Monday 31 December 2012

The Little Book of Dungeons: Cave Geomorphs

As promised in my earlier post ...today sees the release of The Little Book of Dungeons: Cave Geomorphs.



This product features all of the maps from the 2012 Map-a-Monday project in one handy pdf booklet, as well as several additional geomorphs as an added bonus.

Like its predecessor, the booklet costs just $1 over on RPGNow and DriveThruRPG.

2012 Map-a-Monday (week 53)


Well here it is ...the last map of the 2012 Map-a-Monday project...

...and since this final map marks the end of the project (as I'm sure 105 geomorphs over two years is enough for most people) I've decided to finish on a large (double size) map:



And there you have it, 52 dungeons drawn in 2011, and 53 caves in 2012 ...and I somehow managed to not lose my mind in the process :) (though I may have been a little crazy to attempt such a thing in the first place).

So, I'd just like to say thank you to everyone who has visited the blog/website/G+ page over the past year, and I hope that the Map-a-Monday project has been interesting to follow, and (more importantly) a useful resource for my fellow gamers.



Note that a pdf booklet containing all of these geomorphs should be available for $1 over on RPGNow/DriveThruRPG a little later on in the day -  which will also contain several bonus maps as a little added extra for those folks that decide to pick it up.

Monday 24 December 2012

Saturday 22 December 2012

Age of Shadow pre-gen's & wiki


PRE-GENS

While converting a couple of the AoS pre-generated characters over to 'epic' PCs (as featured in the campaign guide), I noticed a couple of minor errors on one or two of the sheets.

So, while I was at it, I've gone ahead and updated all of the pre-gens, and have given them names more befitting the AoS setting (which also marries them up with the characters that appear in the little narratives of the campaign guide).

I've also thrown in a couple of extras - bringing the total number of pre-gens (or NPCs if you prefer to use them as such) up to a full dozen ...all of which are listed below:

Amalia (female human)
Arothel (female elf)
Berezan (male dwarf)
Darothan (male elf)
Galanill (male human with elf lineage)
Hardwin (male human)
Khomal (male dwarf)
Linza (female human with elf lineage)
Lothar (male human)
Othmar (male human)
Rothallon (male elf)
Shethari (female dwarf)

Note that these pre-gens can be downloaded freely from THIS PAGE of the Age of Shadow website.

WIKI

I'd also like to mention that The Age of Shadow wiki now contains all of the skills, spells, and monster stat-blocks from the main rule book.

It's still a bit of a work in progress, but it's finally starting to shape up into something usable :)



Monday 17 December 2012

2012 Map-a-Monday (week 51)

It's Monday again ...and that means another little map:


Sunday 16 December 2012

Experimenting with the Roll 20 virtual tabletop


After hearing good things about the (browser based) Roll20 virtual tabletop, I thought I would have a little play around with it today - and I have to admit that it seems rather nice.

However, it did take a while for me to figure out how to get the inbuilt grid to align with the grid of an existing image (as you basically have to work with a grid size of 70 pixels - or fractions thereof) - but once I'd figured it out, it wasn't that much of an issue.

You can also search for maps and tokens within Roll20 itself (which is pretty darn cool if you need something on the fly), as well as being able to upload a few images of your own (I think you're given 100MB of storage space with a free account). However, I'm pretty sure that you can't add maps or tokens from a specific URL (which was a bit of a letdown - especially since I've got loads in my photobucket account) - but I understand that you get more storage space with either of the subscription options.

A quick example using one of my wilderness maps and a couple of basic tokens.


I also had a few problems when trying to set up and use a basic character sheet (as it kept rolling a skill test multiple times for some reason), and since I'm only testing it out with a free account I sometimes have to wait for a 15 second counter to run down before it will load (which isn't really much of an issue) - but other than that it's not too bad at all.

I particularly like how the GM can switch between several different map windows without it having any effect on the map that the players are viewing (as the latter is toggled separately with its own little 'bookmark' icon). I also like how easy it is to add and modify little extras to each character/monster token - like a HP track that only the GM can see, different coloured markers to indicate various effects, and so on. And if I ever wanted to add a bit of ambient music or the occasional sound effect, then the jukebox feature might come in handy too.

But for me, the most useful features have to be the 'fog of war' (for masking off areas of the map that the players are yet to explore), and the little ruler tool that not only allows you measure the distance from one square to another (thus eliminating the need to count squares for ranges, movement, etc.), but also acts a great tool for determining line of sight.

