Playing with Dungeon Builder - Isometric Mapping Program

I was shown the magic of Dungeon Builder yesterday by Thaddeus and I was blown away by the sample map I was shown. So, I downloaded the free demo and  I put together The Dungeon Privy shown above in less than half an hour. That included time to learn the basics of the program.

This morning I tried my hands at the demo again, this time for an outdoor map, and again I was extremely impressed with the results. Again, the map was completed in about half an hour.

The demo is free. The full app without a commercial license is 59 euros. Commercial license prices depend on whether you want to give attribution to Dungeon Builder and how large your company is in terms of yearly revenue. They start at 199 euros.

I put in for a commercial license. Expect to see me working on my Dungeon Builder skills in the next few weeks.

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Humble Bundle - Campaign Cartographer Mapping & Royalty Free Music

Ah, two diverse Humble Bundles, but both are damn good values.

First off is the Campaign Cartographer Bundle. Let me get right to the price point-unless you already own the software, you really need to be in at 30 bucks. But those 30 bucks gets you:

Campaign Cartographer 3+ Lifetime License, Floorplan Collection, Tome of Ultimate Mapping, Perspectives 3, City Designer 3, and Dungeon Designer 3 and more.

Sigh. And it looks like I can run all of this using Crossover on my Mac...

Guess I'll be diving into CC and Dungeon Designer in December :)

The second bundle that caught my eye was Big Royalty-Free Music. Royalty-free music is simply an awesome resource for podcasters and Youtubers. 25 bucks get you 26 albums and over 400 tracks. The samples sound real good, and I can see myself using some to change out the music for the podcast. Heck, I'm not even talking about using it in-game sessions for atmosphere, where it would also rock. You can grab it for as little as a buck for 5 albums and 100 tracks, which probably would suffice for most ;)

Royalty-free music and sound effects to be used in video game development, live streaming, movies, YouTube, content creation and more! Get 26 albums and over 400 tracks, which include .wav, .mp3, and seamless premium licenses for music such as Shadows guild, Superheroes, Dreamagination, and Slasher. 

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Kickstarter - Hex Tile content Add-Ons for MapForge mapmaking software

The goal: To enable the creation of gorgeous "hex crawl" or West March style maps by bringing flat-side-up hextile content to MapForge.

I'm a huge fan of mapping programs for use with RPGs. Probably because my skill at drawing maps freehand is virtually non-existent. I've also been a fan of Battlegrounds Games and their main man Heruca literally for years and years. They've always done great work and have been a huge force in supporting the gaming community over the last 10 years, more or less.

The Hex Tile content Add-Ons for MapForge mapmaking software is the latest Kickstarter to add content to their Mapforge software. There are just over 24 hours left to support the project.

MapForge is map-making software that was successfully funded on Kickstarter in 2017. Version 1.0 of MapForge was released in 2018, along with an incredible 50 content Add-Ons for it from leading content providers. Since then, the number of content Add-Ons has more than doubled. Those of you who are new to MapForge should please visit the above links for more information about the software (it's simply too much information to repeat here). The FAQ for the original campaign is also a useful source of information.

The TL/DR version

MapForge is easy-to-use software for Windows and Mac OS that makes high-quality maps for printing or for use in virtual tabletop software (e.g., Roll20, Fantasy Grounds, etc.).

Can be used for free (no license required for low resolution output).

Comes with  33 free content Add-Ons (totaling around 5600 assets!).

You can download and try the software out for yourself, to evaluate it and see if the program is what you want/expect it to be.

This campaign seeks to broaden MapForge's current hex tile offerings by producing several more mapping content Add-Ons to better support the creation of area/regional scale maps, albeit this time with "flat-side-up" hex tiles (aka V-Hex, or "short grain"). In case you missed it, a prior Kickstarter campaign already covered "pointy-side-up" hex tiles (aka H-Hex or "long grain").

