R D Ramsey Marathon Voter Season 6, Dedicated Voter Season 7, Marathon Voter Season 8, Star Voter Season 9 aka Clouds Without Water |
Kobold Catgirl Marathon Voter Season 9 |
Taylor Hubler RPG Superstar 2015 Top 32 , Star Voter Season 6, Star Voter Season 7, Star Voter Season 8, Star Voter Season 9 aka CalebTGordan |
So, considering that this is an "encounter map", should I assume that the map should ideally be designed to fit one encounter? So it should be more like one room (or a clearing, or what-have-you), not a kobold warden or vampire's manor.
I am pretty sure the answer is "As long as it fits the official rules."
That is a giant amount of space for a single encounter, but if you feel you can pull it off go for it.
Three, maybe four, encounter spaces can easily fit on that size of a map, so you could also play around with the space given to have multiple spaces to play in.
Kobold Catgirl Marathon Voter Season 9 |
JPSTOD Star Voter Season 9 |
Belabras wrote:Some questions on image sources:
Can I use royalty free stock elements on my map?
What about visual elements lifted from existing Pathfinder maps?
No, and no. The only images appropriate for this would be those pre-existing in software you used to create the map. So if you have a cartography or graphics program, feel free to use its existing resources, but don't take art from elsewhere.
So If I was in the running and Used Campaign Cartographer 3 and used Artwork which did not come from Profantasy but were royalty free for use in Mapping Software your saying I could not use it Even though there is a lot of Royalty free Artwork designed to be used for free?
I understand lifting artwork from Copyrighted Images is a NO NO
John Lynch 106 Star Voter Season 9 |
1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Great! I was just wondering if "encounter map" meant something specific, like, "One encounter per map, please."
A personal pet peeve of mine is where adventures are written with where the fight would be clearly visible and/or audible from where other enemies are, and yet the adventure is written as if they would occur discretely without any thought as to why that would be so. You can get around this by having easier fights happen in the areas so when they do swarm into one massive brawl it's still an APL appropriate fight. Another way is to provide some justification (such as mindless undead) as to why the fights happen separately.
Of course this map isn't being accompanied with a specific encounter so none of that is really relevant. My own map could have 4 separate encounters (assuming an appropriate type of enemy) and that was done without any conscious effort on my part.
Anthony Adam Marathon Voter Season 6, Marathon Voter Season 7, Marathon Voter Season 8, Dedicated Voter Season 9 |
Owen K. C. Stephens wrote:Belabras wrote:Some questions on image sources:
Can I use royalty free stock elements on my map?
What about visual elements lifted from existing Pathfinder maps?
No, and no. The only images appropriate for this would be those pre-existing in software you used to create the map. So if you have a cartography or graphics program, feel free to use its existing resources, but don't take art from elsewhere.
So If I was in the running and Used Campaign Cartographer 3 and used Artwork which did not come from Profantasy but were royalty free for use in Mapping Software your saying I could not use it Even though there is a lot of Royalty free Artwork designed to be used for free?
I understand lifting artwork from Copyrighted Images is a NO NO
Most royalty free still requires a source to be noted in accompanying text, you have 50 words, I am sure you want all of those for your entry, not for listing images used with hyperlinks. The problem is this, the map will be linked on a company web page, so even royalty free art puts an onus on the company to link the sources if the entrant did not and so it becomes a nightmare of pitfalls for such art to be used.
CorvusMask Marathon Voter Season 9 |
I really hate flu and headache. I just asked questions I was confused about, noticed a blog post, deleted questions, read the blog post through, realized it didn't actually answer my questions and I had deleted my post too early... Its hard to think clearly when head hurts.
So dumb questions I'm confused about probably because of flu:
What does fantasy themed location mean? Does it just mean "No encounter map in numeria"? Does it mean no horror or western(like encounter in mana wastes) themed map? Or does it mean that setting for encounter has to be "fantastic" so it can't be 'just' a really imaginitive forest/building encounter location?
And since encounter map should take place in "previously unmapped location", what would be good location for that? Like should it be "famous" location or can it be new location set anywhere? Should it be in country we know a lot about or should it be in unmapped country we don't know much about? In city/town/village that has only been mentioned by name or in city we have gazetteer for but no map? Is there any good way of checking which locations have been mapped in pfs scenarios, modules, setting books, etc?
