Rise of the Runelords Maps (and others)
kalnaren
Newcomer
Maps I'm making for RotRL Pathfinder campaign (and possibly some other ones not associated with RotRL when I finish them).
Foxglove Townhouse:
Ruins of Wrath
Foxglove Townhouse:
Ruins of Wrath
Comments
My only nitpick would be the stairs. I love the landings, but I have a confusing time following the stairs from floor to floor. And I'm afraid I don't have any constructive suggestions at the moment.
Other than that, though, I absolutely love the maps and the building layout!
~Dogtag
Thanks for the comments
I'm not a huge fan of the stairs either. The first maps I did had arrow symbols on them (using the SS2 stair bitmaps) but they didn't look good so I took them out. I'm still pretty inexperienced with the software but I might try and create some custom sheets specifically to do the stairs. Gradient shading or something might help. Either way I think I need to move them off the symbol layer -the shadows don't look right.
The layout is actually very similar to the one in Rise of the Runelords. I think I swapped the stairs around a bit and made one or two other changes, that's it. I might re-do the interior a bit though to make it more of a "generic" townhouse.
~Dogtag
How might you change the layout of the stairs to make that more clear? I'm always up for tips to improve the maps
However, if something comes to me — most likely as I drift off to sleep, or in the middle of an important meeting while someone drones on — I'll definitely post it.
Cheers,
~Dogtag
I really like your maps, but I have a few suggestions that I hope could improve them even more.
On the first one, the junction between the path and the cellar seems fine, but the junction between the path and the main building looks strange to me, like if the gravel tried very hard not to tough the wall. I think there should be no fading effect between the gravel and the main building. And on it's way to the garden entrance, there is one point where it is really narrow. A little bit too much, I think.
For the stairs, I think part of the problem is that the stairs seem to project a shadow on the corridor. Maybe you could make the texture on the "landing" of the stairs and on the upper part of the stairs a little bit larger, to help the mind understand that it is closer to us than the rest of the corridor?
Maybe overlaying a progressively less transparent rectangle on top of the upper part could help understand it is leading to somewhere not on the map?
What font did you use for the ruins of wrath?
Now, enough talking, I have to go back to work on my own maps... It is always harder to turn some idea into something that works than to give them to someone else... I wish you luck!
This is a series of maps based on Droskar's Crucible, primarily done to give me practice with CC3 layers. I changed the map around and turned it into an old garrison fort that's gradually collapsing because of the soft ground it was built on.
Ground Floor
2nd Floor
3rd Floor (Tower)
4th Floor (Tower)
Key:
Lower Floor Key:
1. The path approaching the garrison passes through thick, smooth stone walls. The walls are much newer than the rest of the structure, and were added some time after construction as the first part of an expansion to the keep’s fortifications. However the project was soon abandoned as the fort started to collapse, and no other reinforced structures were built.
2. The central courtyard was originally open but is now partially closed off by the newer walls. The well provides all the necessary water for the garrison.
3. The lower levels of the tower are used for dry goods storage. The tower itself is a full story taller than the rest of the fort, with the top sitting above the forest canopy.
4. The kitchen can't be described as anything else but "cramped", it is however large enough to serve the small number of personnel in the garrison.
5. These three rooms are used by the fort's servants.
6. Heavy rains eventually caused the soft ground to wash away, resulting in the collapse of that corner of the fort. The room is open to the elements and is no longer used. This incident halted the construction of the fort’s new battlements and ultimately led to the decision to abandon the fort completely, as the ground is not suitable for a heavier structure.
7. This large area serves as the garrison mess hall and gathering room for the remaining soldiers.
8. When built this larger room was the garrison’s library and record room. It has since been partitioned into two sections and now holds what’s left of the garrison’s supplies. The stairs lead to the upper level.
9. Quartermaster’s Office.
10. The fort's "jail" -originally foreseen to hold bandits and highwaymen caught by the garrison before their transport to Ballenmore- has been repurposed as livestock holding pens following the small barn burning to the ground two seasons prior.
11. This corridor was originally built to allow future expansion of the keep. No expansion ever happened, and the hallway has since crumbled. Sand-filled barrels now block off this exit.
Upper Floor Key
1. The upper stair landing holds weapon racks and shelves of other equipment. The garrison soldiers occasionally use this area to spar when the weather outside is unsuitable.
2. Garrison Commander's room.
3. Garrison Commander's office.
4. Barracks
5. After the wall collapse the integrity of the floor in this room became suspect. It is now used to store non-essential goods (like firewood) or junk.
The only thing that I did not like is the ladder for the fourth floor tower.
The stone going all the way down does not fit.
A trap door may be a better idea.
Just a small nick-pick though, great job! :-)
You're right, a trap door may work better.
Small map for the 'Desecrated Vault' encounter in Burnt Offerings.
RAIDER'S WARREN
Not a RotRL map. It's from an adventure in one of the Dragon magazines. Can't remember which off the top of my head (Battle of Emry Medows I think?). Made this one mainly to play with DD4 symbol set, and I suck at coming up with original dungeons :P
I modified the default SS4 sheet effects a bit; I didn't like the way the walls were on it.
Farmhouse
Farmhouse Upper Floor
Raider's Warren
Same maps as above, but done in Jon Roberts' style. Did them in both to see which style I like better. Turns out I like them both and can't decide, so now I map in both
Farmhouse
Farmhouse Upper Floor
Raider's Warren
As always, critique welcome.