I've already implemented flat-side-up hexgrid generation in MapForge using my own funds (already available in MapForge v1.1.6 and later). A portion of the proceeds from this campaign will go towards implementing the snap-to-grid function on flat-side-up hexgrids, which is a key element that is currently missing. This will allow for much faster and more-accurate mapping. 

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I Thank you in advance - Tenkar 

DungeonFog - The New Way to Map Online

I must admit that I had not come across the Dungeon Fog mapping tool website/app until I read the list of ENnies nominees earlier tonight.

I put the below together in about 20 minutes without referring to any directions:

Map with and without the grid. I like the way you can do diagonals. I think I need thinner grid lines.

This was all accomplished using the free version of the service. Five bucks a month or 50 bucks a year gives you access to a huge amount of additional art resources. 100 bucks a year and you can use the results in your commercial projects. Guess who will be stepping up the commercial license after the holiday weekend? heh

Maybe sooner if I can get their payment portal to work... le sigh...

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Kickstarter - More Sci-Fi content Add-Ons for MapForge map-making software

I love making maps for RPGs. I lack the artistic talent to draw decent looking maps by hand. Programs like Mapforge put virtual talent into the users' hands.

The More Sci-Fi content Add-Ons for MapForge map-making software Kickstarter is what it says on the tin - an attempt to fund sci-fi assets for the Mapforge software. It's also an opportunity for those that missed last year's MapForge Kickstarter to pick up the MapForge software and still help fund the sci-fi assets.

MapForge is a full-color battle map mapping program from BattleGrounds Games, publisher of one of the longest-running VTTs on the market.

Awarding the Squarehex Sampler Pack Giveaway to...

Yep, it that time. Let's see, 19 entries, so that is a simple d20 roll that rerolls 20's. and the rolls is:

5

V.A. - congrats!

V.A. - email me at tenkarsDOTtavern at that gmail thing and I'll get this out to you early next week.

Thanks to all that commented. I'll see if I unearth any other surprises while cleaning ;)

Free Map Mondays - Squarehex Sampler Pack Giveaway - US Only

For those following along at home, your bartender has been under the weather the past few days. Not sure I'll be able to finish putting together a decent map for today.

But have no fear, even if nothing comes to fruition tonight I do have something to give away.

Digging out some boxes that have sat in a corner of the living room, I found a few spares of the SquareHex Sampler Pack. You can grab it directly through the SquareHex blog for:

I'm giving away a complete set, in the original packing, to one random commenter on this very post. US Only - sorry, but the shipping outside the states will kill me ;)

Your comment must tell our readers why you like drawing maps. Comment before 7 PM Eastern on Thursday, October 18th, 2018.

Remember, OSR Christmas is sneaking up and OSR Santa will need to start organizing soon ;)

The Tavern Chat Podcast - E140 - Review - Illwinter's Floorplan Generator (Maps)

As I posted earlier this week, I simply love Illwinter's Floorplan Generator. It simply hits all of my sweet spots.

I had put a call out for mapping programs that were easy to use and the results were usable commercially. Illwinter's Floorplan Generator fits the bill perfectly. Its affordable (7 bucks) and cross-platform )PC/Mac/Linux.

Link to Episode 140 - https://anchor.fm/tavernchat/episodes/E140---Review---Illwinters-Floorplan-Generator-Maps-e2b40m

Link to Illwinter's Floorplan Generator - http://www.illwinter.com/floorplan/

Help me Obi Wan - Looking for User Friendly OSX / Mac Mapping Software

I'm looking for some user-friendly OSX Mapping software. Primarily looking to map out some dungeon, underground environments. If the end rest can be used in commercial projects, so much the better.

OSX is not a target-rich environment for mapping software it seems.

Please, point me in a direction or three ;)

Bundle of Holding - Campaign Cartographer (Mapping Software)

I've owned the Campaign Cartographer software for a number of years. In the right hands, the results are amazing. In my hands - eh, not so much. I wasn't able to get by the learning curve. Also, I've moved to Macs for most of my computer use (this is Windows only). For those that can get past the learning curve, the Campaign Cartographer Bundle is an awesome deal.