Obviously there are some features that I haven't tinkered with yet (or I'm yet to discover), but on the whole it seems like a handy little tool ...and one that I'd gladly use if I was running an online game.

Monday 10 December 2012

2012 Map-a-Monday (week 50)

Here's the last of the 'cave corner' pieces:


...and only 3 more Mondays to go until the end of this year's project!

Monday 3 December 2012

2012 Map-a-Monday (week 49)

Here's the first map for December:


I'm just going to do one more of these corner tiles, and then see out the rest of the year with the more usual size/shape of geomorph.

Friday 30 November 2012

So what's coming up in 2013?


With December almost upon us, I thought I'd take a little time let everyone know what's planned for the new year...

* * *

The first product of 2013 will most likely be 'The Little Book of Dungeons : Cave Geomorphs' - which , like last year's compilation, will feature all of the maps from the 2012 Map-a-Monday project (as well as several extras) in one pdf booklet for the whopping price of $1.

And with regard to the Map-a-Monday project itself, I think that 2012 will be its final year (as I'm sure a year's worth of dungeons, followed by a year's worth of caves is enough for anyone), though I might persevere with a 'Map-a-Month' or something similar if folks still want more :)

The next product I have planned is something that I've been working on for the past couple of weeks, however I'm a little reluctant to say just what it is right now.

What I will say is that it is a new set of high-resolution dungeon tiles - but with a slight difference (and in this instance I'm using the term 'dungeon' very loosely). I'll probably post a few WIP pic's of a couple of them when I'm closer to release, but I don't want to give the game away just yet ...just in case the project doesn't go as planned.

Once that's done I'll be starting work on MegaDungeon Level 2 - which, like its predecessor, will feature a huge dungeon level (probably containing a few caves/mines this time around) mapped out in all its glory.

* * * 

There's also a couple of things that I've started (and am yet to finish) that I'll continue work on if/when time allows (like the Northern Kingdom Map for the Age of Shadow setting - which might get added to the Campaign Guide as an additional image file), assuming that I don't too distracted by other projects (or maybe the odd commission or two).

Monday 26 November 2012

Last Day of the Black Friday/Cyber Monday Sale


I'd just like to say thanks to everyone who has grabbed a couple of products during the Black Friday / Cyber Monday weekend (note that the products on offer will revert to their normal price tomorrow, so if you're thinking of picking one up, then there's not much time left).

And if you read Friday's post all the way to the bottom (if not shame on you :P ), then you will have noticed a link that enabled you to get a free copy of the Little Book of Dungeons (Vol.I) during the whole of Black Friday.

But if you missed that, then just for today (i.e. Cyber Monday) you can grab a free copy of the Little Book of Dungeons (Vol.II) just by clicking HERE, as a little thank you from myself.

2012 Map-a-Monday (week 48)

Here's the last map for November:


...only one more month to go!

Friday 23 November 2012

Black Friday/Cyber Monday $1.99 sale

It's that time of the year again, so let me get right to the point and say that all of the products (or bundles) listed below are available for just $1.99 each during the Black Friday/Cyber Monday weekend!


(5 wilderness map-packs)

* * * * *


(a huge dungeon map, battle-maps, and VTT maps)

* * * * *

(a large, semi-modular, fortress map-pack)

* * * * *

(grey scale dungeon maps and battle-maps)

* * * * *

(sci-fi/near-future tiles)

* * * * *

...and as a follower of this blog (or one of the social networks that links to this blog) you can also get The Little Book of Dungeons (Vol. I) for free (today only) by following THIS special super secret link ;)




Monday 19 November 2012

2012 Map-a-Monday (week 47)

Here's the geomorph for this week:


...only a few more left to go now :)

Monday 12 November 2012

Saturday 10 November 2012

Zone 10: Processing Plant (10mm terrain)

Yesterday saw the release of the first expansion set for the Zone 10 line...



...and as you can see, in the end I've decided that the best option is to release additional buildings as separate products - so that each one can be released as soon as it is finished (rather than supplying them in sets of 3 or 4 different structures ...which will obviously take more time).

As such, this first expansion (which is available for just $1) features a large, vaguely pyramidal, structure that can be used on its own (to represent anything from an atmosphere purifier to a reactor housing), or used in conjunction with other building from the Zone 10 range to form part of a much larger complex.


