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

[psyekl]

Most people want maps that are "generic" without labels or pre-designed purposes. I was, however, planning on labeling rooms acording to their mundane uses such as bedrooms, halls, storerooms, kitchens, etc. I'll avoid labels such as "wizard's tower" "monster's lair" "goblin's camp" , etc... I was planning on leaving many rooms unlabeled, and any room descriptions will be made on a sidebar or similarly unobtrusive manner.

 

[Barendd Nobeard]

Most people want maps that are "generic" without labels or pre-designed purposes. I was, however, planning on labeling rooms acording to their mundane uses such as bedrooms, halls, storerooms, kitchens, etc. I'll avoid labels such as "wizard's tower" "monster's lair" "goblin's camp" , etc... I was planning on leaving many rooms unlabeled, and any room descriptions will be made on a sidebar or similarly unobtrusive manner.

But if you do *not* label the rooms at all, the people can put their own labels on, in whatever style they want (viking runes, oriental letters, etc.)

If you label the rooms, then that bit of "flavor" can't be changed by the user.

 

[psyekl]

I was thinking of labeling the rooms to avoid any confusion, but if noone wants them, I'll leave them out. So far "generic" is what everyone wants, so "generic" is what I'll attempt to achieve I'm a very capable artist and draftsman, but I have to agree that I really need to learn how to use photoshop. I'm looking into purchasing it, so does anyone have any recommendations?

 

[Turanil]

I was thinking of labeling the rooms to avoid any confusion, but if noone wants them, I'll leave them out. So far "generic" is what everyone wants, so "generic" is what I'll attempt to achieve I'm a very capable artist and draftsman, but I have to agree that I really need to learn how to use photoshop. I'm looking into purchasing it, so does anyone have any recommendations?

Buying (have seen the price?) and learning Photoshop is one thing. But when it comes to your nice B&W hand-drawn maps, all you will need is a scanner and any software enabling you to copy-paste. Costly photoshop is not necessary for that, but it is an over-the-top software for other things (photo-retouching, colorization of comic books, etc.)

 

[Conaill]

I was thinking of labeling the rooms to avoid any confusion, but if noone wants them, I'll leave them out. So far "generic" is what everyone wants, so "generic" is what I'll attempt to achieve

Labels could be useful though. For someone not trained to look at architectural drawings, it can often be hard to to "see" what a function of a room could be.

I'd suggest you include a legend, i.e. a smaller version of the building with labels. Possibly in a corner of the map, or even on a separate page for a really large building. That way it's pure added value: DM's can always leave it out and use their own labeling if they wish.

 

[Kid Charlemagne]

Another things to keep in mind is that if you're going the PDF route, you could include B&W and color versions of the maps, and you could include labelled and unlabelled versions of the maps. If you end up getting Photoshop, it's layering functions would allow you to show what you want to show on each individual map, and make multiple versions from the same file. For example, for a city map I did recently, I have the original scanned drawing, a B&W tracing of that done in PShop, color bits that show neighborhoods, and another layer that shows the sewer system. I printed out a version for my players that shows the B&W tracing and neighborhoods, but turned off the layer with the sewers. Then I printed one for myself with the sewers prominent, and made the B&W tracing layer 50% transparent. Endlessly useful.