MapMaking - A Map Making community for DND/TTRPG

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Welcome to the TTRPG/DND/D&D/Fantasy Map Makers Community!

We're thrilled to have you here! This community is all about the art and craft of creating TTRPG maps. Whether you're a seasoned cartographer or just beginning, this is the perfect place to delve into the world of map making. Here, we exchange knowledge, seek advice, explore techniques, and bring our imaginary worlds to life.

Our Main Focus: Map Making Discussions

Primarily, our community thrives on open discussions about all aspects of map-making. Topics can range from tools, techniques, and asset sharing to queries about scaling and more. This open forum is where we share knowledge, learn from one another, and celebrate the process of map creation.

Other Acceptable Posts Include:

Map Making Prompts: Feel free to post prompts that others can interpret through their unique artistic perspectives. Create maps inspired by these prompts and share your process!

User Requests: If you have a specific idea for a map but lack the skills to bring it to life, you can post your request here. Our talented community of artists may choose to fulfill them. Remember, this isn't a place for paid requests, and we reserve the right to revisit this policy if the number of requests becomes overwhelming.

Artist's 'Make a Request' Posts: Artists in our community can start a thread inviting others to make requests, which they can then attempt to fulfill. This keeps the requests contained and easy to follow. This section also doesn't cater to paid services, and the policy may change in the future.

Rules:

We're here to foster a collaborative environment where map makers can learn from each other and improve their skills. This community is about celebrating the process of map creation and exploring innovative ways to illustrate adventures. While sharing completed maps is not our primary goal, feel free to join !battlemaps@lemmy.world to showcase your completed creations.

Find more TTRPG/DND:

--!battlemaps@lemmy.world

--!dnd@lemmy.world

--!worldbuilding@lemmy.world

--!tabletopminis@lemmy.world

founded 1 year ago
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Greetings Map Makers!

Here we are at our seventh Weekly Community Prompt! Whether you're a seasoned cartographer or just starting your map-making journey, this is your stage to portray a captivating theme in your unique style.

This Week's Prompt: An enchanted glade within a dense, magical forest, filled with mythical flora and fauna.

Imagine a hidden glade deep within a mystical forest, where the trees whisper ancient secrets and luminous flowers bloom under the moon's soft glow. Creatures of legend roam this enchanted haven. What mysteries are concealed within this magical sanctuary? What encounters could unfold amidst the mythical flora and fauna?

As with every week, this prompt is not about competition but collaboration, creativity, and community. Your unique interpretation is what brings these prompts to life!

Feel free to share your process, thoughts, and initial designs in this thread. Let's use this platform to engage, inspire, and celebrate the art of map-making.

Once your masterpiece is ready, please respond to this post with your maps. If you want to share them as their own post, from now on, please do so in /c/BattleMaps. This keeps our community centered on the creative process while allowing everyone to admire the finished works.

Rules Reminder:

  1. Show respect towards all community members and their creations.
  2. Our goal is to share our creative journey and learn from one another.
  3. Dive into the process and let your imagination run free.
  4. UPDATE Please respond to this post with your maps. If you want to share them as their own post, from now on do so in /c/BattleMaps.

We can't wait to see how you explore this enchanted forest glade.

Happy map-making, everyone!

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Hey map makers,

If you're craving inspiration from fully finished D&D maps, head over to the BattleMaps community !/c/battlemaps. Explore the captivating creations shared there and get ready to be amazed. Don't miss out on the opportunity to witness the talent and creativity of fellow map makers. Join BattleMaps now!

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cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/18956932

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/18956931

I've created this multi-level battlemap for a recent intermission campaign with some mystery and intrigue. You can get it all as pay what you want over on ko-fi and use it in your own campaigns. If you do get around to doing that, do let me know what you think!

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submitted 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) by StraySojourner@lemmy.world to c/mapmaking@lemmy.world
 
 

Sorry if this isn't the appropriate community to ask! When I accidentally turned off an asset pack yesterday and relaunched the app, it deleted the assets from the map. I was going to work on it on a separate computer, If I download it won't it just do the same thing on the new install since I can't load the assets without opening the map?