For 30 bucks you get the Campaign Cartographer 3+ software and the Tome of Ultimate Mapping.

ProFantasy's Core Collection includes the latest Windows version of Campaign Cartographer 3+ (retail price $40) plus the Tome of Ultimate Mapping (retail $20), a 710-page tutorial guide with more than 150MB of support files like example maps, symbol catalogs, tutorial files, and templates.

The Bonus Collection includes the following:

If you pay more than the threshold price of $64.41, you'll level up and also get serial numbers redeemable for ProFantasy's Bonus Collection with no less than fourteen more products worth an additional $136: the fabulous Dungeon Designer 3 plug-in (retail $40) for CC3+ and more than a dozen Style Packs, tool sets, and map collections originally released as part of ProFantasy's Cartographer's Annual series. The entire offer has a total retail value of $201, one of the richest in Bundle history.

Campaign Cartographer is an amazing tool in the right hands and this pricing is hard to beat.

Kickstarter - Worldographer: Hexographer 2 - Easy Map/World Creator (Happy Mapping)

I'm way behind on showcasing some of the Kickstarters that really excite me, so bear with mw over the next few posts as I attempt to catch up. Things can move fast when you don't pay attention, and I've been doing my darnedest NOT to find really cool Kickstarters. I need to budget a bit over the next few months.

Then I see that stuff like +Joe Wetzel 's Worldographer Kickstarter, where he takes Hexographer and basically turns it up to 11 (Spinal Tap anyone?)

I've had a lot of success with Hexographer. The learning curve is very small, and for someone like me that has ideas but lacks many of the technical skills to implement them, Hexographer is awesome. I'd like to call it idiot proof, but I'm sure if we look hard enough...

Anyhow, here's some the the new, key features for Worldographer:

• A new architecture allows us to have undo/redo functionality.
• Better "child maps." Create a world map and from that same map create a continent level map as well as a kingdom level map. It will remain one file so most changes to one level map will be reflected in the others.
• Hexographer's rather simple "note" functionality can expand to allow you to detail each location as well as things about your world not tied to a location: religions, cultures, important NPCs, etc. It becomes an interactive Gazetteer!
• We're adding an entirely new, more realistic icon set to the software.
• Polygons, Lines, Ovals, etc. have more options for shadows and textures.
• Easy drag and drop of labels and features: Most apps make this tricky, but we're improving it.
• Icosohedral Maps have been planned into Worldographer from the beginning.
• Configuration of new terrain, features, and textures is much easier. (Just drop files to a specific folder.)
• The new user interface framework gives the software a cleaner look.
• Mini-generators create details for notes about cities, castles, ruins, etc.

What's a "child map" you may ask?

I backed at $50 without giving it a thought. It really was that simple a decision.

Do you need to generate geographical maps for your campaign? Look no further.

Did I mention Joe even hangs out on the Wednesday Night Tavern Chats on occasion? Yep, he's that kinda down to earth guy. Oh, and it launched just over 2 days ago and it's nearly funded. Damn.

Now I need to get back to work ;)

Print or Script? Another Map Question

I know - lots of mapping related posts the past day or so.

This time, I'm looking for opinions on the above.

Print or script font?

I like the way the script looks, but I think the print font is clearer.

(for those wondering who "Reed" is, he's a retired adventurer, of course! heh)

What Mapping Program(s) Do You Use?

As you can see from my earlier posts today, I've been enjoying playing around with Other World Mapper. It simply does what it says it can do and the learning curve is small.

I've tried to use many versions of Campaign Cartographer and it is simply way beyond my ability to understand. It's not that I do poor maps with it, I just can't do ANY maps with it.

Hexographer is great for hex maps. It does what it says it will do. I'm looking for a different look with the map I'm currently toying with, but I'd certainly use Hexographer again.

Those are the ones I have the most experience with.

