Maps and terrain for encounters

[Samuel Cole]

Hey, everyone!

I'm getting ready to run a Zeitgeist campaign, and I'm curious how you translate the beautiful maps in the modules into actual on-the-table gameplay, since it doesn't seem that full-size, printable versions are available.

Do you just grab lined paper and sketch out the outlines? Do you reproduce the maps in map-making software? Do you do screengrabs and blow them up, then print them?

Your advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Dezhem]

I've been using Photoshop to resize the maps so 1 square = 1 inch then using PostErazor to turn them into printable A4/A3 pages. Works quite well. Can be quite expensive though if you don't have access to free printing at work or the like.

I could look at placing the maps I've resized into Dropbox or the like, if that sounds appealing? I've converted Books 1-3 so far.

 

[Elfshire]

I just draw the maps out on a reuseable battle mat; specifically the Chessex Mondomat (if it matters). The downside to this of course is that you pretty much have to set aside a chunk of time right before your gaming session to make the maps, and hope that your party doesn't go a completely diffferent route than you were expecting, thus forcing you to draw an entirely different map on the fly while they all sit on their hands and wait.

More recently, I invested in some acrylic sheets about 20x24 inches in size. I can draw maps on these things weeks in advance and not have to worry about it making a stain. Didn't cost more than what 1 or 2 roleplaying books would've set me back, and has been FAR more useful than almost any other purchase I've made related to this hobby.

 

[Shimrath]

I also use PosteRazor to get my maps into a printable format. The maps on the official Zeitgeist site ( http://zeitgeistadventurepath.com/maps/ ) are quality enough that they turn out pretty nice. That said, i do not do this for every encounter - if it's easy enough to draw on the battle map by hand, i'll do that instead.

There have been a couple threads on this subject:

http://www.enworld.org/forum/showth...The-Biggest-(and-Best)-Problem-with-Zeitgeist

http://www.enworld.org/forum/showthread.php?336348-Battle-Maps

And this one, which has some example photos of finished product (in addition to allowing me to show off my super-fancy models):

http://www.enworld.org/forum/showthread.php?336489-Maps-amp-Models

Unfortunately, my ZG game is going digital (due to players moving out-of-state), so i likely won't be making any more fancy models anytime soon. . .