And while I'm on the subject of other buildings in the Zone 10 range ...for the remainder of the month you can also get your hands on the Zone 10 Basic Set for half of its original price (that's just $2.50).





Thursday 8 November 2012

Zone 10 progress report (p2)

Here's a quick look at the progress on the next zone10 building:



So that's the first building pretty much done now (apart from a few minor tweaks and getting the assembly instructions sorted out).

But I was wondering if folks would prefer it if I were to release additional structures like this on their own (for something like $1), or if you'd rather have several new buildings released together in one new set?

My original plan was to release 3 or 4 new buildings as an expansion set (for something like $3) ...but now I'm leaning more towards releasing them individually.

The upside of releasing them on their own is that folks can just pick up the particular structures that they like, and also that fact that they'll be able to get their hands on them sooner (i.e. I could release a building as soon as it is completed - rather than having to wait for several new buildings to be finished, and then released all together as a new expansion set).

Anyone (who is interested in these 10mm terrain pieces) have a preference?

Monday 5 November 2012

Zone 10 progress report (p1)

I thought I post a quick picture of today's progress on the next zone10 building...


...and as you can see, the top half of the main structure is pretty much finished (also note that the small trapezoidal shapes extending out from the bottom of the building are the same size/shape as the existing tunnels/passages).

Hopefully, I'll get a little more done tomorrow :)

2012 Map-a-Monday (week 45)

Here's the next little map:


Saturday 3 November 2012

Colony 19 Doors (update)


If you've seen my earlier post today, you'll have noticed that I've been working on some doorway counters for use with the Colony 19 range of sci-fi/near-future tiles.

Well, rather than creating a whole new product entry for these, I've decided to add them to the existing 'doors' download (so that all the doorway related counters and assemblies are located in the same place).



I'd also like to thank those folks who been requesting these additions, as it's something I've been meaning to do for a while now, but I guess I just needed a little push to actually sit down and get them finished.

Anyway, I hope they prove to be useful additions to the line :)

Colony 19 Doorways


When creating the Colony 19 (sci-fi/near-future) floor tiles, they were designed so that when you create an encounter map with the tiles, you then have to place a fold-up door assembly in the gaps between any of the rooms/passage that you want to connect together.

For example, if you set up a couple of the tiles to look something like this:

...you then need to place a door assembly between any connecting rooms/passages like this:


This has the benefit of having the doors being placed in an area that does not interfere with the placement of miniatures, while also allowing you to only place doorways in the specific areas that you require them (though you do have to ignore this imaginary gap between rooms/passages when determining movement and range - as the tiles are a little abstract in this way).

However, since the tiles were released, I've had a couple of comments/requests with regard to making open versions of the doors, or perhaps separate (2D) doorway tiles, etc.

So what I have come up with is a set of (2D) overlay tiles that can be used to depict closed doors, open doors*, and also glass panes, that look something like this:


All of these work in exactly the same fashion as the existing (3D) door assemblies (i.e. just place them in the gap between rooms/passages to make doorways into those rooms/passages that require them), and should be available as a free download as soon as I manage to put the pdf together.

So if we take the same example layout from above, and add a few of these overlays, it should look something like this:


Hopefully this makes all of the tile-sets a little more user friendly, and also offers an alternate way of connecting the tiles together.


(* Note that these can also be used in conjunction with the 3D doorways if you wish ...simply use one of these when the door is open, and place a 3D door assembly on top of it when it is closed.)

Thursday 1 November 2012

More Zone10 ?

Here's a quick look at a couple of prototype buildings for the next Zone10 set (note that they are still in the early stages of development at the moment - and just represent the basic shapes at this stage):


For those of you that are not familiar with the range, Zone10 provides a number of modular sci-fi/near-future buildings for use with 10mm miniatures that look something like this when assembled...


...so, with any luck, you can imagine what the above prototypes will eventually look like when all of the details have been added .

Monday 29 October 2012

Tuesday 23 October 2012

Northern Kingdom Map (WIP 3)

Back to work on the Northern Kingdom map (for the Age of Shadow setting)...


Monday 22 October 2012

Monday 15 October 2012

Wednesday 10 October 2012

Into the Wilderness: Halloween Special


Why not venture out into the wilderness this Halloween and explore the old barrows on the edge of town?

