Cooperative World's Largest Dungeon

[blackshirt5]

I'll definitely take Trainz up on the offer of maps.

I'm looking for a level from everybody, yes; any CRs are good(it is meant to be the World's Largest Dungeon, after all) and yes, surface entrances/exits can be had; this is how the random monsters got into the dungeon, after all.

Any type of level you want can be made; Leeds liked to dabble in all different things, although lemme just add that I call "Wall of Force Maze" and RakeRon mentioned something about doing a level with a lot of traps(we could always use more though!). Custom monsters, magic items, and traps are welcome(again, the Innovator of Magic is sure to have some creations that never spread beyond his own home...), just put up the stats too.

I'm not sure how to distribute as I've only got a Yahoo and a Hotmail account; maybe Angcuru or somebody can be a pal and send it to people who want it?

 

[Trainz]

Best thing too doo would be too doo as I deed (I'm having fun tonight) . Upload them on a host outside ENworld, and embeed them in a post.

You have an ISP right ? Most ISP's have a few megs (at least 5) freely available at your disposal. So I'll do the maps in JPG format, I'll e-mail them to you, you'll upload them on your space on your ISP via an FTP software (freely available on the 'net, I'm using WS FTP 95 LE), ask your ISP how to configure it so that you can upload/delete/download files on your server (this is a great ressource available to everyone who has an internet access, but it amazes me how so few peeps actually make use of it). Long paragraph, sorry.

SO...

You want many levels ?

Linked by stairs ?
Color ? Black and white ?

No features ? Minor features (columns and statues) ? Hevy featured (as minor features, but with beds, desks, chairs....) ?

I don't recommend heavy featured, because this way, you will force your collaborators to use what's in the rooms, and thus limit them...

How many rooms ?

Should I stop now ?

Huh ?

 

[blackshirt5]

Many levels, linked by stairs, with minor features, and many rooms. If somebody wanted to do a specific level and they gave you the specs for it, could you do a map for them too? I know I'd request one for a maze.

I'm very technically illiterate, so I might leave the uploading to RakeRon or Angcuru still.

Thanks Trainz! Email them to blackshirt52002@yahoo.com as my normal email address(the one associated with my username) is getting very close to full.

 

[Trainz]

Many levels, linked by stairs, with minor features, and many rooms. If somebody wanted to do a specific level and they gave you the specs for it, could you do a map for them too? I know I'd request one for a maze.

I'm very technically illiterate, so I might leave the uploading to RakeRon or Angcuru still.

Thanks Trainz! Email them to blackshirt52002@yahoo.com as my normal email address(the one associated with my username) is getting very close to full.

I can do that maze of yours.

You didn't tell me if you want color or B&W... as soon as I have that info, I'll start.

The room numbering system... I can reset it for each map, or I can make a progression. Which one will it be ?

 

[Mark]

I don't really have time. I'm pretty much overworked with my career, my two kids, my campaign, and coordinating cooperative dungeons.

But I could make maps with whatever specs...

Don't give him a fish, teach him to fish. I have no doubt those specs will change as the project develops. Just my two cents.

 

[Trainz]

Don't give him a fish, teach him to fish. I have no doubt those specs will change as the project develops. Just my two cents.

Hmmm... interesting POV.

What do you say Blackshirt ? Would you rather I did those maps, or give you pointers, and let you do them ?

 

[blackshirt5]

Hmmm... interesting POV.

What do you say Blackshirt ? Would you rather I did those maps, or give you pointers, and let you do them ?

Hmm; I think that I'd like to learn to do these up myself, Trainz, if you can teach me how.

 

[Trainz]

Hmm; I think that I'd like to learn to do these up myself, Trainz, if you can teach me how.

Here's how I do it:

I start with a mapping program, I personally use Interactive Dungeon . Look in the Cooperative Dungeon threads to have an idea of maps I have done. After the map is done (use the fill function to make areas outside the rooms black), do a screen capture by pushing the PRINT SCREEN button on your keyboard:

Then, paste the image in an image editing program (Paintshop, Photoshop, or if you don't have any of these, use Windows Paint [Start menu-Programs-Accessories-Paint]) by doing a paste in the image program [Edit menu- Paste]:

You will now have the picture of the whole screen when you pushed the Print Screen key.

The Selection tool:

Select only the map portion of the picture, copy it, and paste it as a new image. You should now have your image map. Write room numbers by using the Text function in the picture program. What I do is type all digits ( 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 ) with a few spaces between them, and then I Select them and drag them in the middle of the room that I want.

When all is done, I save it as a bitmap picture (.BMP) AND as a jpeg (.JPG) by selecting the proper file type:

I post the jpeg in the thread (as I explained to you in a previous post) but keep the original bitmap in case I want to modify the map later (you would have to also save it as a jpeg and replace the previous one, by uploading it on your server).

I feel that, although my instructions are correct, they might be a bit hard to comprehend. When I teach something about computers, I prefer to be sitting beside the guy and SHOW him how to do it. Sadly, unless you live in Montreal, I fear this will be hard to do. That said, all I have told you is pretty common knowledge to computer geeks, and I'm sure you can find one in your 'hood.

Do not hesitate to ask me to clarify any given stage of the process.

HTH

 

[Turanil]

There was a thread recently, where it appeared that a mjority of GM improvise their scenarios on the fly. Myself I do this for all gaming sessions, and finally I find it easier than carefully reading a scenario before the game (but I am lazy). Another point is that when things are clearly defined, the game doesn't run as expected, or less smoothly than when run on the fly.

All of this to suggest this:
1) Have a nicely done map.
2) Have tables and compilations of rooms, features, etc. not linked to any particular area on the map. Rooms and features should be classified (i.e.: chapels and temples, natural caverns, treasure rooms, torture chambers and prisons, etc.) so a GM can pick what suits him the best according to the circumstances.

That way, you are not obliged to spend much time and get headache trying to make a whole coherent thing.

Just my two coppers...

 

[Trainz]

I was preparing an adventure that we'll be playing this week or next (Jérôme, if your reading this, don't look at the map !) and I thought about posting it to give you an idea of how I do it: