skirmish game), and it's easy to carry those maps in the tube to and from an LFR session.
Mailing tubes are also a good size for carrying maps.
Lori Anderson
WotC Freelancer, LFR author
@LittleLorika
CALI3-3 The Agony of Almraiven (co-author)
NETH4-1 Containing Shadow (co-author)
CALI4-1 Plain of Stone Spiders (author)
QUES4-1 Liberation (co-author)
EPIC5-1 Plaguewrought Prism (co-author)
TotalCon: http://www.totalcon.com/RolePlaying.html
|
|
|
|
1 year ago ::
Mar 05, 2012 - 8:07AM
#8
|
Date Joined:
Jun 13, 2010
|
In our local group the maps are generally drawn on the battlemat at the table (while the players are sorting out initiative rolls/short rests/during roleplay sections), though if there is a pre-printed map we will use that, and some DMs bring their own battlemats with the maps pre-drawn (or take the mat after the session to pre-draw for the next session). Tiles are generally used for any moveable bits (or bits that look a lot better with the tiles, for example the ships, or using the purple cloud tiles for the sandstorm in CALI 3-3).
It can get a bit cluttered once zones start being drawn on, but mostly it works fine, only taking a minute or two to do a decent outline.
"I am the seeker, I am the stalker, I am the walrus"
|
|
|
|
1 year ago ::
Mar 05, 2012 - 10:45AM
#9
|
|
|
For the most part, I use an erasable battle mat, and just take a couple of minutes before each combat to draw out the map. If it's a complicated map (such as CORM1-2), I'll pre-draw it on a mat.
I have some Dungeon Tiles, but I don't care for them very much. I do occasionally use some of the bigger tiles (such as the "full page" tiles that depict a shop or a tavern). I also make frequent use of the ship tiles which I got as an RPGA DM reward a couple of years ago.
"Of course [Richard] has a knife. He always has a knife. We all have knives. It's 1183, and we're barbarians!" - Eleanor of Aquitaine, "The Lion in Winter"
|
|
|
|
1 year ago ::
Mar 05, 2012 - 10:55AM
#10
|
Date Joined:
Jun 15, 2004
|
In NETH 4-1 we put "clean" versions of the maps (i.e., without monster tokens) in the appendix for people who like printing their maps. I guess I was just wondering how useful that kind of thing is for DMs.
That can be pretty darn useful. I prefer printing over pre-drawing. It allows the game to be more visual (which I prefer).
|
|
|
