Menu
News
All News
Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
Pathfinder
Starfinder
Warhammer
2d20 System
Year Zero Engine
Industry News
Reviews
Dragon Reflections
Columns
Weekly Digests
Weekly News Digest
Freebies, Sales & Bundles
RPG Print News
RPG Crowdfunding News
Game Content
ENterplanetary DimENsions
Mythological Figures
Opinion
Worlds of Design
Peregrine's Next
RPG Evolution
Other Columns
From the Freelancing Frontline
Monster ENcyclopedia
WotC/TSR Alumni Look Back
4 Hours w/RSD (Ryan Dancey)
The Road to 3E (Jonathan Tweet)
Greenwood's Realms (Ed Greenwood)
Drawmij's TSR (Jim Ward)
Community
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Resources
Wiki
Pages
Latest activity
Media
New media
New comments
Search media
Downloads
Latest reviews
Search resources
EN Publishing
Store
EN5ider
Adventures in ZEITGEIST
Awfully Cheerful Engine
What's OLD is NEW
Judge Dredd & The Worlds Of 2000AD
War of the Burning Sky
Level Up: Advanced 5E
Events & Releases
Upcoming Events
Private Events
Featured Events
Socials!
Twitch
YouTube
Facebook (EN Publishing)
Facebook (EN World)
Twitter
Instagram
TikTok
Podcast
Features
Top 5 RPGs Compiled Charts 2004-Present
Adventure Game Industry Market Research Summary (RPGs) V1.0
Ryan Dancey: Acquiring TSR
Q&A With Gary Gygax
D&D Rules FAQs
TSR, WotC, & Paizo: A Comparative History
D&D Pronunciation Guide
Million Dollar TTRPG Kickstarters
Tabletop RPG Podcast Hall of Fame
Eric Noah's Unofficial D&D 3rd Edition News
D&D in the Mainstream
D&D & RPG History
About Morrus
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles only
By:
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
Community
General Tabletop Discussion
*TTRPGs General
In the Hall of Statues: Dramascape Presents a Fantasy RPG Battlemap… Ready-To-Delve!
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="Neuroglyph" data-source="post: 7661786" data-attributes="member: 85633"><p>There really are so many more useful RPG products out there than just rulebooks and setting modules. Certainly, rulebooks and settings represent the core products of nearly all role-playing game systems, but there’s a ton of other products which are often taken for granted that can really enhance the gaming experience for GM and Players alike. And while the main focus of this review column has historically been looking at “written” RPG products, one cannot deny that game aides and other accessories can be an important part of running and playing in a campaign for many gaming fans. Such products deserve a moment in the spotlight as much as a core rulebook or adventure module, and this particular review aims to address that oversight.</p><p>[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]</p><p><span style="font-size: 12px">[align=right]http://www.enworld.org/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=67062[/align]Just this month, <strong>Dramascape</strong> (check out the <a href="https://plus.google.com/communities/102550450568545190280" target="_blank"><strong>Google+ site</strong></a>) released a new RPG map pack, adding another item to a growing list of gaming accessories available for download and printing for any game system. <strong><em>Dramascape: Hall of Statues</em></strong> offers a ready-to-print and ready-to-use battlemap, brimming with details and untold adventure possibilities for a GM to unleash.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"></span></p><p> <span style="font-size: 12px"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong><u>Hall of Statues (Fantasy Volume #52)</u></strong></span></p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong>Written by</strong>: Steven J. Black</span> </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong>Art/Cartography</strong>: Simon Powell</span> </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong>Publisher</strong>: Dramascape</span> </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong>Year</strong>: 2015</span> </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong>Media</strong>: PDF (60 pages)</span> </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong>Price</strong>: $3.99 (Available in PDF format from <a href="http://www.rpgnow.com/product/145093/Hall-of-Statues&amp;filters=0_0_0_31813_0?affiliate_id=270466" target="_blank"><strong>RPGNow</strong></a>!) </span> </li> </ul><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong><em></em></strong></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong><em>Hall of Statues</em></strong> is a Fantasy Role-Playing Game map accessory depicting a necropolis full of strange statues and columns, ready to be printed and used at the gaming table. The PDF contains an 18 tile map set printed three ways – square overlay, hex overlay, and no overlay at all. There are also instructions on how best to print and set up the map, as well as a description of the map features and tips on types of adventures could be run there. And finally, the map collection also comes with a file in a Virtual Table Top (VTT) format which can be imported and utilized in moments.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong><u></u></strong></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong><u></u></strong></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong><u>Production Quality</u></strong></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"></span>[align=left]http://www.enworld.org/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=67063[/align]<span style="font-size: 12px">The production quality of <strong><em>Hall of Statues</em></strong> is quite good, with a considerable amount of details on the maps and a decent write-up by the designer on how the battlemap might be used in an FRPG. The designers writing style is straightforward and factual, without much embellishment, but not too surprising given that the main point of the product is the maps themselves.</span></p><p> <span style="font-size: 12px"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px">Navigation through the product is handled by the PDF page view mainly. There is a table of contents to the start of each map type – square, hex, or no overlay – and it is hot linked to the first page of the appropriate map type.