Thursday, May 7, 2015

Geomorphs - Caverns #3

This one is an homage and a pure copy of the format from Dyson Logos for his 'dungeon in twelve parts'.

It gives you full size, half size, and full size tiles, and the ability to mix and match the layout a little more. I think I will do a few more quarter and half size geomorphs so I can tie them all together.

Grid and no Grid. Permission given for non commercial use. Enjoy.



Tuesday, May 5, 2015

Geomorph - Caverns #2

Here is the standard 6 tile geomorph set. Its Cave set #2. Trying to cover the basics for different and corridors and shapes. Grid and no grid. I have set #3 coming next. That will give me a good start on the caverns. Permission is given for use for non commercial purposes. Enjoy.




Friday, May 1, 2015

My first Geomorphs

Well, I figured if i was gonna do this mapping thing I had to try my hand at some geomorphs. Here is my first attempt at them. It was very fun. I have 6 more cavern geomorphs in the works. As I plan to do, here is one with blue grid, and one without grid. And as usual, you may use these for your own personal use, but not for commercial uses.

Very little finish was done to these in Photoshop. I finally found the paper/notebook I liked and a set of pens as well. The notebook is a 7x9 perfect bound 190 sheet notebook I got on Amazon. The pens are Micron 01 through 05.  Enjoy.





Friday, April 17, 2015

Friday Map - #1


Well here is Map #1. I will try to do a map upload on Fridays. We'll start slow. I hope to go to one on Monday as well.

I will present maps in rendered, b&w w/ grid, b&w w/o grid versions.

I present - The Bubbling Muck...

Suitable for Post Apoc, Sci Fi, Or Fantasy. It could be a sinister lab, the remnants of a chemical processing plant, or the spawning pools of a mad wizard. The choice is yours. Enjoy. 






All maps are copyrighted by the author. Permission is given for personal, non-commercial uses.

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

The Two Most Evocative Images from D&D

Big statement. I know. But for me, with all the amazing Willingham, Dee and Otus illustrations in D&D Basic, nothing was more evocative, more illustrative, and more densely important than the following illustrations:



These two illustrations opened up the world for me. Truly an Ah HA! moment. Enjoy. You probably know them by heart.

First Post!

Since my introduction into D&D in 1981-82 (Moldvay Red Box Basic), reading my copy of the rules under my blankets past bed time with a flashlight, I have been obsessed with the mapping and cartography end of the hobby. I simply understood them. Instinctually I got them. It helped guide me to drafting, design, architecture and landscape architectural school and a career in design.



I have sketched a hundred dungeons, 1000's in my mind. Most never finished, but all based upon a seed of a thought or an experience. 

When I rediscovered the Old School Renaissance of Old Skool Gaming in the early 2000's I found a few beacons of light to help guide me back on track. some are still burning bright, some have burned out, some have simply moved on but left their works for all to enjoy. You'll find those on the sidebar.

One in particular, Dyson's Dodecahedron is a bright aurora in the night sky, and his mapping work is really the great inspiration for this site. It has mobilized me to take the small moments and create gaming mapping and publish it here. I will follow his geomorph format, as well as explore larger maps and adventure locations both inside and out.

So that's it. The format of this will stay simple. The content is what's important. I will post as much as I can.I will post others maps as inspiration(if they let me) and I will post some classics for inspiration and nostalgia.  Enjoy. And as a first post who doesn't know this map. In classic blue. I present B2 - The Keep on the Borderlands.