I am debating on how to display brinewall keep. In the past I have cut out the out line of the castle using foamcore. I have also pre-built castle rooms using that giant graph paper that you can use as a flip chart.
These worked pretty well, but they were labor intensive and not that colorful, although I did my best to use color markers to add brown wooden doors, grey castle walls, and brown tables.
What would be a good way to prep the map of Brinewall keep for the players to have a fun and smooth running encounter there?
I drew each area on an individual piece of graph paper, the players mapped "old school" and when appropriate I revealed the miniature scale map. It worked out surprisingly awesome.
-Vaz
Yes - that is kind of what I have done in the past - it takes some prep time. The big castle walls make for big pieces too. I was just wondering if there was better ideas out there - something cooler and less labor intensive.
I don't think I will go to the TV laid flat though - still keepig it with paper and plastic miniatures and dungeon tiles and such.
Originally, I used digital maps and printed them out to scale.
I then cut out each room/area to the size of what the characters would be able to see. So no looking around corners without physically moving there.
Since our game table also used a decent sized white board laid out flat, I could use some tiny magnets to connect the rooms together.
It wasn't perfect, but it sure beat out having to draw everything to scale again and again.
These days though, we went a step further and got ourselves a projector on the ceiling that we point down on the table and use my computer with GIMP to hide/reveal each room/area one at the time. I just need a usable copy of the floor maps, and then create different layers for each room or area.
Originally, I used digital maps and printed them out to scale.
I then cut out each room/area to the size of what the characters would be able to see. So no looking around corners without physically moving there.
Since our game table also used a decent sized white board laid out flat, I could use some tiny magnets to connect the rooms together.
It wasn't perfect, but it sure beat out having to draw everything to scale again and again.
These days though, we went a step further and got ourselves a projector on the ceiling that we point down on the table and use my computer with GIMP to hide/reveal each room/area one at the time. I just need a usable copy of the floor maps, and then create different layers for each room or area.
What software do you use to make the maps? I will find out what GIMP is on google unless you care to expand on that. Can you send me a picture of your setup? Do you like using the projector better than using terrain or is it just easier? I am interested in trying this out but I would like to learn more about it.
What software do you use to make the maps? I will find out what GIMP is on google unless you care to expand on that. Can you send me a picture of your setup? Do you like using the projector better than using terrain or is it just easier? I am interested in trying this out but I would like to learn more about it.
Admittedly, this is beyond casual gaming for most people.
GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) is like a free version of Photoshop, available on many platforms.
For the base image, I just went with screen captures of the PDF maps. Then with GIMP. I add a dark square (or whatever shape a room has) and now name it the same as in the book for quick reference . The only real annoyance is properly hiding secret doors and traps. Most players will notice when the edge of a map seems curiously out of line. Right now, each map is about 2-4MB in size.
For the projector, it's not at my place, but it's a regular projector bought on sale with USB input mounted on the ceiling on a pivoting support that we angle down on our gaming table below. With the projector settings, we remove any trapezoidal distortion and zoom in and out as needed. Being so near the gaming table, the image bright enough to play with lights on. The downside are that you need a computer and you have cables lying/hanging around, but we find these to be a minor inconveniences compared to having nicely drawn maps. And if your computer is connected to the net, you have instant access to the PRD.
I started making maps this way in book 2, and have them up to book 4 (which we finished last week).
What software do you use to make the maps? I will find out what GIMP is on google unless you care to expand on that. Can you send me a picture of your setup? Do you like using the projector better than using terrain or is it just easier? I am interested in trying this out but I would like to learn more about it.Admittedly, this is beyond casual gaming for most people.
GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) is like a free version of Photoshop, available on many platforms.
For the base image, I just went with screen captures of the PDF maps. Then with GIMP. I add a dark square (or whatever shape a room has) and now name it the same as in the book for quick reference . The only real annoyance is properly hiding secret doors and traps. Most players will notice when the edge of a map seems curiously out of line. Right now, each map is about 2-4MB in size.
For the projector, it's not at my place, but it's a regular projector bought on sale with USB input mounted on the ceiling on a pivoting support that we angle down on our gaming table below. With the projector settings, we remove any trapezoidal distortion and zoom in and out as needed. Being so near the gaming table, the image bright enough to play with lights on. The downside are that you need a computer and you have cables lying/hanging around, but we find these to be a minor inconveniences compared to having nicely drawn maps. And if your computer is connected to the net, you have instant access to the PRD.
I started making maps this way in book 2, and have them up to book 4 (which we finished last week).
Sounds cool - how good of a projector do you have to get to pull this off? You still use miniatures correct?
I would love to see a video or picture of this in action.
For the first 2 encounters, I drew the maps ahead of time using markers and water color paints. It did take a while, but I didn't mind. I have also cut out the outline of Brinewall castle on foam core and have all the rooms individually cut out using the grided flip chart paper. I hope that works at well too.
Projector maps sound pretty cool -
Sounds cool - how good of a projector do you have to get to pull this off? You still use miniatures correct?
I would love to see a video or picture of this in action.
For the first 2 encounters, I drew the maps ahead of time using markers and water color paints. It did take a while, but I didn't mind. I have also cut out the outline of...
If I recall, it's a simple 800x600 projector. It's not HD (thus cheaper), but it was the standard several years ago and it's more than enough for maps.
And yes, we use miniatures (we have tons) and use them as scale references for map zooming.
I'm a little lazier, so I just use Corel Draw (the software I'm familiar with) on a separate screen. I have my notebook connected with to the TV and use that to display character/setting images.
I create an object above the map and use a simple eraser to reveal room by room.