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px">The art quality of the <strong><em>Hall of Statues</em></strong> is remarkably good, with a nice looking cover but some incredibly detailed maps of the necropolis itself. Close inspection of the maps reveal some lovely texturing, like cracks in the stone walls and on the flagstone floor. The classical pillars, wall sconces, urns, and the statues themselves are clearly identifiable, and zooming into the map definitely gives an illusion of three dimensions to the halls and corridors.</span></p><p> <span style="font-size: 12px"></span></p><p> <span style="font-size: 12px"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong><u>And around this corner, you see…</u></strong></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"></span>[align=right]http://www.enworld.org/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=67064[/align]<span style="font-size: 12px"><strong><em>Hall of Statues</em></strong> is a pretty straightforward product – print the version of the map desired onto card stock or as paper pasted to card board - and you have a ready-made dungeon locale for fantasy gaming. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px">The designer provides a couple paragraphs of descriptions about the map and recommends some creatures that might inhabit the place. Skeletons are an obvious choice here given the detailed skeletal remains and the one wing of the necropolis literally piled high with bones and skulls. And of course the statues themselves can be used as monsters, whether golems or animated stone creations - or perhaps even creatures which come to life. The latter might be a small problem given that one of the statues looks like a dolphin cresting a wave – not a particularly threatening beastie if it came to life in a dry catacomb.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"></span>[align=left]http://www.enworld.org/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=67065[/align]<span style="font-size: 12px">As for scale, the maps themselves are designed for one inch to five feet according to the designer, and that fits with most standard miniatures and monster pogs. Having the option for square or hex overlays provides good options for nearly any game system, and the non-overlayed map could be used in systems with a wargamer “tape-measure” style of movement.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px">Instructions for printing and trimming the maps are a nice inclusion but fairly unnecessary for most gamers. Overall, it would take very little time to get this map ready to use for a night of gaming.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong></strong></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong></strong></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong>Overall Score</strong>: 6.9 <strong>out of</strong> 10.0</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"></span></p><p> <span style="font-size: 12px"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong><u>Conclusions</u></strong></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong><em></em></strong></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong><em>Dreamscape: Hall of Statues</em></strong> is a pretty sharp looking map accessory for just about any roleplaying game system. Although ostensibly designed for a fantasy setting, there’s nothing stopping a GM from using it as an ancient ruin in a Horror or SciFi genre game. The details on the map are very well rendered, and just looking at the map will be enough for many GMs to be inspired with all kinds of stories and plots on what this place is in their campaign – and what foul creatures might be lurking there.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px">While it is true that a GM will have to print and assemble the map themselves to fully utilize it, the price is set at a bargain for a lovely rendered map - even if it takes a little extra effort to get it to the gaming table!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong></strong></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong></strong></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong>Editorial Note</strong>: This Reviewer purchased a copy of the product in PDF format from which this review was written.</span></p><p> <span style="font-size: 12px"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong><u>Grade Card (Ratings 0 to 10)</u></strong></span></p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong>Presentation</strong>: 6.75</span> </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-size: 12px">- Design: 6.0 (Decent writing; utilitarian layout; fairly user-friendly)</span> </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-size: 12px">- Illustrations: 7.5 (Good looking maps; pretty cover; lots of little details!)</span> </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong>Content</strong>: 6.5</span> </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-size: 12px">- Crunch: NA (Not applicable – system neutral)</span> </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-size: 12px">- Fluff: 6.5 (Some nice ideas for dungeon design; most GMs can create even more details on their own!)</span> </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong>Value</strong>: 7.5 (Very cheap for a lovely dungeon map set!)</span> </li> </ul></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Neuroglyph, post: 7661786, member: 85633"] There really are so many more useful RPG products out there than just rulebooks and setting modules. Certainly, rulebooks and settings represent the core products of nearly all role-playing game systems, but there’s a ton of other products which are often taken for granted that can really enhance the gaming experience for GM and Players alike. And while the main focus of this review column has historically been looking at “written” RPG products, one cannot deny that game aides and other accessories can be an important part of running and playing in a campaign for many gaming fans. Such products deserve a moment in the spotlight as much as a core rulebook or adventure module, and this particular review aims to address that oversight. [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK] [SIZE=3][align=right]http://www.enworld.org/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=67062[/align]Just