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Garden Shrine Village Ruin map
Busy week, I only just finished this map. This is the first rest stop for the adventurers after having left Tsue-jo on their return trip, of course their curse is starting to affect them now. This will be the site of a 3 part haunting and a place for some treasure. The merchant and his rescued daughter will be sleeping in the Old Mill, one of the few standing structures in this village. The adventurers will most likely stay in the Garden Shrine to the west side of the village, just south of the Animal Guardian Cemetary.
Hand-draw, digitally scanned, imported to Xara, then bevels, colors, shadow and labels applied...
Link to larger version: Garden Shrine
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Re: Garden Shrine Village Ruin map
You know GP, while I don't play vid games (too many other irons in the fire) and don't do anything resembling your work, this thread has been a fascination to read through from time to time to see your work. thank you for making these posts.
Take care, Mike
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Re: Garden Shrine Village Ruin map
I don't play video games either. My publication, maps and illustrations are for D&D type games. Five people sitting at a kitchen table with books, character sheets, and dice to handle the probabilities of success or failure in any endeavor, one guy being the referee or game master, the rest are players - part of the storyline. Its a story telling game. While there are ways to play D&D online, the emphasis really is to play live games in front of live people - no electronics necessary at all. Incidentally, I use D&D in this explanation as it is the oldest and most well known brand of that game. However I am designing for Pathfinder, kind of an offshoot to D&D, but very much the same thing.
The publishers of Pathfinder are condusive to third party publishers, whereas D&D is not.
I know in this day in age, video games or MMO's are the first thought in RPG games, but really those aren't RPG games at all. Only live play games with pencil and dice are roleplaying games - I've been playing such games for 30 years. And its for that kind of game that my maps, illustrations and concepts are being designed for.
GP
PS: I enjoy sharing my work, and glad you find it inspiring - I really enjoy doing it.
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Village of Kitsumura
This is actually an older map, but intended for the adventure I currently making maps for it. I thought I'd post it to fit the storyline being discussed in this thread - to make more sense. Not the previous map, but the Cave Shrine Map before it, is just upstream from the Village of Kitsumura. The following map is Kitsumura. You'll note I stole some of the buildings, trees and rice fields from my Iwaizumi village map on page 2 of this thread. In this map, I wanted to experiment with the cascading stream effect.
Just so you have all the maps in my Dim Spirit adventure for Kaidan. Here we go.
Link to larger map: Village of Kitsumura
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One Page Dungeon Contest 2011 entry
This will be third year I participated in the One Page Dungeon Contest, last year, I almost won, except one of the criteria for entries required a detailed legend-key that indicated monsters and treasures present in the room. I didn't list the monsters on the legend and it bumped me out of contention - I won't make that mistake this year.
The contest is sponsored by various RPG bloggers in the US and Europe with many prizes and actually many categories for a 'dungeon' (but it doesn't have to be a dungeon) the entire map must fit on a single A4 or letter size as a PDF.
I'm no where beyond just started on this map, but I thought I'd post as I make various object for it, so you can see it in the WIP (work-in-progress) stages.
All I've created is the primary piece the entire map is built around and that is a grand pipe organ, the instrument of Bardic Lich (arcane undead being) called the Maestro of Cacophony. I will post more to the thread as other objects get created. Note I am very busy with my publication and commissions, so I may not get done with this quickly...
I used Nendo to model the pipes in 3D rendered in Raydream, traced outlines but used the 3D rendered image for the color behind the linework, and applied to my hand-drawn and beveled shape composite of the organ created in Xara Xtreme Pro 4.
The pipe organ map object below:
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Accompanying the Bardic Lich and his Grand Pipe Organ is the Dead Orchestra, here's some more map objects for this darkly humorous map design...
Instead of JPG files, these are all PNG files with Alpha Channels (transparency):
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I guess I'm sort of doing this as a working tutorial. One more map object drawing of a weird dead musician, then the floorplan (so far) with just wall line art. I have yet to conceive the floor itself, though probably hand-drawn stone tiles with patterns in the orchestra hall chamber. Once I finish and place the floor, then I'll start to populate it with the various map objects. I still need to create several more dead musicians, some dead audience and lots of furniture - so lots to do still.
Oh, the empty space below the hallway (center bottom) will be stairs down - haven't done that yet. The empty space in the bottom right corner is where the legend-key is going, one of the criteria for the contest.
Added below: the dead percussionist, and the floorplan walls and elevated floorplan.
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Endless Terrain Battlemaps
I have a map product that I 'invented' 4 years ago that is still the most popular product I sell, called Endless Terrain Battlemaps that are completely created in Xara Xtreme Pro 4 using photo textures of terrain and photorealistic map objects. It consists of 4 double side printed 11 x 17 inch maps tiles at 1 inch = 5 foot square grid or hex grid. The map tiles have heavy lamination.
Recently I started up a new website called Free RPG Maps, where I offer 2 free map downloads each month using the current month's available Endless Terrain Battlemap set. I intend to create a different set with varying terrains on a month to month basis. The product is sold as a monthly subscription for either a printed map tiles set or a digital only JPG bundle of 8 maps for use in Virtual Terrain applications (an online tool to play RPGs sharing maps and other content with online players.)
The 2 free maps will be available at each half of the month and are posted on my new Free RPG Maps Community Forum as free download links. So I get to play forum admin now.
Anyway design wise, Endless Terrain Battlemaps feature geomorphic edges on all four sides of each map face. The idea is each map tile has a unique terrain layout, however because the edge graphics lineup perfectly with another tile (half trees on both tiles) layout four tiles in a rectangle, you have literally hundreds of combinations using 180 degree turnings of the map, flip them over, and rearrange their layout. Its what makes them endless, and having ongoing value to gamers without working with one paid-for map of a forest. Once you use it in game for a second time, those maps lose their 'new car smell' - with mine having endless layouts they provide more bang for the buck.