I really hope this flu goes away fast, it really does make thinking hard right now X-x;
Kobold Catgirl Marathon Voter Season 9 |
Captain Phoenix Star Voter Season 8, Star Voter Season 9 |
Is there any good way of checking which locations have been mapped in pfs scenarios, modules, setting books, etc?
I read through the various Pathfinder wikis and then check out the sources cited there. Note that Paizo may have plans for a location not mentioned there, but Golarion is a very big place.
JPSTOD Star Voter Season 9 |
JPSTOD Star Voter Season 9 |
Jacob W. Michaels RPG Superstar 2014 Top 16, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 16 , Marathon Voter Season 6, Marathon Voter Season 7, Marathon Voter Season 8, Dedicated Voter Season 9 aka motteditor |
What does fantasy themed location mean? Does it just mean "No encounter map in numeria"? Does it mean no horror or western(like encounter in mana wastes) themed map? Or does it mean that setting for encounter has to be "fantastic" so it can't be 'just' a really imaginitive forest/building encounter location?
And since encounter map should take place in "previously unmapped location", what would be good location for that? Like should it be "famous" location or can it be new location set anywhere? Should it be in country we know a lot about or should it be in unmapped country we don't know much about? In city/town/village that has only been mentioned by name or in city we have gazetteer for but no map?
I think (and this is just my opinion) as long as it's appropriate for Golarion, you're OK. If that's a more genre specific area of Golarion where you're PCs could go, that's still fulfilling the challenge.
As for where you set it, that's up to you as well. Be careful with setting something in a better-known/used area like Varisia or Cheliax, because there may be less room to put your location there, depending on what it is -- an inn could probably go anywhere, even in a city that's been heavily detailed, but a new town (which wouldn't be appropriate for this challenge anyway, of course) might not work as well shoehorned into some countries that have heavily detailed maps.
Oh, just one more minor clarification (I'm wary of asking because it's a bit specific, but I feel I should get this settled now): What's the policy on extraplanar locations? Do those count as being "on Golarion"?
I wouldn't do extraplanar. While I don't see the wording this time, similar challenges in previous years have said it should specifically be *Golarion* appropriate, not campaign setting appropriate (which would allow for extraplanar or on one of the Distant Worlds locations).
Kobold Catgirl Marathon Voter Season 9 |
Dieben Star Voter Season 7, Star Voter Season 8, Marathon Voter Season 9 |
Kobold Catgirl Marathon Voter Season 9 |
Kalindlara Contributor , Marathon Voter Season 9 |
Michael Hill RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 32 , Star Voter Season 9 aka Sir_Toon |
I think (and this is just my opinion) as long as it's appropriate for Golarion, you're OK.
So specifics are not a major requirement? Provided the terrain at least relatively fits the general portion of Golarion we're aiming at? My knowledge of Golarion is sadly very limited. I can gleam bits and pieces from the wiki, but my favorite locations have rather unhelpful entries.
Kalindlara Contributor , Marathon Voter Season 9 |
CorvusMask wrote:I think (and this is just my opinion) as long as it's appropriate for Golarion, you're OK.So specifics are not a major requirement? Provided the terrain at least relatively fits the general portion of Golarion we're aiming at? My knowledge of Golarion is sadly very limited. I can gleam bits and pieces from the wiki, but my favorite locations have rather unhelpful entries.
If you have any questions about specific parts of Golarion, feel free to PM me. I'd love to help, however I can. ^_^
EDIT: That goes for anyone else as well.
CorvusMask Marathon Voter Season 9 |
CorvusMask wrote:I think (and this is just my opinion) as long as it's appropriate for Golarion, you're OK.So specifics are not a major requirement? Provided the terrain at least relatively fits the general portion of Golarion we're aiming at? My knowledge of Golarion is sadly very limited. I can gleam bits and pieces from the wiki, but my favorite locations have rather unhelpful entries.
Just to note, when you edit quotes, please edit them so that they refer to correct writer xD I was confused for moment "Wait, when did I say that? Have my memory went that bad? D:" before I realized you replied to post that replied to me and then edited my quote out but left "='CorvusMask' " in. Seriously, got really worried there for a second ._.;
Michael Hill RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 32 , Star Voter Season 9 aka Sir_Toon |
R Pickard RPG Superstar 2015 Top 8 , Star Voter Season 6, Star Voter Season 7, Star Voter Season 8 aka DeathQuaker |
JPSTOD wrote:Most royalty free still requires a source to be noted in accompanying text, you have 50 words, I am sure you want all of those for your entry, not for listing images used with hyperlinks. The problem is this, the map will be linked on a company web page, so even royalty free art puts an onus on the company to link the sources if the entrant did not and so it becomes a nightmare of pitfalls for such art to be used.Owen K. C. Stephens wrote:Belabras wrote:Some questions on image sources:
Can I use royalty free stock elements on my map?