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Inkarnate is giving away 10-days free Pro membership, so I took the bait and tried it. I decided to use the limited time to bring a very old concept of mine to life, which I originally conceived as a kid in high school. Overall, there's a lot of improvements to be made (especially since I decided to stick to the original concept as much as possible, which was... not very good to begin with lol), but I had a lot of fun and it allowed me to unwind a bit before going to bed, which was nice.

Not sure if I'll stick to Inkarnate Pro, however. Inkarnate is good, but it's web browser-only and subscription-only, which are both dealbreakers for me. I think I'll try Wonderdraft next!

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I have been working on building my own world, likely for 5e. I started working on the physical world and have been doing little snipets of land that I can later resize, and move around the final map until I am happy with it. I thought I could upload my own maps into inkarnate but I see no such option.

Are there any map editors that will let me do this? Even if it is just as a background bit that I can trace over. I have been using old topography maps of the area around my hometown and other places I have lived and am really liking the land masses I have and would rather not have to try and recreate them.

I am using a Mac, so I would prefer web based since most things do not get a mac release.

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It's been taking me forever but I'm happy how it's turning out.

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I made this map using a heavy amount of inspiration from pre-Norman medieval England. I tried a new technique for mountain placement, forest placement, and rivers. I also am trying something new for place names. I'm looking for input on what people think!

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Hello Map Makers!

Welcome to our sixth Weekly Community Prompt! This is your chance to embark on a creative journey and interpret a theme in your unique style, regardless of your map-making background.

This Week's Prompt: The labyrinthine catacombs beneath an ancient city, forgotten by time.

Envision the dark, winding passages beneath an age-old city. These forgotten catacombs harbor echoes of a time long past, filled with mysteries, relics, and unseen dangers. What secrets lie within these subterranean chambers? What encounters lurk in the shadows of this underground maze?

These prompts are not a competition, but an embrace of our diverse interpretations and styles. Your unique take on this prompt is eagerly awaited!

Share your process, thoughts, and drafts in this thread. We're here to engage, learn from one another, and revel in the art of map-making.

When your work is finished, please respond to this post with your maps. If you want to share them as their own post, from now on, please do so in /c/BattleMaps. This helps us appreciate everyone's completed works and maintain our community's focus on the creative journey.

Rules Reminder:

  1. Respect all community members and their creations.
  2. Our aim is to share our creative journey and learn from each other.
  3. Enjoy the process and unleash your creativity.
  4. UPDATE Please respond to this post with your maps. If you want to share them as their own post, from now on do so in /c/BattleMaps.

We're looking forward to exploring the forgotten catacombs through your eyes.

Happy map-making, everyone!

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Greetings Map Makers!

We're onto our fifth Weekly Community Prompt! This is your opportunity to let your creativity shine and portray a theme in your distinct style, irrespective of your map-making expertise.

This Week's Prompt: A deserted lighthouse on a cliff, overlooking a stormy sea.

Picture a lonely lighthouse standing tall on a cliff's edge, its once bright light now dimmed and forgotten. The surrounding sea rages with perpetual storms. What secrets does this forsaken beacon hold? What encounters could unfold in its winding staircases and deserted chambers?

As always, these prompts are not a competition, but a celebration of our varied interpretations and styles. We're excited to see your unique spin on this theme!

Feel free to share your process, thoughts, and initial drafts in this thread. Let's use this space to engage, learn, and celebrate the art of map-making together.

Once your creation is complete, we encourage you to post your final maps in /c/BattleMaps. This allows us to marvel at everyone's completed work while keeping this community centered on the process of creation.

Rules Reminder:

  1. Show respect towards all community members and their creations.
  2. Our goal is to share our creative journey and learn from each other.
  3. Enjoy the process, and let your creativity run wild!
  4. UPDATE Please respond to this post with your maps. If you want to share them as their own post, from now on do so in /c/BattleMaps

We can't wait to see how you bring this prompt to life.

