I'm a DM running 4e games. Everybody in my groups including me are new to D&D. We've recently tried adventures in the red box which was a blast. Now as for the next step, we are kind of hoping to play the 4e Forgotten Realm campaign. I haven't own the campaign guide book yet, but my impression is that it's only a book which doesn't include any tactical maps for those encounters. I have the red box, essential DM kit, shadowwell campaign, all of them have tactical maps included. I guess probably WotC just started to include tactical maps in the most recent products. So if we want to play Forgotten Realm, I have to make my own maps for each encounter based on the campaign book? Or is there any place selling those maps? Thanks.
Where to get tactical maps
- Thread starter bynna
- Start date
The Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting (as well as the Eberron and Dark Sun CS books) isn't a chain of interconnected encounters. It's a book which describes the world of Faerun, providing a backdrop into which you may put your own adventures. In fact, I don't think there are any encounters in it (I don't have it nearby to check).
If you're looking for pre-made adventures, there are a number of them out, though some may be more difficult to find than others. I think only one or two are specifically Forgotten Realms.
Edit: To add some more, there are a number of poster maps available via those afore-mentioned adventures. Dungeon Tiles are also an excellent way to come up with some maps, and the Master sets are a great place to start. Then there's the trusty vinyl mat (by a number of people, though Chessex seems the most used), which is nothing more than a rolled-up sheet of vinyl with a square grid printed on one side. You use wet-erase markers to draw right on it to make maps for encounters, and they are available at pretty much any gaming store worth shopping. Gale Force 9 also make a similar product using the official WotC poster maps; these can be a bit expensive, depending on how often you plan on using them. From what I've seen, though, they're pretty nice.
There are other ways to make encounter maps (Dungeon Paper, there's one product that's some sort of interlocking vinyl tile, etc.) but these are the most used that I've seen.
If you're looking for pre-made adventures, there are a number of them out, though some may be more difficult to find than others. I think only one or two are specifically Forgotten Realms.
Edit: To add some more, there are a number of poster maps available via those afore-mentioned adventures. Dungeon Tiles are also an excellent way to come up with some maps, and the Master sets are a great place to start. Then there's the trusty vinyl mat (by a number of people, though Chessex seems the most used), which is nothing more than a rolled-up sheet of vinyl with a square grid printed on one side. You use wet-erase markers to draw right on it to make maps for encounters, and they are available at pretty much any gaming store worth shopping. Gale Force 9 also make a similar product using the official WotC poster maps; these can be a bit expensive, depending on how often you plan on using them. From what I've seen, though, they're pretty nice.
There are other ways to make encounter maps (Dungeon Paper, there's one product that's some sort of interlocking vinyl tile, etc.) but these are the most used that I've seen.
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keterys
First Post
Check out livingforgottenrealms.com - there are lots and lots of adventures in the forgotten realms, all with maps, all free there...
I'll grant, some of them are better than others, but hey, free is free!
I'll grant, some of them are better than others, but hey, free is free!
Saracenus
Always In School Gamer
Ah maps.
There are poster maps in the original H, P, E series of adventures from WotC. Some are more reusable than others.
You could try your hand and creating your own with Pymapper:
pymapper | Dungeon Tile Mapping Software
After I export to JPG or PNG format I use Posterazor to make large poster size maps:
PosteRazor - Make your own poster!
The three dungeon tiles box sets are good for making quick and dirty terrain.
If you are OCD like DM Magic check out his campaign on ENWorld here:
http://www.enworld.org/forum/4e-discussion/303354-musings-my-campaign-updated-09-01-a.html
He uses paper 3D terrain from such places as:
Dave's Games
Fat Dragon Games
If you are feeling cartographic and want to build your own maps there is ProFantasy:
ProFantasy Software - map making for fantasy, modern and sci-fi games and for historical cartographers
For old school hex maps:
HexMapper
If you want quick hand drawn and erasable surfaces (wet erase):
Chessex Battle Mats
If you got the dough and find them on ebay I can recommend Tact-Tiles (Out of print, dry erase):
Pics: http://images.cloud.worthpoint.com/...709/08/1_08e19b991fde2c1c26e6c8acf5bc4fe3.jpg
You can pry my two sets from my cold dead fingers.
If you want to be a cartographer, try these forums:
http://www.cartographersguild.com/
These guys and gals are all about the making of maps, plenty of tips and step by steps to bring up your game. The stuff they can do in various paint programs is nothing short of astounding.
I am sure there are many other map resources out there, but these are the ones I have used.
There are poster maps in the original H, P, E series of adventures from WotC. Some are more reusable than others.
