Is AI in our industry really that bad? (Dungeon Alchemist)

So there was this Steam sale last month and even though I really don't use my gaming laptop to play games, I did go ahead and pick up a few cheap games I could play when on the road. While I was at it I noticed that Dungeon Alchemist was something I saved as a "want" in Steam.

I think it was $35, possibly as part of the Steam sale.....it's $45 now. I'm not one to throw down that kind of cash on a tool I'm not sure I'll use, but with all this AI hype I figure.....why not check it out. I've played with Google Bard a little bit, and I see how that could assist with some writing, but not a road I want to go down. AI art.....not just no, but hell no. What I've seen as far as AI art really looks like it's ripping off actual artists, so that's a no-go....

....but Dungeon Alchemist....maybe?

From the Dungeon Alchemist press kit: "Dungeon Alchemist is an AI-powered map making application for fantasy games that allows you to create high-quality maps easily and fast. Players pick a map size, choose a theme, draw some shapes and Dungeon Alchemist will automatically populate the map with walls, lights, doors, windows and objects. Exporting maps for print can be done in seconds, and integration with VTTs is seamless. "

I did NOT go through a tutorial or anything and just started playing with a plain map. Ok, it took the third map until I found something appropriate for what I was trying to do, but that was just a couple of minutes at best. I settled on trying to build a small cottage with an attached brewery with some bee hives and walled-off garden plots. Throw in a small outhouse and a few odds & ends as well.

The program was easy enough to use, but it was obvious that I'm just scratching the surface of what this thing can do. Don't like how the room generated? Just re-do it and it'll add different stuff. If there's an individual "thing" in your room you don't like, just click on it and delete.

While there are a lot of current options as far as room types, the dev team is making more, and it needs more.

An added option, which pretty much blew me away, is that if you plop down a token (there are only a few monster tokes right now) you can actually navigate through your map! Pretty cool feature.

You'll probably notice on the pic above that there is a big cut-away of the hill that one walled field is on. Didn't like that, but I'm a newb with the program and I know that I selected the option to have all my construction on the same level as the water.

I haven't figured out if I like how these things print out yet, because I don't have a full-color printer....well I do actually have a large format one, but I don't want to use the ink. I'm more interested in having this program for VTT use. I didn't see underground caverns.....wait one...

Oh crap, the cave creation is awesome! If I wasn't already at the end of this post I'd re-do everything with a focus on caves. Uh...yeah......I'm of the opinion that my $35 was worthwhile for making some quick caves & caverns...and I like hand-drawing my caves. I'm also a big fan of this tidbit: "Dungeon Alchemist will be updated over time at no extra cost."

Humble Bundle - MAPS Spectacular (Campaign Cartographer 3+)

I woke up today to a pleasant surprise. A new RPG-related bundle was up on Humble Bundle - MAPS Spectacular, a Campaign Cartographer 3+ software bundle.

Campaign Cartographer is regarded by many as the best RPG mapping software money can buy. The core Campaign Cartographer software is 45 bucks at the Pro Fantasy website. You can get the Campaign Cartographer 3+ software plus a suit of addons for 30 bucks via Humble Bundle (a $438 value). If you already have CC 3+, there are smaller bundles for add ons.

Note, CC 3+ is Windows only, but you can likely use Crossover or similar software to use it on OSX or Linux.

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Kickstarter - TileForge: Software to Batch-Generate Mapping Tiles (Mapping Program)

This software for Mac & Windows PCs will create batches of custom geomorphic tiles for use in creating top-down battlemaps for RPGs.

I've been a huge fan of Heruca/BattleGrounds Games for over a decade. Not only did he offer a useful VTT, but he also offered links to the VTTs of competitors, and he also offers links to competitors of his mapping software. 

BattleGrounds Games used to be best known for offering a competitive VTT, but now I believe they are best known for their popular mapping software, MapForge.

The TileForge Kickstarter is BGG's latest offering, to allow one to design and print out battle maps on demand for their game sessions.