What about visual elements lifted from existing Pathfinder maps?
No, and no. The only images appropriate for this would be those pre-existing in software you used to create the map. So if you have a cartography or graphics program, feel free to use its existing resources, but don't take art from elsewhere.
So If I was in the running and Used Campaign Cartographer 3 and used Artwork which did not come from Profantasy but were royalty free for use in Mapping Software your saying I could not use it Even though there is a lot of Royalty free Artwork designed to be used for free?
I understand lifting artwork from Copyrighted Images is a NO NO
Just in case anyone's still wondering about this... Profantasy's license is very clear about letting you use its assets for maps and distributing the maps as a whole as you will, as long as the map design is your own and you're not distributing individual pieces of artwork (a map using their art is fine, but sending out individual mountain or house icons is not).
So it's safe to use a CC3 map because both they, you, and any other game publisher is clear it is okay to publish maps made with their software (and note under copyright law, "publish" extends to "post publicly on the Internet," which Superstar entries will be).
However, Profantasy can't extend that license to other art by other artists. And as Anthony Adam alluded, all "royalty free" means you don't have to pay the artist per use, but there may be other copyright/IP stipulations that makes use of that artwork for a situation like this questionable.
Remember you are turning all of your work over to Paizo -- anything you submit becomes their property -- and they don't want to own any images containing improperly licensed artwork.
Donald Robinson RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 32 , Star Voter Season 6, Marathon Voter Season 7, Dedicated Voter Season 8, Marathon Voter Season 9 |
2 people marked this as a favorite. |
Wren Brown RPG Superstar 2015 Top 16 , Dedicated Voter Season 8, Star Voter Season 9 aka Rusty Ironpants |
So... Umm. Pro-tip (from the not so professional) #1:
Eat a "safe lunch" when working on the final draft of a very important map.
When you have finished said "safe lunch", resist the urge to get a bag of flaming hot cheetos out of the vending machine...
That is all for today's tip. >.>
Just claim they are the bloody fingerprints of a giant who previously read the map?
Walter Sheppard RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 32 , Star Voter Season 6, Dedicated Voter Season 7, Dedicated Voter Season 8 aka WalterGM |
1 person marked this as a favorite. |
I have a couple of questions about the map round, and I apologize if they've been answered (although in my scanning of this thread I didn't see either mentioned).
1. Is it ok to submit a map of an area previously described by Paizo, but never mapped? Specifically, there are some landmarks or other areas mentioned in campaign setting books that are never more than that: mentioned. Are these ok to expand on with a map?
2. Regarding this.
Your map must be submitted as a 72 ppi .jpg (if you're scaling down a scan of your image, a 24 x 30 inch area translates to 1728 px x 2160 px). A preview of your maps will be shown at a maximum 500 px width, with a link to the full size image you've provided.
So I don't have a scanner, but I do have the capability to take an HD picture. Currently, I have my handdrawn map uploaded to my computer, with various cartographical notations added in MS Paint. It's sitting at 1728x2160 px, but due to the handwritten nature there's still some white space around a couple of the edges. I'm hoping this is ok, provided that it's still legible and 24x30 squares.
D. W. RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 32 , Star Voter Season 6, Star Voter Season 8, Star Voter Season 9 aka Abandoned Arts |
Isaac Volynskiy RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 32 , Dedicated Voter Season 8, Marathon Voter Season 9 aka Petty Alchemy |
D. W. RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 32 , Star Voter Season 6, Star Voter Season 8, Star Voter Season 9 aka Abandoned Arts |
Garrett Guillotte Star Voter Season 6, Dedicated Voter Season 7, Star Voter Season 8 |
D. W. RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 32 , Star Voter Season 6, Star Voter Season 8, Star Voter Season 9 aka Abandoned Arts |
Garrett Guillotte Star Voter Season 6, Dedicated Voter Season 7, Star Voter Season 8 |
Currently, I have my handdrawn map uploaded to my computer, with various cartographical notations added in MS Paint. It's sitting at 1728x2160 px, but due to the handwritten nature there's still some white space around a couple of the edges. I'm hoping this is ok, provided that it's still legible and 24x30 squares.
