Maps from OnlineDM

[OnlineDM]

I noticed that when I put up my post talking about 4e Home Encounters and my desire to run it in an online campaign, people seemed to really love the fact that I posted a map (even though it was a pretty simple map). In that spirit, I figured I would post my maps in this thread as I post them in my blog. If you guys want maps, I'll give you maps!

I do want to know, though, what format folks want. I'll be posting these as JPGs, but I can also post them as PDFs for printing. Is that useful? When it comes to the JPGs, should I first convert them to a true 1" scale? Do you want grid lines or not? (I can post them both ways.)

First up: a crumbling bridge over a gorge from the Fire Forest module of War of the Burning Sky (click the images for larger versions).

No grid lines:


With grid lines:


Printable PDF version

 

[Aegeri]

I didn't notice the home encounters thing until you made this post. I am incredibly impressed with the maps they have shared on their website - for free in fact! It also led me to the guy who does the cartography for the home encounters. I got numerous excellent maps this way, many of which will instantly find their way into my VTT games (you can never have enough maps frankly).

Did you make your map in maptools btw?

 

[OnlineDM]

Yes, I just put my maps together in MapTool. I agree that the ACTUAL cartography for 4e Home Encounters is fantastic. I only put my version of the first map together in MapTool because they didn't have a JPG map available when the encounter was first posted (apparently the original cartographer fell through and it took a little time to get the new person up to speed).

The maps I post won't be for 4e Home Encounters after that first one, since they've got that covered now. These are just from my own games. I'm running War of the Burning Sky, Living Forgotten Realms and a homebrew campaign, so the maps will be from all over the place.

Thanks for the kind words! I guess I'll keep these coming.

 

[Aegeri]

I have started to do my own maps as well using maptools textures - which is why I recognized your maps origin . At first I thought it was quite intimidating, but I got used to it after a while. I am far from a great artist, but my frustrations at Wizards lack of cartography for me to use in my games boiled over recently. So now I am doing it for myself.

I must say, it's oddly satisfying to me to be able to think about an encounter and then make what I want - instead of having an idea, finding a map and then fitting the concept to the map. Albeit I do that job very well, but now that I can make my own things it's really pleased me a lot.

This for example is an abandoned cistern that was under the arena in Tyr, tapping down into the large aquifer beneath the city. It used to provide water to the arena for various purposes, until monsters overran it and defiling magic reduced it to a noxious, undead filled deathtrap. The water here is basically incredibly poisonous and except for certain regions, it's a very tight environment. In this encounter, the PCs are in the center while rampaging armies of salt zombies descend upon them from all directions - until some determined ones break in through a naturally dug tunnel in the side there (it gets exposed when they arrive).

Although as you can tell I am not the greatest artist in the world it does get the point across. Using a mixture of self-made and other peoples maps, I should not go wanting for interesting encounter areas I feel.

 

[UnknownAtThisTime]

OnlineDM, I can't give you more XP yet, but you'll get it from me again soon enough!

Since I don't use VTTs, I'd find value in any maps you post in printable format. I know that's extra work, but I think people would use 'em. Thanks again.

 

[OnlineDM]

OnlineDM, I can't give you more XP yet, but you'll get it from me again soon enough!

Since I don't use VTTs, I'd find value in any maps you post in printable format. I know that's extra work, but I think people would use 'em. Thanks again.

Ask and ye shall receive! I've posted a link to a printable PDF version of the map in the original post (and, for good measure, right here). I'll include these versions when I post more maps in the future.