You could try your hand and creating your own with Pymapper:
pymapper | Dungeon Tile Mapping Software
After I export to JPG or PNG format I use Posterazor to make large poster size maps:
PosteRazor - Make your own poster!
The three dungeon tiles box sets are good for making quick and dirty terrain.
If you are OCD like DM Magic check out his campaign on ENWorld here:
http://www.enworld.org/forum/4e-discussion/303354-musings-my-campaign-updated-09-01-a.html
He uses paper 3D terrain from such places as:
Dave's Games
Fat Dragon Games
If you are feeling cartographic and want to build your own maps there is ProFantasy:
ProFantasy Software - map making for fantasy, modern and sci-fi games and for historical cartographers
For old school hex maps:
HexMapper
If you want quick hand drawn and erasable surfaces (wet erase):
Chessex Battle Mats
If you got the dough and find them on ebay I can recommend Tact-Tiles (Out of print, dry erase):
Pics: http://images.cloud.worthpoint.com/...709/08/1_08e19b991fde2c1c26e6c8acf5bc4fe3.jpg
You can pry my two sets from my cold dead fingers.
If you want to be a cartographer, try these forums:
http://www.cartographersguild.com/
These guys and gals are all about the making of maps, plenty of tips and step by steps to bring up your game. The stuff they can do in various paint programs is nothing short of astounding.
I am sure there are many other map resources out there, but these are the ones I have used.
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Thanks! But maybe a stupid questions: what are LFR modules?
Wow, appreciate to all these info! I tried pymapper, are those tilesets all offical WoTC ones?
Weregrognard
First Post
Welcome to EN World!
If you want tons of battle maps for your own D&D adventures, I heartily recommend the Fantastic Locations series of products. Although they were from the previous edition, each product has about three battle maps with themed locations (ruins, cities, etc.) that are totally useable with the current edition!
Happy gaming!
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Fantastic-Locations-Fields-Ruin-Accessory/dp/0786939087/ref=pd_sim_b_1"]Fields of Ruin[/ame]
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Fantastic-Locations-Frostfell-Dungeons-Supplement/dp/0786941693"]Frostfell Rift[/ame]
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Dragondown-Dungeons-Fantastic-Locations-Accessory/dp/0786939214"]Dragondown Grotto[/ame]
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Fantastic-Locations-Hellspike-Dungeons-Accessory/dp/078693848X"]Hellspike Prison[/ame]
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/City-Peril-Dungeons-Dragons-Accessory/dp/0786943203/ref=pd_sim_b_5"]City of Peril[/ame]
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/City-Peril-Dungeons-Dragons-Accessory/dp/0786943203/ref=pd_sim_b_5"]Fane of the Drow[/ame]
If you want tons of battle maps for your own D&D adventures, I heartily recommend the Fantastic Locations series of products. Although they were from the previous edition, each product has about three battle maps with themed locations (ruins, cities, etc.) that are totally useable with the current edition!
Happy gaming!
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Fantastic-Locations-Fields-Ruin-Accessory/dp/0786939087/ref=pd_sim_b_1"]Fields of Ruin[/ame]
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Fantastic-Locations-Frostfell-Dungeons-Supplement/dp/0786941693"]Frostfell Rift[/ame]
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Dragondown-Dungeons-Fantastic-Locations-Accessory/dp/0786939214"]Dragondown Grotto[/ame]
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Fantastic-Locations-Hellspike-Dungeons-Accessory/dp/078693848X"]Hellspike Prison[/ame]
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/City-Peril-Dungeons-Dragons-Accessory/dp/0786943203/ref=pd_sim_b_5"]City of Peril[/ame]
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/City-Peril-Dungeons-Dragons-Accessory/dp/0786943203/ref=pd_sim_b_5"]Fane of the Drow[/ame]
Saracenus
Always In School Gamer
Not a stupid question at all. LFR is Living Forgotten Realms, an organized play campaign that was originally officially WotC but has now been spun out to a private group.
The adventures are created by volunteer authors and played around the world.
For more info on Organized Play and Living Campaigns check out Alphastream's excellent thread here:
Wizards of the Coast Learn about D&D 4E organized play options - EN World: Your Daily RPG Magazine
As for you question regarding Pymaper, yes those are the WotC map tiles. The program is used extensively in organized play to create maps for the modules.
teachamath
First Post
My suggestion would be to start running D&D Encounters or Lair Assault at a gaming store. You will always receive two sided maps (3 per encounters and 1 for assault) that are very easy to adapt into an adventure. You can always wait until Wizards starts selling their MAP series in the near future.
