I hate making maps!

[Mycanid]

I love making maps, but I am very a hands on t-square and graph paper type map maker. I have just recently began to look into computer possibility.

Last year I made scale maps of rooms for the climactic adventure of the campaign for use with minis - most of them in full color. I am by no means an artist or have much skill in drawing - but the thing about a map is that it is abstract - so don't have to worry too much about artistic skill.

Yes - the fungal alchemist is with the amphibious bard on this one too. I absolutely LOVE making maps. Both "dungeon" and "urban" ones - and by hand on graph paper too ... old school sort that never "grew up" I guess

But those are some nice ones others have posted! Nice tools too....

 

[Mishihari Lord]

I had something of an epiphany tonight. In planning for my homebrew game, I realized where my biggest time sink is. Dungeon mapping. I hate it and I suck at it. I've got an adventure almost completely put together except the map. Yet, I stared at a blank sheet of paper most of the night.

I know one option is to scavange. After looking through all my dungeons, though, I couldn't come up with anything that was even close to what I wanted. Maybe I'm being too picky. I dunno.

Is there a cure? What is it?

You might be making it too hard. Maps don't have to be pretty. I'll often just sketch circles to represent encounter locations and routes connecting them, then a quick sketch of locations where the terrain will be important to the adventure. You can make a map for a session's worth of encounters in about 5 minutes this way.

 

[frankthedm]

http://www.enworld.org/showpost.php?p=2848695&postcount=26

found elsewhere http://www.users.waitrose.com/~alanderekjones/map_images/m_b4_lost_city_pyramid_upper.png

 

[Voadam]

These just were put up on dtrpg

Crypts and corridors $8 60 pages of maps http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=13730&affiliate_id=17596

Dungeon rooms $8 45 pages
http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=13731&affiliate_id=17596

Inns and taverns $8 45 pages
http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=13735&affiliate_id=17596

Shrines $8 54 pages
http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=13733&affiliate_id=17596

Ships $8 30 pages
http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=13732&affiliate_id=17596

Torture Chambers $8 54 pages
http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=13736&affiliate_id=17596

 

[Voadam]

And here, free Ptolus adventure maps, both a PC handout version and a DM version http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=13706&affiliate_id=17596

 

[Pbartender]

You might be making it too hard. Maps don't have to be pretty. I'll often just sketch circles to represent encounter locations and routes connecting them, then a quick sketch of locations where the terrain will be important to the adventure. You can make a map for a session's worth of encounters in about 5 minutes this way.

Yep... A "flowchart" of sorts, ala the old Zork games, work really well for quick maps.

 

[Piratecat]

Yep... A "flowchart" of sorts, ala the old Zork games, work really well for quick maps.

That's what I use for everything except tactical combat. It works extremely well for my gaming style.

 

[TableStar Games]

I too hate making maps

I either take an existing Dungeon mag map, or take a couple of them and cut and paste them together.

Sometimes I just use the same map over and over again, by taking sections my players never went to.

I am so freaking lazy.

 

[frankthedm]

The sPitolus freebie maps are useful. Almost worth the trouble of making a DTRPG account.

 

[frankthedm]

Wow, Frank! Nice map. Got any more you feel like sharing?

http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/400/opalqs1.gif

http://img164.imageshack.us/img164/5052/lostcitytierthepcsanewone123divergtr1.gif

http://img395.imageshack.us/img395/2092/lostcitytier4es9.gif

http://img395.imageshack.us/img395/9228/level5np0.gif