I've got a number of unkeyed dungeon levels that I was going to be using for my own version of Casttle Greyhawk, but I'd be happy to scan them in and share. Did you have something specific in mind?
I've got DungeonCrafter 1.4.1 and it fits my own inept level with graphics. Unfortunately, it doesn't do corridors that go any direction but the cardinal compass points. However, it outputs as a bitmap file, so you can manipulate it and add stuff in something as crude as MS Paint.
I personally like simple black and white maps and have been using Inkscape to do that. I wrote a tutorial for wilderness maps, but it would be easy to do something similar for a dungeon, if you had some sketches to start with.
I'm not sure whether Inkscape is too weird or generic for you. If you're ready to not rule it out completely, I could draw a dungeon level based on a sketch of yours and use that as an example for a little tutorial I'd write at the same time.
There are several folks conversant with computer programs, as well as pen, ink, and paper who are on DF and/or K&K: Stonegiant, Wheggi, PnP, Istarlömé, etc.
These folks are all in addition to pros like Darlene or Eric Shook or the guy who revised all of the early NG maps (RA, etc.; Ed Bourelle??).
I use a free little program called AutoREALM, you can find its homepage at http://www.autorealm.org/
It doesn't take to long to figure out and can make nice clean overland maps, as well as dungeon maps. I use it for all of the maps I make on my own blog.
Alan, I'd love to see scans of your dungeon. Actually, what I'd really like to see is some levels with keys from some of the big megadungeon folks like everaux and Trent...
I'm finding I need a bit more inspiration for my megadungeon.
@ Frank: thanks :D You can see scans of several of the maps from my Castle GH @ http://www.greyhawkonline.com/grodog/gh_castle_grodog.html
I haven't gotten around to posting keys, because truthfully a) most of the discussions around megadungeon design has focused on maps, and b) I'm sure many of the encounters would be rather more ho-hum than I'd prefer them to be these days.
I used legal/account ledgers for my level keys, so they were relatively compact, all-in-all, and would probably scan well. I'll have to do some digging, if you're really that's curious?
Also: if you're really just looking for inspiration, do check out the megadungeon threads on DF, Fin's board, and K&K, since they often feature maps, encounters, etc. in the discussions; http://www.knights-n-knaves.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=4020 has some good pointers to some discussions/resources, as well as pointers to another thread with more pointers :D
I've read through all the threads, lots of good stuff, though a bit overwhelming.
I'm curious to see some keys (especially of first few levels) just to get an idea of what other folks are doing for numbers of monsters, groupings, traps, etc.
What I was looking for is the means to render my own hand-drawn maps into something more esthetically pleasing. I can draw maps just fine, but I would prefer that anything I submit or publish look a little more "professional" than that.
If you looking for something random, Try Gozzy's. http://www.gozzys.com/section.php?cm_id=5
Gozzy's is great; I've used the site before. However, I want the means to create a map that I can then manipulate by adding numbers and comments and so forth. Unfortunately, I can't do that with Gozzy's.
I wrote a tutorial for wilderness maps, but it would be easy to do something similar for a dungeon, if you had some sketches to start with.
Wow, that's really impressive! I'll have to take a look at your tutorial more closely. I'm pretty inept artistically, so I'm not sure I'll benefit much from your tutorial, but I sure want to try, because I'd love to be able to create wilderness maps like that.
Another thing you could do is retrace a hand-drawn map that you scanned and imported into Inkscape. Here's a work in progress based on an old map of mine, saved as a PDF. I'm not sure you'd enjoy doing this kind of work using Inkscape. Obviously after a while you'd have a library of elements to use for stairs, beds, tables, chairs, shelves, etc.
Have you looked at Dundjinni?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.dundjinni.com/
I own a copy and find it quite beyond my meager skills.
ReplyDeleteI've got a number of unkeyed dungeon levels that I was going to be using for my own version of Casttle Greyhawk, but I'd be happy to scan them in and share. Did you have something specific in mind?
ReplyDeleteDungeoncrafter, I think it's called. I also think you need to download the old school tiles, but once that's done, it's easy to use.
