Campaign problems - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Campaign problems

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
phluff
Jun 21, 2009 15:49:03 Right now, I'm working on a campaign, but I have a small knack. I need help with it, as all I need to get it up and running fully, to flesh it out completely, is a good sized map. I'm wanting to run it through a metropolis, preferably through Dallas, Texas, but it's hard to find free maps for me.

Could, or would, anybody be willing to help this pretty new dm/gm out with this small knack? It'd be very helpful for a resident evil campaign.
#2
Master_Vega
Jun 21, 2009 16:11:07 Google Maps is your friend. Satellite overlay will get you a good view of the buildings the road map skips.
#3
phluff
Jun 21, 2009 17:00:42 Yes, but how would one get covered 5ft. squares of buildings in particular? Or how would one come about some great building plans for such a large area?
#4
TheRealOrion
Jun 21, 2009 17:24:25 Building plans are tougher. You might want to go to other RPG sources for that, like modules. Fortunately, for maps, all you need is the scale, so you can look at Spycraft, M&M, d20M, or any other modern source. Failing that, you could actually take a trip to city hall and look up building plans, if you're dedicated to accuracy!
#5
DwarfFighter
Jun 22, 2009 4:20:11 Critical Locations should also be available out there.
#6
kronos182
Jun 22, 2009 11:04:13
Building plans are tougher. You might want to go to other RPG sources for that, like modules. Fortunately, for maps, all you need is the scale, so you can look at Spycraft, M&M, d20M, or any other modern source. Failing that, you could actually take a trip to city hall and look up building plans, if you're dedicated to accuracy!

The only problem with that is you might get some weird looks if they ask you why you want the plans. Or what if you want plans for a building in a different State (or country)?

"Yes, I'd like to get a copy of the plans for the White House."
'Uh.. why might I ask?'
"I need it for a game."
'Security!'

Imagine trying to get plans for any nuclear power plants in the area.
#7
TheRealOrion
Jun 22, 2009 11:46:50 Years ago, I put a query on a public board for anyone who knew of satellite imagery available for street plans. Specifically, I wanted to see the harbour of Vancouver, a fairly major sea port. On that board, my handle happened to be "Habib" (for reasons that don't need exploring). Nobody actually accused me of being a terrorist, but there were some very hesitant posts.
#8
Ragitsu
Jun 22, 2009 16:21:01 TheRealOrion, that makes me shake my head.
#9
dbay
Jun 22, 2009 16:55:02 Does Google Earth have a grid option?

You could always screenshot some google maps and use a drawing program to add a grid. I run into this problem a lot, too. I couldn't really come up with a good solution that didn't require an insane projector setup or massive sheets of printed out paper.
#10
TheRealOrion
Jun 22, 2009 18:34:12
TheRealOrion, that makes me shake my head.

Well, I can't entirely blame them for drawing a certain conclusion. At the time, the TV was covered with images of Al Qaeda. I mean, none of them actually accused me, but they did nervously joke that a guy with an Arabic name was asking for satellite photos of a major port. Irony of ironies: I'm White. I just use that handle sometimes.
You could always screenshot some google maps and use a drawing program to add a grid. I run into this problem a lot, too. I couldn't really come up with a good solution that didn't require an insane projector setup or massive sheets of printed out paper.

It would be a serious pain to get the scale just right, but you could just print onto graph paper.
#11
Ragitsu
Jun 22, 2009 19:18:49 Arabs can be "white"(caucasian), you know ;).

In any event, someone stupid enough to use a "suspicious" name probably wouldn't last long in the ranks anyways.
#12
TheRealOrion
Jun 22, 2009 19:57:01 Ah, good point. And here's me trying to be respectful and use the proper term!
#13
DwarfFighter
Jun 23, 2009 6:54:20 Google Maps provide a nifty scale bar in the bottom left corner. Apply a pencil and a ruler to a printout and you can make your own grid.

-DF

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 phluff Jun 21, 2009 15:49:03	Right now, I'm working on a campaign, but I have a small knack. I need help with it, as all I need to get it up and running fully, to flesh it out completely, is a good sized map. I'm wanting to run it through a metropolis, preferably through Dallas, Texas, but it's hard to find free maps for me. Could, or would, anybody be willing to help this pretty new dm/gm out with this small knack? It'd be very helpful for a resident evil campaign.
#2 Master_Vega Jun 21, 2009 16:11:07	Google Maps is your friend. Satellite overlay will get you a good view of the buildings the road map skips.
#3 phluff Jun 21, 2009 17:00:42	Yes, but how would one get covered 5ft. squares of buildings in particular? Or how would one come about some great building plans for such a large area?
#4 TheRealOrion Jun 21, 2009 17:24:25	Building plans are tougher. You might want to go to other RPG sources for that, like modules. Fortunately, for maps, all you need is the scale, so you can look at Spycraft, M&M, d20M, or any other modern source. Failing that, you could actually take a trip to city hall and look up building plans, if you're dedicated to accuracy!
#5 DwarfFighter Jun 22, 2009 4:20:11	Critical Locations should also be available out there.
#6 kronos182 Jun 22, 2009 11:04:13	Building plans are tougher. You might want to go to other RPG sources for that, like modules. Fortunately, for maps, all you need is the scale, so you can look at Spycraft, M&M, d20M, or any other modern source. Failing that, you could actually take a trip to city hall and look up building plans, if you're dedicated to accuracy! The only problem with that is you might get some weird looks if they ask you why you want the plans. Or what if you want plans for a building in a different State (or country)? "Yes, I'd like to get a copy of the plans for the White House." 'Uh.. why might I ask?' "I need it for a game." 'Security!' Imagine trying to get plans for any nuclear power plants in the area.
#7 TheRealOrion Jun 22, 2009 11:46:50	Years ago, I put a query on a public board for anyone who knew of satellite imagery available for street plans. Specifically, I wanted to see the harbour of Vancouver, a fairly major sea port. On that board, my handle happened to be "Habib" (for reasons that don't need exploring). Nobody actually accused me of being a terrorist, but there were some very hesitant posts.
#8 Ragitsu Jun 22, 2009 16:21:01	TheRealOrion, that makes me shake my head.
#9 dbay Jun 22, 2009 16:55:02	Does Google Earth have a grid option? You could always screenshot some google maps and use a drawing program to add a grid. I run into this problem a lot, too. I couldn't really come up with a good solution that didn't require an insane projector setup or massive sheets of printed out paper.
#10 TheRealOrion Jun 22, 2009 18:34:12	TheRealOrion, that makes me shake my head. Well, I can't entirely blame them for drawing a certain conclusion. At the time, the TV was covered with images of Al Qaeda. I mean, none of them actually accused me, but they did nervously joke that a guy with an Arabic name was asking for satellite photos of a major port. Irony of ironies: I'm White. I just use that handle sometimes. You could always screenshot some google maps and use a drawing program to add a grid. I run into this problem a lot, too. I couldn't really come up with a good solution that didn't require an insane projector setup or massive sheets of printed out paper. It would be a serious pain to get the scale just right, but you could just print onto graph paper.
#11 Ragitsu Jun 22, 2009 19:18:49	Arabs can be "white"(caucasian), you know ;). In any event, someone stupid enough to use a "suspicious" name probably wouldn't last long in the ranks anyways.
#12 TheRealOrion Jun 22, 2009 19:57:01	Ah, good point. And here's me trying to be respectful and use the proper term!
#13 DwarfFighter Jun 23, 2009 6:54:20	Google Maps provide a nifty scale bar in the bottom left corner. Apply a pencil and a ruler to a printout and you can make your own grid. -DF