Happy map-making, everyone!

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Trolls have taken up residence in the caves surrounding this forgotten temple. Only when adventurers come to investigate the blocked river will they have a chance of finding something more.

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Hello Map Makers!

Apologies for the slight delay this week - I've been out of town. But we're back, and ready to dive into our fourth Weekly Community Prompt! As always, this is your canvas to express your creativity and render a theme in your unique style, no matter your level of map-making experience.

This Week's Prompt: A hidden monastery nestled within the jagged peaks of a towering mountain range.

Imagine a secluded monastery, tucked away within the inhospitable peaks of a towering mountain range. Its tranquil courtyards and echoing prayer halls hold a serene contrast to the harsh exterior. What secrets might these ancient stone walls harbor? What encounters could occur amidst this lofty solitude?

Remember, these prompts are not a competition, but rather a celebration of our diverse interpretations and styles. We can't wait to see your unique approach to this!

Please share your process, thoughts, and early drafts in this thread. Our community is here to engage, learn from one another, and celebrate the art of map-making.

Once you're satisfied with your creation, please post your final maps in /c/BattleMaps. This helps us appreciate everyone's finished work while keeping our community focused on the creative process.

Rules Reminder:

  1. Respect all community members and their work.
  2. Our aim is to share our creative journey and learn from each other.
  3. Immerse yourself in the process and let your creativity soar!

Looking forward to seeing your interpretations of this hidden sanctuary.

Happy map-making, everyone!

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Time has definitely taken its toll.

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I shared one of my battle-maps in some places just now (first time for that, really) and got the request to maybe share the full uncompressed version.

My battle-maps tend to be on the larger side and can easily go beyond 15-20mb at times.

I have two issues, mainly where I could use some pointers and input:

  1. I don't want to lose all my rights (not even implicitly due to some vague TOS or EULA shenanigans) where I upload to and I am not willing to use any Google or Microsoft related services (nor any of the other large IT related companies, really - hence why I use the fediverse).
  2. I'd like to be sure I'm not just clogging someones server up with huge files like lemmy for example. Feels wrong to upload such huge files to a free service.

Got any advice? Should I use something like a (free) Patreon maybe?

Thanks in advance!

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Greetings Map Makers!

Welcome to our third Weekly Community Prompt! This is your stage to harness your imagination and bring a unique theme to life, irrespective of your map-making experience.

This Week's Prompt: A sunken city beneath crystal-clear waters, still inhabited by mysterious creatures.

Visualize a once-thriving city, now swallowed by the sea and resting beneath crystal-clear waters. Its once bustling streets and grand structures are now home to an array of enigmatic marine creatures. What secrets do these submerged architectures hold? What encounters await in the shadowy depths of this undersea city?

Remember, this prompt is not a competition but a celebration of our diverse interpretations and styles. We are excited to see your unique take on this!

Don't hesitate to share your process, thoughts, and initial drafts in this thread. This is a platform for us to engage, learn from one another, and celebrate the art of map-making.

Once your masterpiece is ready, feel free to post your final maps in /c/BattleMaps. This lets us admire everyone's completed works while maintaining our community's focus on the journey of creation.

Rules Reminder:

Show respect towards all community members and their creations. Let's focus on sharing our creative journeys and learn from each other. Dive into the process, and let your imagination flow! Eager to see your interpretations of this watery world.

Happy map-making, everyone!

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Hello Map Makers!

The time has come for our second Weekly Community Prompt! This is your chance to stretch your creative boundaries and illustrate a theme in your distinct style, no matter your experience level.

This Week's Prompt: A sprawling, labyrinthine library in an ancient, arcane tower.

Envision an arcane tower, nestled away from the prying eyes of the world. Within its lofty confines lies a labyrinthine library, stretching across floors and disappearing into shadowy corners. The air thrums with the silent whispers of countless tomes. What mysteries do these dusty pages hold? What encounters could one stumble upon in this maze of knowledge?


