I'm trying to start a semi-professional dungeon/map creation thread. I've been doing this for a loooong time and I figure I should start getting myself out there and getting oppinions from people who play the game so I'm gonna toss a dungeon in here I just started working on to get some feedback as it progresses before I start a thread with some of my other work. You know, get a feel for what people like in a good dungeon.
So far I have a rough outline of a cavern-style dungeon. It's fairly simplistic for a starter.
Oh, I'm still in a long-term relationship with 3.5 ed. so advice or comments from people familiar with the former generation are most welcome =)
((media: Paint Shop Pro 7))
Concept
First Run
texture and grid (rough)
Halfway point
prettier lines
more layers
Latest *new*
First update.
Added priliminary texturing and tile grid.
But this:
((media: Paint Shop Pro 7))
PSP (I am on X2) is possibly the most underrated software in the history of software.
I am currently using it to create dungeon and terrain tiles as well as cardstock miniatures at 300dpi and printing them to PDF. But I have been using it for years for an unthinkable number of reasons.
I underestimated you Wizards forum...
Thanks Jharii =D
Yeah, I hear great things about... pretty much everything that came after 7. My buddy found his old copy of 7 and gave it to me. Before this it was just pen, ink, and scanner. Not that there's anything wrong with that *shrugs *
Oh, I'm kinda new to the program too. I figured out layering and graphing easy enough, but if you have some spare time, I wouldn't mind some tips.
Annnnnd...
cleaned up copy. Halfway point
Tips... I can offer some generic advice. I am by no means an expert, just a very effective hack. And keep in mind that I don't know how these items translate from X2 to 7.
You've figured out the biggest thing, and that is that layers make PSP tick, but the blend modes that the layers can be set to can provide some very nice effects.
Feathering, smoothing, and anti-alias are very powerful when you are using freehand selection. Feathering and anti-alias, in general, can be just as powerful with all selection types.
The warp brush and mesh warp can provide some nice organic tweaking as you can soften up a lot of sharp edges where needed. I don't see you having a problem with this based on your first map, though.
The brush tools, such as smudge, push, lighten/darken, etc. are very nice for highlighting features.
You can use just about any Photoshop effect plugin with PSP. And even the built-in PSP effects are pretty decent.
A graphics tablet would likely be very helpful with mapping.
If you have a specific question, feel free to post it up here or sent me a PM and I will see what I can figure out.
I figured out how to soften that hideous black line! By... selecting the "soften" effect!
Yeah yeah...
Anyways, Figured out a better grid too.
Feel free to reply to that Pm anyways if you can add anything more indepth though, please =D.
Stupid Paladin is Stupid
::edit::
Also, i've uploaded my 10 minute preliminary concept to show what the over all idea is. it doesnt have any flavor either but it gives at least a glimpse of what the outcome should look like (mind the crappy placement of cave pool). So far, i havent had ANY luck drawing water, let alone a waterfall. dont ****ing get me started on the trees below the cliffs either. I've been looking at some official wizards maps for a general idea but it just keeps on looking like green swamp right now and its making me mad...
Prelim
Anyways, Figured out a better grid too.
Looks good. Setting the grid layer to Overlay or Luminance works very well, also. Don't know if you tried this or not.
I'm using photobucket right now but someone suggested image shack so if anyone else is running into problems, let me know so I can switch early
Cahrn
Thanks Cahrn. I'm realizing that detail is probably the hardest part of the map making process. However, I've been keeping my interest by persuing my second love; filling dungeons with monsters. Here's a sample. My boss monster. I'm working with troglodytes right now because I think they're pretty under-used humanoids. The dungeon will be tooled for a party of levels 5-7.
Kar’roc CR 9
Female troglodyte cleric 7
CE Medium humanoid (reptilian)
Init +0; Senses darkvision 90 ft.; Listen +6, Spot +6
Languages Common, Draconic
AC 20, touch 10, flat-footed 20
(+6 natural, +4 +1 hide)
hp 89 (9 HD)
Resist Cold 10
Fort +13, Ref +4, Will +11
Speed 20 ft. (4 squares)
Melee 2 claws +9 (1d6+5/x2) and bite +7 (1d4+3) or
Ranged 2 Javelins of lightning (5d6 electricity, Reflex
DC 14 half, 120 ft. line)
Base Atk +6; Grp +9
Atk Options Death touch 1/day (+9 melee touch, roll
7d6, if the total rolled equals the creature’s current hp
it dies, no save)
Special Actions rebuke undead 3/day (+0, 2d6+7, 7th),
spontaneous casting (inflict spells), stench
Combat Gear Scroll of cure critical wounds
Cleric Spells Prepared (CL 7th):
4th–divine power, unholy blight (D) (DC 17, CL 8th)
3rd–bestow curse (+9 melee touch, DC 16),
contagion (3) (D) (+9 melee touch, DC 16), magic
circle against good, prayer
2nd–cure moderate wounds (2), death knell (5) (D)
(DC 15, CL 8th), hold person (DC 15), owl’s wisdom
1st–bane (DC 14), bless, cause fear (D) (DC 14),
doom (2) (DC 14), shield of faith
(D): Domain spell. Deity: Laogzed. Domains: Death, Evil
Abilities Str 16, Dex 10, Con 18, Int 11, Wis 16, Chr 10
Feats Ability Focus (Stench), Improved Natural Attack
(claw), Improved Toughness, Iron Will, Multiattack (B)
Skills Concentration +5, Hide +6*, Know. (Religion) +6
Listen +6, Spot +6
Possessions combat gear plus +1 Hide, 5 javelins of
lightning, Ring of Laogzed
Stench (Ex) As troglodyte but the Fortitude save DC is
17.
Skills As troglodyte.
Ring of Laogzed
This ring consists of a layer of scaly, reptilian skin
hastily wrapped around a circle carved out of some
sort of pliable bone.
This ring is a gift from the slimy lord of the
troglodytes. It imparts a flicker of his own divinity
granting cold resistance 10, a +1 divine bonus to
saving throws, and a +2 to damage dealt by
natural attacks.
Not Usable Lawful Creatures
the water will eventually flow off a waterfall and into the marsh below the cliffs. trees are the biggest problem right now. water is just taking more and more layers but is starting to get to where i want it to be.
Also have a few dungeon tiles finished, but here's a question for the community.
Would you rather have monsters marked on the map? As in, their starting positions? or would you rather it be left to the DM?
Does anyone have any reccomendation for dungeon tiles? I was going to keep it pretty simple with a treasure box or two, a big rock that the trogs sleep on, and other natural terrain things, but im open to suggestions.
Quick update. Broke through creative block and getting a lot more work done today.
actual trees
annnnd...
Starting to look like something
Its starting to become something of a journey...
Still looks great so far.
As for the notations for encounters, that is entirely up to you. You could provide it as two separate items: a blank map and a notated map with encounters.
Are the squares in the map 5' squares, per standard? If so, that is going to take quite a few tiles to complete the map, not that that would be a bad thing.
I wish I could make watermarks or some fancier brush strokes or something = \
I think its starting to look almost done though. the rocks are temporary. Ive been drawing the rest of the filler for a while now and ill put it all together when its all finished. writing dungeon lore and the room descriptions too. should be done just in time to celebrate Canada Day!
I like your textures a lot. Are they included with the software?
Anyway, nice going. I like the sort of watercolor and ink look.
But yes, I'm pleased to say that initially i throw down one of the premade textures but any finished products (such as the trees, the orange background, and the cave floor, I made myself. =)