This is not an official statement, but Owen's said since the provided grid extends to the edges of the image, your map's grid should probably extend to the edges of the image.
If you can, you might want to crop the image accordingly and resize it back up to 1728x2160.
Michael Hill RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 32 , Star Voter Season 9 aka Sir_Toon |
I'm still unclear on whether or not this map needs to serve as the basis for a single encounter or not. Or if the main focus is that it just be someplace in Golarion that can serve as a location that could hold one or more encounters.
Because in previous entries I see several good examples of maps with multiple levels. But I doubt that would work for a single encounter. I'm not really grasping a solid answer one way or the other.
Donald Robinson RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 32 , Star Voter Season 6, Marathon Voter Season 7, Dedicated Voter Season 8, Marathon Voter Season 9 |
I'm still unclear on whether or not this map needs to serve as the basis for a single encounter or not. Or if the main focus is that it just be someplace in Golarion that can serve as a location that could hold one or more encounters.
Because in previous entries I see several good examples of maps with multiple levels. But I doubt that would work for a single encounter. I'm not really grasping a solid answer one way or the other.
I think (and this is the way I'm doing my map) is that it is just one single location that serves as the scene/backdrop for an encounter. Perhaps you envision a forest clearing, or a tavern brawl, or a fort. Something along those lines. If you need a better idea, I'd just running by a game shop (or downloading a pdf from online) of one of the flip-mats available from Paizo.
Again, this is just my interpretation and so if I'm wrong, well, hopefully I learn what is correct before I submit tomorrow.
Walter Sheppard RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 32 , Star Voter Season 6, Dedicated Voter Season 7, Dedicated Voter Season 8 aka WalterGM |
Walter Sheppard wrote:Currently, I have my handdrawn map uploaded to my computer, with various cartographical notations added in MS Paint. It's sitting at 1728x2160 px, but due to the handwritten nature there's still some white space around a couple of the edges. I'm hoping this is ok, provided that it's still legible and 24x30 squares.This is not an official statement, but Owen's said since the provided grid extends to the edges of the image, your map's grid should probably extend to the edges of the image.
If you can, you might want to crop the image accordingly and resize it back up to 1728x2160.
I apologize because my previous comment didn't provide enough information. So my map is not quite a perfect rectangle, because I took a picture of it (don't have a scanner), therefore there is some white space around the edges of the shape (trapezoid?). The picture itself is 1728x2160. The map is slightly smaller because it tapers slightly.
Basically I'm wondering if I should redo the map in MSPaint (which would look undoubtedly worse and lack the detail I can provide with my handwritten version), or if having it slightly skewed is OK for the contest.
Also still wondering if it's OK to submit a map of an area that's been described before but never mapped.
Isaac Volynskiy RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 32 , Dedicated Voter Season 8, Marathon Voter Season 9 aka Petty Alchemy |
Walter Sheppard RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 32 , Star Voter Season 6, Dedicated Voter Season 7, Dedicated Voter Season 8 aka WalterGM |
Curaigh Star Voter Season 6, Dedicated Voter Season 7, Marathon Voter Season 8, Marathon Voter Season 9 |
You can go to a copy center or a university print shop (if you happen to *ahem* live near one) and have it scanned to the specifications. Chances are good the tax place next door has a photocopier with a scanning option as well, just make sure the grids get picked up in the scan.
I think the 'described, not mapped' depends on the amount of description. The entry needs to show the originality/creativity of the designer. The NSEA Protector is so well described it is easily mapped (built). IMHO The Pig's Paunch would be too well described to be mapped as an 'original creation' but another Absalom tavern could easily work.
Jacob W. Michaels RPG Superstar 2014 Top 16, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 16 , Marathon Voter Season 6, Marathon Voter Season 7, Marathon Voter Season 8, Dedicated Voter Season 9 aka motteditor |
1. Is it ok to submit a map of an area previously described by Paizo, but never mapped? Specifically, there are some landmarks or other areas mentioned in campaign setting books that are never more than that: mentioned. Are these ok to expand on with a map?
