I'm working on a book and I need your input!

[psyekl]

I've been wanting to release a book of maps for role players, but I need some input to make sure it's something that you would want. Most of the maps will be drawn by hand and I'll make some of them available to the EN World forum for critiques.

1) What maps would you want to see? I draw just about everything from natural cavern complexes to dungeons, animal lairs, castles, towns, cities, modern homes, skyscrapers, sewer systems, space craft, world maps, weapon designs... you name it, I can probably draw plans for it.

2) What genre would you want? Sci-fi? Fantasy? Horror? Historical?

3) How much info do you want? Do you want maps that include a fully detailed adventure, some adventure ideas or just label the rooms and let you decide the uses?

4) Would black and white maps be useful or do you want color? If you want maps in color, I have to learn how to use Photoshop !

5) Please let me know if there is anything you'd like to see that I haven't mentioned!

If you'd like to see samples, please see this duplicate thread and and my first thread "Does anybody want hand-drawn maps anymore?" in the art forum

 

[Turanil]

I think a book of maps would be really useful to me (and I would buy it) if:

1) PDF. (of 5 to 8 $) with maps of 1200 x 1700 pixels.
So I can copypaste the maps and add my own names in photoshop or similar software.

2) Black & White. Preferably line art; no gray color.
As such it is printer friendly.

3) Heroic Fantasy genre. For modern maps, I would rather use maps of actual RL cities/buildings found on the internet (so no need for a book).
Furthermore, I think that black & white line art is excellent for "old type" medieval maps, but gives an obsolete feel for sci-fi and modern.

4) Please NO TEXTS / NO INFO. I want to be able to put my own names on the map, some with an oriental flavor, other with a Viking one, etc., exactly as I see fit.
I cannot use maps which already determine names on it. I have no use for plot hooks, adventures ideas, and else; I like to do that myself.

5) Maps of Small Regions, or Floor plans for Minis. Before all a few towns, cities, and villages (with nice little buildings drawn here and there, etc.). Then, maps of relatively small areas: a forest, a mountain valley, a swamp, a small barony, etc. Finally, a few floor plans that may printed to put minis on it (with 5' squares for movement): a hall, a room, a street, a crypt, etc. Now, you could draw furniture and items such as altars, fountains, etc. apart, so they can be put on cardboard and used as some sort of mini themselves (easy to move, while it's impossible with a fully drawn room).
Small regions, towns, and cities are cool because I can integrate them extremely easily in my already done campaign setting. A map or two of a whole continent may be cool, but probably will never be used by me. I don't need plans of dungeons, that I am the only one to see when I DM, and that would not fit my exact needs.

6) Make it available on rpgnow!

 

[Taneel BrightBlade]

I agree

 

[Berandor]

I totally agree (unlabeled, pdf, city/village maps, small ares)!

 

[WizarDru]

1) What maps would you want to see? I draw just about everything from natural cavern complexes to dungeons, animal lairs, castles, towns, cities, modern homes, skyscrapers, sewer systems, space craft, world maps, weapon designs... you name it, I can probably draw plans for it.

Let me second that smaller locales are better than larger. A map of a town or a region with some unique geographical features would be nice, or specific locations that could actually be used in a game. Building blocks are always better, because I can customize them. Consider WotC's "Hidden Coast" material from their map-a-week archive (and I think in the Gazeeteer). Generic enought that I can fill in the gaps, but detailed enought to be better than a squiggle I did on my own.

Individual buildings and themed complexes are always useful. Getting a map of ancient church, for example, or a modern structure like a museum for a Mutants&Masterminds game. Some place where action can be set. I don't need a map for a place the PCs will never do more than make a single skill check at, generally.

2) What genre would you want? Sci-fi? Fantasy? Horror? Historical?

For myself, I'm most interested in any map applicable to D&D or superheroes. I know some of my friends would also use modern structures for CoC-style horror.

3) How much info do you want? Do you want maps that include a fully detailed adventure, some adventure ideas or just label the rooms and let you decide the uses?

No adventure, thanks, but they don't have to be blank. Again, I refer to the "hidden coast" maps. Suggest a location for adventure, don't give me an adventure. Giving me an unmarked map is fine, as I can fill in the blanks...but give me this, not this. The latter is just an exercise is useless rendering that could be duplicated with a couple of lines. The former is actually useful.

4) Would black and white maps be useful or do you want color? If you want maps in color, I have to learn how to use Photoshop !

Learning Photoshop is a useful talent for what you'll be doing, regardless, so I'd strive to learn it. A lot of handrawn material is brought into Photoshop and then touched up or modified. I prefer color maps, but a well crafted black and white map is just fine. But if there's no color, make sure and turn an eye to how to represent different things in greyscale, such as gradiations in height, different substances (water, lava, transitions between dirt and grass and so forth).

I think that's it. Good Luck!

 

[Henry]

I have little to add other than that I agree with Turanil.

 

[Cor Azer]

If I were to buy a book of maps, I'd like it to have the qualities Turanil listed.

 

[Turanil]

I would add this: I bought Dundjinni which is a really great tool to make nice maps of castles and dungeons: excellent to use for writing an adventure, map nice dungons, etc. exactly to my ideas. As such, I have no need of maps of dungeons and castles already drawn.

On the other hand, the hand-drawn black and white maps cannot be done by Dundjinni: I want yours because they look ancient and medieval like, that I can give to my players as real maps their PCs get. Then, concerning for plans to be printed for minis, I won't use dundjinni for any house, any tavern, or what not. Hence, generic rooms and small buildings would be nice, that I can print for cheap in B&W.

Thanks.

 

[Katerek]

I agree as well.

The more generic the better.

Scalable maps that can be used with mini's are great as well.

 

[RangerWickett]

I would like a diversity of styles. While for ease of play, yes, black and white lined images are easiest, I love aesthetically beautiful maps, and I'd rather see a skilled artist draw a map manually than digitally with all the nifty colors. Maybe have a couple of maps that are just pretty, even if they're not as 'useful.'