Where to get a map for a fantasy city?

[Altin]

So I've got an idea for a game which takes place in a large city cut from the same sort of cloth as Waterdeep, Eversink or places like that.

Now, I'd like a big, pretty city map to use as a prop for this game. I'm thinking it should ideally be an A3 (or thereabouts) colour poster and generic enough that I can adapt it to my particular city. This means I would like something with a minimal amount of writing on it and only vaguely-defined locations. Visual attractiveness is, in this case, more important than functionality.

I had a look around my local gaming store and nothing really caught my eye. The map in the Bluffside book is not really very generic (because of the city's stange shape) and is not particularly aesthetically pleasing in any case so that it out.

As all I need is the map as a map I'm not particularly fussed about where it comes from so recommendations from other systems or even non-gaming sources are welcome. As I'm not thinking of starting this up for a while yet even upcomming products which might fit the bill would be helpfull.

So, anyone got any ideas? Thanks in advance.

Yours,
Altin

 

[Sidran]

You could try looking up maps of historical cities on the web...
I had a site link once but no more for it


Also you might try drawing your own using AutoRealms which is a free download...

Btw I like this Idea so much I may see about using it in my book I am working on as in having generic nameless maps tiles( like battle mats) in the back of the book...

Thanks

 

[Hand of Evil]

Get Bluffside, City on the Edge.

Go to www.profantasy.com download their free viewer for cc2, then check out their cities. The viewer allows you to print maps.

Seach the web, there are a lot fan based maps.

 

[Buttercup]

Since you already said Bluffside isn't what you're looking for, I won't suggest that again.

There's a very nice map with Geanavue: Stones of Peace. Of course, it has the name of the city on it, but no other labeling, as I recall. Or you could download the player's map of Freeport from the Green Ronin site.

Or you could look at Worlds in the Net to see if any of those strike your fancy. You can also find some nifty color maps at the Harn Mapping Project.

 

[Psion]

Freeport and Geanavue both have very nice maps, though that might be a bit of a purchase if you are just going to chuck the description.

My favorite resource for cities I will never use as written but good for stealing is Palladium FRPG Old Ones, though the maps are a little simple.

If you want, the profantasy website has lots of sample maps for Campaign Cartographer 2. Even if you don't have CC2, you can download the free veiwer, and there is a huge gallery of cities and other maps on the profantasy website:

www.profantasy.com

HTH

 

[JoeGKushner]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned MAPS by Buffalo Games. Same people who did Tunnels & Trolls, Grimtooth Traps, Citybooks, etc... There were two books, one for fantasy city maps and another for legendary locations like Nemo's sub, the 13th floor, etc... Great book, no stats, clean maps.

 

[MeepoTheMighty]

This probably doesn't help you much, but I'm jazzed about it.. I stumbled across a book from the 70's at a garage sale entitled "Florence - the city and its art" and included in it was a poster-sized map of Renaissance Florence. You'd better believe that'll get used

 

[HellHound]

Avoiding the current big city releases...

Go get the original "Lankhmar, city of adventure" from TSR.

It's a 1e AD&D book, softcover. AMAZING. Adaptable, modular, completely homegrowable (is that even a word?) and fantastic. Everyon I managed to berate into buying a used copy (surf around... they are everywhere, and cheap) has come back to thank me after.

Goddess, I love that city.