ReplyDeleteIf you looking for something random, Try Gozzy's. http://www.gozzys.com/section.php?cm_id=5
ReplyDeleteI've used it to create a level, then populate as needed.
jp
I've got DungeonCrafter 1.4.1 and it fits my own inept level with graphics. Unfortunately, it doesn't do corridors that go any direction but the cardinal compass points. However, it outputs as a bitmap file, so you can manipulate it and add stuff in something as crude as MS Paint.
ReplyDeleteI personally like simple black and white maps and have been using Inkscape to do that. I wrote a tutorial for wilderness maps, but it would be easy to do something similar for a dungeon, if you had some sketches to start with.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure whether Inkscape is too weird or generic for you. If you're ready to not rule it out completely, I could draw a dungeon level based on a sketch of yours and use that as an example for a little tutorial I'd write at the same time.
There are several folks conversant with computer programs, as well as pen, ink, and paper who are on DF and/or K&K: Stonegiant, Wheggi, PnP, Istarlömé, etc.
ReplyDeleteThese folks are all in addition to pros like Darlene or Eric Shook or the guy who revised all of the early NG maps (RA, etc.; Ed Bourelle??).
Allan.
I use a free little program called AutoREALM, you can find its homepage at http://www.autorealm.org/
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't take to long to figure out and can make nice clean overland maps, as well as dungeon maps. I use it for all of the maps I make on my own blog.
I would second ripper X on Autorealm
ReplyDeleteAlan, I'd love to see scans of your dungeon. Actually, what I'd really like to see is some levels with keys from some of the big megadungeon folks like everaux and Trent...
ReplyDeleteI'm finding I need a bit more inspiration for my megadungeon.
Frank
@ Frank: thanks :D You can see scans of several of the maps from my Castle GH @ http://www.greyhawkonline.com/grodog/gh_castle_grodog.html
ReplyDeleteI haven't gotten around to posting keys, because truthfully a) most of the discussions around megadungeon design has focused on maps, and b) I'm sure many of the encounters would be rather more ho-hum than I'd prefer them to be these days.
I used legal/account ledgers for my level keys, so they were relatively compact, all-in-all, and would probably scan well. I'll have to do some digging, if you're really that's curious?
Also: if you're really just looking for inspiration, do check out the megadungeon threads on DF, Fin's board, and K&K, since they often feature maps, encounters, etc. in the discussions; http://www.knights-n-knaves.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=4020 has some good pointers to some discussions/resources, as well as pointers to another thread with more pointers :D
Allan.
I've read through all the threads, lots of good stuff, though a bit overwhelming.
ReplyDeleteI'm curious to see some keys (especially of first few levels) just to get an idea of what other folks are doing for numbers of monsters, groupings, traps, etc.
Frank
Did you have something specific in mind?
ReplyDeleteWhat I was looking for is the means to render my own hand-drawn maps into something more esthetically pleasing. I can draw maps just fine, but I would prefer that anything I submit or publish look a little more "professional" than that.
If you looking for something random, Try Gozzy's. http://www.gozzys.com/section.php?cm_id=5
ReplyDeleteGozzy's is great; I've used the site before. However, I want the means to create a map that I can then manipulate by adding numbers and comments and so forth. Unfortunately, I can't do that with Gozzy's.
I wrote a tutorial for wilderness maps, but it would be easy to do something similar for a dungeon, if you had some sketches to start with.
ReplyDeleteWow, that's really impressive! I'll have to take a look at your tutorial more closely. I'm pretty inept artistically, so I'm not sure I'll benefit much from your tutorial, but I sure want to try, because I'd love to be able to create wilderness maps like that.
Thanks for the kind words. Feel free to post questions on my site or on the Cartographers' Guild.
ReplyDeleteAnother thing you could do is retrace a hand-drawn map that you scanned and imported into Inkscape. Here's a work in progress based on an old map of mine, saved as a PDF. I'm not sure you'd enjoy doing this kind of work using Inkscape. Obviously after a while you'd have a library of elements to use for stairs, beds, tables, chairs, shelves, etc.
Forget software. It is all about drawing dungeon maps by hand.
ReplyDelete