Into the Wilderness: Halloween Special is a map-pack by Crooked Staff Publishing that depicts the layout of a group of burial mounds as they would appear on a dark and foggy night.


All for just $0.99 over on RPGNow & DriveThruRPG

Monday 8 October 2012

Monday 1 October 2012

2012 Map-a-Monday (week 40)

October already? ...in that case, here's the first geomorph of the month:


Thursday 27 September 2012

Into the Wilderness: Map 3


Today sees the release of Into the Wilderness: Map 3 ...the third map-pack from the new range of wilderness locations from Crooked Staff Publishing (and the last of the current batch).

Just like the previous sets, this map-pack comes complete with a pdf booklet (for the GMs notes), image files (for use with virtual tabletops), and miniatures scale battle-mats (for, erm, ...miniatures ;) ).


In addition, Into the Wilderness: Map 0 has also been released today (as a free download), and features a seamless/repeating forest texture (i.e. the same one from my previous post) in a similar format.

Monday 24 September 2012

Into the Great Forest...


If you like the look of the latest wilderness range of map-packs then here's a link to something I've been working on over the weekend that you might find of interest:


...it's a seamless/repeating forest tile (done in the same style as the Into the Wilderness map-packs) that can be loaded into your VTT (Virtual TableTop) of choice to create a huge forested area in a matter of seconds.

The image itself is 1000x1000 pixels (with each grid square measuring 50x50 pixels), is free to use*, and if you load it into something like Tabletop Forge (with the 'tile image' option selected), it should fill your entire map window with a near-seamless forest texture.

Also, if you'd like to see the same image made into a miniatures scaled battlemap (and made available as a free download on RPGNow) then let me know in the comments below (or over on G+) and I'll see what I can do :)


*for personal use only

Into the Wilderness: Map 2


Into the Wilderness: Map 2 is the second map-pack from the new range of wilderness locations from Crooked Staff Publishing.

Just like the previous set, the map is provided in the following formats:

A pdf booklet containing three versions of the map; one with a square grid overlay, one with a hex grid overlay, and one with no grid overlay at all.

*

Each map (i.e. the square grid, hex grid, and gridless version) is also provided as a jpg image optimised for use with virtual tabletops.

*

In addition, all three versions are supplied as multi-page, miniatures scale, pdfs - so that they can also be used as impromptu battle-mats.


*

All for just $1.50 over on RPGNow & DriveThruRPG

*

2012 Map-a-Monday (week 39)

Here's the last one of the month:


Saturday 22 September 2012

Further into the wilderness...


With any luck, next week should see the release of the next two map-packs from the Into the Wilderness range. And so, in the meantime, I thought I'd post a quick sneak peek of how they are shaping up:



Once again they depict fairly generic encounter areas (one being a  little stream in a lightly wooded area, and the other a simple dirt track), and both will be available in the same formats at the previous set (i.e. square-grid, hex-grid, and gridless versions - each of which is supplied as a booklet, VTT map, and miniatures scaled battle-map).

Monday 17 September 2012

Tuesday 11 September 2012

Into the Wilderness...


I'm pleased to announce a new map, and with it a new product line...

Into the Wilderness: Map 1 is the first in a series of map packs that leaves the dungeon setting in favour of (you guessed it) various wilderness locations.

This first map features a simple ruin in a forest clearing, and is provided in the following formats:

A pdf booklet containing three versions of the map; one with a square grid overlay, one with a hex grid overlay, and one with no grid overlay at all.

*

Each map (i.e. the square grid, hex grid, and gridless version) is also provided as a jpg image optimised for use with virtual tabletops.

*

In addition, all three versions are supplied as multi-page, miniatures scale, pdfs - so that they can also be used as impromptu battle-mats.

*

All for just $1.50 over on RPGNow & DriveThruRPG

*

Monday 10 September 2012

Monday 3 September 2012

Sunday 2 September 2012

Age of Shadow wiki?


I've been playing around with THIS over the weekend.



Admittedly, there is not much information on there yet (as it will probably  take quite some time to get stuff added, and I'm still playing around with formatting, and deciding on what exactly I should add, etc.), but I thought I'd mention it, as I'm hoping that it will prove to be a useful tool once more stuff has been added.

Thursday 30 August 2012

Northern Kingdom Map (WIP 2)

I've managed to get a bit more work done on the Northern Kingdom map...