Of course, this question is asking about outdoor and setting maps, but what do you use for your dungeon maps? I know I can do them with Other World Mapper, but options and ideas are always a great thing.

Other World Mapping - Playing With the Different Styles

Yeah, you might be getting a couple of posts a week on my playing around with the Other World Mapper at this point. So much to play with, so much to learn.

In any case, I spent a little time last night playing around with the above, which is a smaller part of the piece below (obviously not complete).

I like the idea of only needing to detail the part of the sandbox you players will be interesting with sooner that later, and adding in further details down the line. If I used this in play, the players would start by the lake, at the town on the eastern shore. You have the island in the middle of the lake to explore, goblins and gnolls in the hills, a dungeon not far off to the west, ruins to the south and west - yeah, lots of hooks there for the taking.

The nearest true city is east at the mouth of the norther river. As for what lies to the east...

Fun stuff in any cast. Pretty amazing what you can put together in less than an hour's time.

Question for the Tavern Folk - Mapmaker, Mapmaker, Make Me a Map...

Earlier today I posted a mini-review of the Other World Mapper mapping software. I personally think it rocks. I suspect I'll be playing with it for endless hours, creating decent (and less than decent) maps with it. It's all part of the learning process.

As everything created with the software is licensed for commercial use by default, would there be an interest in me releasing some of these maps into the "free to use commercially" realm of usage? I'm sure the initial ones will be utter crap, but time is on my side and I may get some skill after a few hundred hours of practice ;)

Just an idea. I'd hate to create a few dozen of these that just sit on my hard drive waiting on a project to match up with them...

As an aside, I'm working out some ideas to use one of +Dyson Logos ' free to use commercially maps in a crowdsourced type of project. I'll never match the master, so I need to find my own track :)

Mini Review - Other World Mapper (So Easy Tenkar Can Figure it Out)

I guess it's pretty obvious I've been looking at fantasy mapping software recently. Why? Because I suck at it free hand, which is the simple truth. I do like mapping and maps. So, I need something relatively idiot proof.

+Zach Glazar , The Lesser Gnome and some might now say, Lesser God (I jest - Demi-God at best), pointed me at the Other World Mapping program. It was Kickstarted back in 2014 (I missed it) and is now offering it's "beta" for sale at $60. Those 60 bucks are basically the same tier and price as in the original Kickstarter (35 bucks would have gotten you the same, but only when the product was finished). So yes, you're paying a premium to kick the tires of a product still in development.

So, how is it?

I deleted 2 maps and created 2 maps - one dungeon, one outdoor, in about an hour or so. That included actually referring to some of the documentation (but like many males, I just bullheaded my way through most of it). I must say, it is a very flexible and complete program. It can certainly use more art sets, and that's in the future so I'm not fretting much.

I didn't go into either map with a theme in mind, just looking to put the software through it's paces. I'm quite pleased with the results. Imagine if I actually spent time and had an idea of what I wanted to accomplish ;)

edit - forgot to mention that the maps produced with Other World Mapper are licensed for commercial use:

DRM Free and Royalty Free 

Other World Mapper will be DRM-Free, without any online activation, always online requirements, or severe activation restrictions. 

Other World Mapper will be royalty free, for both personal and commercial use. You can do anything you want with the maps you create with Other World Mapper: print them, use them for a book, a video game or board game. The maps you create are yours!

Mapping Monday - Playing Around with Dungeon Painter Online (Free Online Mapping App)

Yep, got it in my head to check out the various mapping programs / apps available for the mapping handicapped like myself. I'm sorry, but most of the mapping programs out there have a learning curve exponentially beyond my learning curve.

The above map took about 20 minutes and that included learning the interface at Dungeon Painter Online. I wasn't looking to do anything in particular, just wanted to take it for a short test drive and kick the tires a bit. For a free online app it's easy to learn, which is good at the documentation is limited. I need to spend some more time reading the forums.

If you use the Fantasy Fortress, Old School D&D or Pencil tile sets, the resulting maps are freely licensed for use in commercial projects, which is pretty cool.