this month, [B]Dramascape[/B] (check out the [URL="https://plus.google.com/communities/102550450568545190280"][B]Google+ site[/B][/URL]) released a new RPG map pack, adding another item to a growing list of gaming accessories available for download and printing for any game system. [B][I]Dramascape: Hall of Statues[/I][/B] offers a ready-to-print and ready-to-use battlemap, brimming with details and untold adventure possibilities for a GM to unleash. [B][U]Hall of Statues (Fantasy Volume #52)[/U][/B][/SIZE] [LIST] [*][SIZE=3][B]Written by[/B]: Steven J. Black[/SIZE] [*][SIZE=3][B]Art/Cartography[/B]: Simon Powell[/SIZE] [*][SIZE=3][B]Publisher[/B]: Dramascape[/SIZE] [*][SIZE=3][B]Year[/B]: 2015[/SIZE] [*][SIZE=3][B]Media[/B]: PDF (60 pages)[/SIZE] [*][SIZE=3][B]Price[/B]: $3.99 (Available in PDF format from [URL="http://www.rpgnow.com/product/145093/Hall-of-Statues&filters=0_0_0_31813_0?affiliate_id=270466"][B]RPGNow[/B][/URL]!) [/SIZE] [/LIST] [SIZE=3][B][I] Hall of Statues[/I][/B] is a Fantasy Role-Playing Game map accessory depicting a necropolis full of strange statues and columns, ready to be printed and used at the gaming table. The PDF contains an 18 tile map set printed three ways – square overlay, hex overlay, and no overlay at all. There are also instructions on how best to print and set up the map, as well as a description of the map features and tips on types of adventures could be run there. And finally, the map collection also comes with a file in a Virtual Table Top (VTT) format which can be imported and utilized in moments. [B][U] Production Quality[/U][/B] [/SIZE][align=left]http://www.enworld.org/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=67063[/align][SIZE=3]The production quality of [B][I]Hall of Statues[/I][/B] is quite good, with a considerable amount of details on the maps and a decent write-up by the designer on how the battlemap might be used in an FRPG. The designers writing style is straightforward and factual, without much embellishment, but not too surprising given that the main point of the product is the maps themselves. Navigation through the product is handled by the PDF page view mainly. There is a table of contents to the start of each map type – square, hex, or no overlay – and it is hot linked to the first page of the appropriate map type. The art quality of the [B][I]Hall of Statues[/I][/B] is remarkably good, with a nice looking cover but some incredibly detailed maps of the necropolis itself. Close inspection of the maps reveal some lovely texturing, like cracks in the stone walls and on the flagstone floor. The classical pillars, wall sconces, urns, and the statues themselves are clearly identifiable, and zooming into the map definitely gives an illusion of three dimensions to the halls and corridors. [B][U]And around this corner, you see…[/U][/B] [/SIZE][align=right]http://www.enworld.org/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=67064[/align][SIZE=3][B][I]Hall of Statues[/I][/B] is a pretty straightforward product – print the version of the map desired onto card stock or as paper pasted to card board - and you have a ready-made dungeon locale for fantasy gaming. The designer provides a couple paragraphs of descriptions about the map and recommends some creatures that might inhabit the place. Skeletons are an obvious choice here given the detailed skeletal remains and the one wing of the necropolis literally piled high with bones and skulls. And of course the statues themselves can be used as monsters, whether golems or animated stone creations - or perhaps even creatures which come to life. The latter might be a small problem given that one of the statues looks like a dolphin cresting a wave – not a particularly threatening beastie if it came to life in a dry catacomb. [/SIZE][align=left]http://www.enworld.org/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=67065[/align][SIZE=3]As for scale, the maps themselves are designed for one inch to five feet according to the designer, and that fits with most standard miniatures and monster pogs. Having the option for square or hex overlays provides good options for nearly any game system, and the non-overlayed map could be used in systems with a wargamer “tape-measure” style of movement. Instructions for printing and trimming the maps are a nice inclusion but fairly unnecessary for most gamers. Overall, it would take very little time to get this map ready to use for a night of gaming. [B] Overall Score[/B]: 6.9 [B]out of[/B] 10.0 [B][U]Conclusions[/U][/B] [B][I] Dreamscape: Hall of Statues[/I][/B] is a pretty sharp looking map accessory for just about any roleplaying game system. Although ostensibly designed for a fantasy setting, there’s nothing stopping a GM from using it as an ancient ruin in a Horror or SciFi genre game. The details on the map are very well rendered, and just looking at the map will be enough for many GMs to be inspired with all kinds of stories and plots on what this place is in their campaign – and what foul creatures might be lurking there. While it is true that a GM will have to print and assemble the map themselves to fully utilize it, the price is set at a bargain for a lovely rendered map - even if it takes a little extra effort to get it to the gaming table! [B] Editorial Note[/B]: This Reviewer purchased a copy of the product in PDF format from which this review was written. [B][U]Grade Card (Ratings 0 to 10)[/U][/B][/SIZE] [LIST] [*][SIZE=3][B]Presentation[/B]: 6.75[/SIZE] [*][SIZE=3]- Design: 6.0 (Decent writing; utilitarian layout; fairly user-friendly)[/SIZE] [*][SIZE=3]- Illustrations: 7.5 (Good looking maps; pretty cover; lots of little details!)[/SIZE] [*][SIZE=3][B]Content[/B]: 6.5[/SIZE] [*][SIZE=3]- Crunch: NA (Not applicable – system neutral)[/SIZE] [*][SIZE=3]- Fluff: 6.5 (Some nice ideas for dungeon design; most GMs can create even more details on their own!)[/SIZE] [*][SIZE=3][B]Value[/B]: 7.5 (Very cheap for a lovely dungeon map set!)[/SIZE] [/LIST] [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Community
General Tabletop Discussion
*TTRPGs General
In the Hall of Statues: Dramascape Presents a Fantasy RPG Battlemap… Ready-To-Delve!
Top