This is all my opinion, not definitive:
You're supposed to map a Golarion location. You can do an area previously described, but I wouldn't be shocked if that gets you downvoted by some people as the core idea didn't come from your imagination, but rather Paizo's. Granted, sometimes you may be asked to develop something Paizo's mentioned, but we're also judging you on your creativity in this contest.
Also, you don't know if Paizo may have plans for something, and your interpretation of it could conflict with what they want to do. That's probably less of a factor with a map than with an adventure pitch.
Personally, I'd say try to be inspired by Paizo's setting and not take directly from it.
(But again, this is all my opinion.)
Walter Sheppard RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 32 , Star Voter Season 6, Dedicated Voter Season 7, Dedicated Voter Season 8 aka WalterGM |
Owen K. C. Stephens Developer |
Hey folks,
I'm not going to get into approving or dismissing every specific idea about what kind of map you can present: the official round rules cover most of what we wanted to say on that subject. But here are some specific highlights from those rules.
*You may create a map for an encounter set in a city, wilderness, dungeon, or any other fantasy Golarion location appropriate for an encounter map. You may present a map designed for a specific encounter, or one useful for a variety of encounters.
*Each entry should have a name for the map. This can be generic (such as "Haunted Alchemy Shop") or specific (such as "The Flooded Cauldron").
*This should not be used to present a full encounter (including things such as tactics and monster statistics), so don't attempt to do so. This challenge is about presenting an interesting and clear map, not about designing a specific game encounter.
*Artistic merit of the map is not a factor, but your maps should be a place you would want to adventure.
Template Fu |
Hey folks,I'm not going to get into approving or dismissing every specific idea about what kind of map you can present: the official round rules cover most of what we wanted to say on that subject. But here are some specific highlights from those rules.
*You may create a map for an encounter set in a city, wilderness, dungeon, or any other fantasy Golarion location appropriate for an encounter map. You may present a map designed for a specific encounter, or one useful for a variety of encounters.
*Each entry should have a name for the map. This can be generic (such as "Haunted Alchemy Shop") or specific (such as "The Flooded Cauldron").
*This should not be used to present a full encounter (including things such as tactics and monster statistics), so don't attempt to do so. This challenge is about presenting an interesting and clear map, not about designing a specific game encounter.
*Artistic merit of the map is not a factor, but your maps should be a place you would want to adventure.
In Template Fu speak, this is probably summarised as
"This is a test. Can you understand and interpret requirements laid down by your potential bosses. Read the rules multiple times. Try to submit according to your understanding."
Don't forget, we the voters will be voting based on how we think YOU followed the rules and requirements. We can't ask how we should vote, we have to go with whether we think you got it right or wrong.
JPSTOD Star Voter Season 9 |
1 person marked this as a favorite. |
I'm really proud of my map idea, but losing was probably for the best... I doubt I'd have been able to do it justice. ^_^
Don't sell yourself short..
Map and Share anyways..Join us on Facebook RPG Mapshare and on Cartographer's Guild...
Present your Idea and ask someone to critque it or even map it for you..Mappers are always looking for fresh Ideas...
I love mapping for people..either their own designs or ReMapping at Scale Module Maps for people to use digitally..
Jason Evans RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 32 , Marathon Voter Season 7, Dedicated Voter Season 8, Dedicated Voter Season 9 aka King Tius |
Since we're getting down to the wire here, I want to double check I don't DQ myself because of ppi stuff. The rules call for 1728 px x 2160 px. If I set these dimensions in my map program, that automatically translates to 72 ppi, right? I am getting a DPI count that is higher than that, but there doesn't seem to be a way to adjust it. The internet tells me DPI and PPI are different, so I think I'm doing this correctly. Just want to make sure.
Kiel Howell RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 32 , Marathon Voter Season 6, Marathon Voter Season 7, Marathon Voter Season 8, Marathon Voter Season 9 aka theheadkase |
Jason Evans RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 32 , Marathon Voter Season 7, Dedicated Voter Season 8, Dedicated Voter Season 9 aka King Tius |
I answered my own question so I thought I'd share. I'm using Inkscape, for what it's worth.
I figured out how to define the pixel dimensions of my map easily enough (part of the export process) but realized I had to actually define the physical size of the page I was working on. I had mistakenly set it to cm instead of inches, so once I corrected that and blew it up to the right document size, when I exported at those specific pixel dimensions, it came out to exactly 72 ppi :D