25 bucks is a very fair price, especially when you consider the price and storage issues of Dwarven Forge terrain and the like.

TileForge is a new program that I would like to develop, to support the creation of maps for tabletop RPGs (e.g. Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, etc.). It should serve quite well as a companion app to my map-making software, MapForge, but that software is not required.

Whereas MapForge is focused is on creating battlemaps, TileForge is for creating geomorphic mapping tiles and stand-alone assets. These tiles and assets can later be used in your favorite image editor, map-making app, or even in a virtual tabletop app (e.g. Roll20, Foundry, Fantasy Grounds, etc.), to quickly assemble custom map layouts from the modular assets.

Creating geomorphic mapping tiles can be a tedious and labor-intensive process. TileForge will automate that process. Simply choose a few textures (you'll be able to drag-and-drop texture images right onto the app), and TileForge will apply the necessary shape masks, drop shadows, bevels and other effects, and create an entire set of geomorphic map tiles using those textures.

And TileForge won't be limited to creating just modular hallways or roads. You will also be able to create rooms or buildings, including multi-tile ones. Even create them without a background, so that you can place them anywhere on your maps.

Depending on the textures you use, you can make tilesets for a variety of genres: Fantasy, Modern Day, Sci-Fi, etc. Some examples of tilesets you could create include space station/base, dungeon, fantasy castle corridors/rooms, modern city roads, etc.

Entrepreneurs take note: If the textures that you utilize in a tileset allow commercial use, you could sell your TileForge-generated tilesets on sites like DriveThruRPG, the Roll20 marketplace, Etsy, Fiverr, and/or other online stores that cater to RPG fans. Or run your own crowdfunding campaign to deliver your tileset/s printed on card stock designed for use with dry erase or wet erase markers.

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Humble Bundle - Maps Bonanza (Campaign Cartographer 3)

Campaign Cartographer has been offered on Humble Bundle in the past, but if you've missed it before, this is an amazing opportunity to grab Campaign Cartographer 3 (lifetime license) and a ton of resources for 30 bucks.

 

Following the amazing success of the Maps Extravaganza Humble Bundle, we present the Maps Bonanza, featuring Fractal Terrains 3+, a powerful world-generator and editor. Whether it's starships and solar systems, entire worlds, historical maps or fantasy floorplans, this treasure trove of assets and apps has what you need for your cartography. Plus, your purchase will support Carbonfund and Oceana!

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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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Free Mapping Tool - Can Be Used in Commercial Projects

A huge Thank You to Thad for sharing Dungeon Scrawls link with me. I haven't played with it nearly long enough to truly make it sing, but the potential is amazing.

I literally did the above in 5 minutes.

The software is free to use and certain art packs are released under a free commercial use CC license.

You can even convert to Isometric View...

A great way to start the New Year :)

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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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Kickstarter - Isometric Map-Making (Battlegrounds Games)

"Developing new features to support isometric mapping in MapForge AND creating a wealth of top-notch isometric mapping content Add-Ons."

I've been following and supporting Heruca / Battlegrounds Games for over a decade at this point. It was one of the first virtual tabletops I encountered, and Heruca was always available to answer questions and had quick responses when I needed support.

I was an early backer of Mapforge and seriously need to set some time aside to get back to playing with maps again. I find such to actually be therapeutic and relaxing. Free time in retirement isn't as free as I thought it would be.

Isometric maps, like the ones found in many DCC RPG adventures, are a beauty to behold and tend to spark my imagination more than standard 2d maps.

The Isometric Map-Making Kickstarter is being run to upgrade the original Mapforge mapper to isometric mapping options. How fucking cool is that?

The 5 buck backer level is for owners of the original Mapforge. It gives all stretch goals and helps fund the upgrade. 33 bucks gives you the original Mapforge program plus and 24 add ons. Not too shabby at all.

Need a mapping program? Mapforge may just be your cup of tea.

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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