This prompt is not about winning, but about embracing our diverse perspectives and styles. We eagerly await your interpretations!

Share your process, thoughts, and drafts in this thread. This is our chance to engage, learn, and celebrate the art of map-making together.

Once you've completed your work, we encourage you to post your final maps in /c/BattleMaps. This allows us to marvel at everyone's finished work while keeping this community focused on the process.

Rules Reminder:

  1. Always show respect towards all community members and their work.
  2. Remember, our goal is to share our creative journey and learn from one another.
  3. Immerse yourself in the process and let your creativity run wild!

Can't wait to see how you bring this prompt to life.

Happy map-making, everyone!

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Hey guys, I'm looking to get some practice in this week and would like to help out the community in the process. Reply with a battlemap you need, I guess regional maps would be ok, but I want to keep them to small enough areas that the details will still be useful. I do like playing with the lighting, so I will likely include that in most of them. Obviously if this gets super popular I won't get to every request, but I'll prioritize based on upvotes and my interest in the request.

What do I need from you?

  1. Dimensions, how big is this map?
  2. Setting, is it in a building, a mine, and big open field?
  3. What are you using it for? This one is a little more abstract, but if I understand why your party is here I can try to make the map work better for your purpose.
  4. What NEEDS to be there? Tell me what you want to see on the map. Is there a campfire in the northwest corner? How about a statue on the west wall to hide a secret passage? Corpses littering g the floor? Or rotten vegetables left out on the kitchen counter?

The more you tell me about the last two questions, the better I can do for you. I'll post all of the completed maps here and on the battlemaps community associated here. My plan was to post them to lemmy with a back up on imgur linked to both gridded and non gridded versions.

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I worked on this map while brainstorming an TTRPG setting a few years back. I never ended up using it however. The Lake Laurel region is inspired by the large glacial lake systems you see in the northern US and throughout Canada.

The northern stretch of the region consists of rolling foothills and some mountains. Its densely forested. The southeastern shore of Lake Laurel is mostly flat with broad grassy marshes.

I always imagined that there would be a city state on the peninsula that divides the lakes. The heroes would come from there and most of the adventures would be based around it. People would get around in boats and hunker down during the long winters.

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Cross-posting this, as I figure this brush set would be a great resource for map makers here in case they weren't aware. :)

Link to the brush downloads and more info about Ogilby maps.

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Worked on this for about 3 hours. What could I make better? What do you like?

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Greetings Map Makers!

It's time for our first Weekly Community Prompt! This is an opportunity for everyone, both old hands and fresh faces, to flex their creative muscles and interpret a theme in their distinct style.

This Week's Prompt: An abandoned, overgrown garden within the ruins of an ancient castle.

Imagine the remnants of an erstwhile majestic castle, now surrendering to the slow tick of time. In its heart, an forgotten garden bristles with wild plants, a testament to untamed beauty. What secrets does it conceal? What encounters and battles await within its leafy corridors?


This prompt isn't a competition, but rather a celebration of our diverse interpretations. Regardless of your style or experience level, we eagerly anticipate your creations!

Please share your process, thoughts, and works-in-progress in this thread. Let's engage in discussions, learn from one another, and celebrate the art of map-making!

Once your creation is complete, you're encouraged to share your final maps in /c/BattleMaps. This way, we get to admire everyone's finished work while keeping this community focused on the process.

Rules Reminder:

  1. Treat all community members and their work with respect.
  2. Remember, the aim here is to share your creative process and learn from each other.
  3. Enjoy the process, and let your creativity soar!

We're looking forward to seeing what unique twists you bring to this prompt.

Happy map-making, everyone!

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Been accumulating different assets over the years. Would love to hear what other people like and have used. Heres my full list but my two most used are 2-Minute Tabletop (Ross McConnell) and Forgotten Adventures. Whats yours?

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