In any case, I'm sure 95% of my readers can do better than my test drive ;)

Mini Review - Albatross Hexbook (Mapmaker, Mapmaker, Make me a Map...)

Damn dog! Placed it on the bed for
a minute and she thought it was
a new chew toy ;)

I recently came into possession of an Albatross Hexbook (thanks +Jed McClure ) It is, quite simply, a map maker's joy. Hex map on half the pages, standard grid on the other half. Lines are nice and light so they should fade to the background mostly when used.

I'm going to put this through it's paces when the weather warms up and i spend my mornings in the back yard.

The Albatross Hexbook is $6.95 on Lulu. It's about 6" x 8" in size, 64 pages in total. Simply put, it is what it says on the tin. (and yes, as it is Lulu, wait for a code to appear before buying)

A handy pocket sized notebook with 64 pages of hex and graph paper for sketching out your campaign ideas on the go. The hexes are 1/2 inch and the graph paper is 4 squares to the inch.  since it is saddle-stitched, the notebook can be laid flat.

Some Thoughts on Dyson's Creative Commons Released Maps (Go Patreon!)

As I've mentioned before, the new work hours are putting some major hurt on my creativity. Sliding into bed at 645 in the morning (or later) just runs roughshod over any kind of real life scheduling.

Which means I'm looking for inspiration, and +Dyson Logos has inspiration in spades.

On the chance you don't already know, Dyson has a Patreon campaign where, if enough money is raised each month, the maps that he draws and posts on his blog are released for free to be used personally or commercially. Here's the link to the free maps. Heck, you don't even need to be a backer to benefit from this but the more backers the more maps potentially released into the gaming wilds.

Anyhow, here's two that I'm currently looking at to inspire some of those drowsy braincells...

I figure the above would make for a nice city to kick off a S&W campaign when I finally get back behind the screen next March.

This would be just the right size to kick off a dungeon, and the river might even lead the players elsewhere.

Plenty of time for me to work on this but the fact that i want to work on this is pleasantly surprising. I may be awaking the inner muse ;)

Player Mapping in OSR Games (Guest Poster)

Tonight we have a guest post from +Eric Hoffman , one of the guys behind Stormlord Publishing and the Zine Vault Kickstarter. Remember, The Tavern is as much yours as it is mine and the doors are always open to members of the community that have thoughts they wish to share.

I don't think I am very unique amongst OSR gamers in my map fetish.  Maps were one of the first things that drew me to Dungeons and Dragons.  I had an immediate visceral reaction when I first gazed upon the map of the Haunted Keep in the Moldvay Basic Rulebook and the Caves of Chaos in The Keep on the Borderlands that accompanied it.  Before I ever played an actual game of D&D I created my own floor plan on the graph paper provided in the back of B2.

Players mapping their adventures was a big part of early editions of Dungeons and Dragons.  Graph paper ("6 lines per inch is best") is listed as an essential part of the game in Book I of Dungeons and Dragons (OD&D).  "One player should map the dungeon..." in Holmes' edition. formalizes the position with "This player is called the mapper" in my beloved Moldvay revision.

It has also been mentioned that player mapping of a dungeon can facilitate emergent gameplay.  By drawing out their explorations they may discover dimensional magics at work, divine the possible location of secret chambers, or solve puzzles based on the very construction of the dungeon rooms and corridors.

As I grow older I waffle between the nostalgia of player mapping and the expediency of just giving the players a map of where they have been.  Technology certainly makes that easier today.  Most of my games are online; and programs like Roll20 make it ever-so-easy to just 'reveal' to the players what they see.

Right now I am contemplating how to handle this for an in-person game for some old friends who are coming for a visit.  Do I eat up the limited time we have to game by laboriously describing the dungeon and letting them fumble through the mapping process?  Or do I use the technology readily available and just throw the map up on the big screen TV as they explore the area?
What method do you prefer, and why?