Anyway, I thought I'd post a thumb of my first free map offering, so you can see the style of the map (not my hand-drawn style.)
Just one of my many ongoing projects.
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Just added 10 free map objects as bonus downloads from the website, with plans of doing 10 at least each month.
Here's a thumb of all 10 objects...
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It seem the campfire object is the most popular, so I thought I'd post it directly here:
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I just found out this monring, In the Company of Kappa, my first product release under Rite Publishing for my Kaidan setting, has been listed as #3 on RPG Countdown Top 10 List of RPG products sold between 2/27 and 3/12 2011.
The cover design for that product is a couple pages back in this thread. I hope I have as much luck with the rest of my Kaidan products, but at least this one is getting some good exposure and sales! Yippee!
Plus I get a free full page ad, for my Mapping Products in two industry magazines next month.
Michael
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Congratulatons, Michael. :)
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Re: Garden Shrine Village Ruin map
Well done!!...Hope your wishes come true..
Jim
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The Emperor's Playground: map entry for the One Page Dungeon Contest 2011
I know, I know, I've been working on a Bardic Lich's hall with a dead orchestra. As a first time, I'm not going to complete that map. After having to get to work on some other projects, when I got back to that map, I lost all my inspiration. Having slept on it, I decided to make a dungeon inspired by my Kaidan game setting. I really do prefer the Japanese stuff for the time being.
The Emperor's Playground - the Emperor of Kaidan is a boy emperor named Antoku. He happens to be a Goryo: a yurei ghost of a noble, trapped in the mind and body of a five year old child. On his 500th birthday, his grandfather, the Shogun of Kaidan commissioned the construction of a dungeon beneath the imperial palace, as a playground for the undead boy emperor featuring all the things Antoku loves to do and visit.
Guests are invited to an audience with the august Emperor, but when they arrive, they are asked to spend the night in the Imperial Guest House, as the emperor had other duties to attend. Once all the guests are asleep, they are instantly teleported to a duplicate guest house located at the start of the dungeon complex.
The guests must negotiate this dangerous dungeon facing all sorts of Kaidan horrors. If they survive the ordeal they are granted their audience with the emperor who showers them with gifts. Of course they have to survive in order to receive them.
Attached is a thumbnail at the site's limit of 800 pixels wide, however, because this map was created at 18" x 24", the clarity is a bit off at this reduced size, so I've attached a link to the full map.
Note this map is not complete, as I am placing inset illustrations of the various encounters in each chamber as description notation to start each entry. I still need to create 7 more illustrations, but should finish in a day or two. This map seen here was all created just today. I will post the final when it is complete.
Enjoy!
Michael
Link to larger version of the work-in-progress map contest entry:
The Emperor's Playground
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Re: The Emperor's Playground: map entry for the One Page Dungeon Contest 2011
Completed!
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Link to the entry PDF (letter size, 300 ppi PDF):
Emperor's Playground map PDF
Michael
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Ancestral Relics - concept cover design
For the next supplement for Kaidan, I am developing a book of 30 magic items called Ancestral Relics. My co-publisher, Steve Russell tries to keep the design costs down by minimizing the need for freelance work. He'd prefer a collection of stock art detailing Japanese objects. I'm afraid that many of the item ideas I have just won't have a good representation from stock art.
Here is my concept cover design and illustration for such a book...
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Here's 8 objects needed for my Ancestral Relics book...
Folding fan, flute, saddle, katana, kusarigama (kama chain weapon), noh theater mask, a biwa mandolin and the piece from the cover, a kabuto war helmet.
Michael
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Re: Ancestral Relics - concept cover design
Once again excellent illustrations, but they look like pencil drawings coloured afterwards in Xara, right?
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Re: Ancestral Relics - concept cover design
Pen, not pencil, but yes, scanned and colored in Xara, nothing more. I used photos for reference, except for the biwa mandolin, I created in 3D set the angle and used a reference for hand-drawing.
I will have another map to post soon, and perhaps more illustrations to follow.
Not that I ever plan to get into stock illustrations, I can easily see creating 12 more illustrations and selling this as a Japanese object stock art set for $20 if I really wanted to. I might give it some thought after I've decided which one's I'm using, create replacements and give that market a try.
Michael
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Re: Mapping a town, one structure at a time...
As if I don't already have too many irons in the fire, I've begun another project, but this one just me as designer, illustrator, cartographer, layout artist and publisher. I've decided to begin a series of hand-drawn maps fitting structures of a typical European based town of the late medieval or early renaissance period. My first set of maps are tavern/inns of Chelbonay. (Chelbonay is the ficticious town I am creating.)
My first map set will feature four tavern/inn structures (all hand-drawn, scanned and finished Xara Xtreme) with an accompanying set of map objects: tables, ovens, human patrons, food, fires for fireplaces, etc. Since the four mapped taverns differ only in scale and quality (tavern quality, not drawing quality) they all can share the same map objects.
My plan is to create a tavern/inn map set, temple/church map set, barracks/gatehouse/jail house map set, library/mage's shop/wizard's laboratory set, a thieves guild set, market squares, mayors small keep, craft houses set, etc. While I do not plan to build interior maps of every building in this ficticious community, I do plan to design all the more significant, or more often used in games structures - perhaps 25 buildings in all. Finally I will create a fully encompassing town map that shows where all these structures exist within the town map.
Although I've already created a second floor to the inn (not posted), I also need to design the attached stables and cart barn, after which I will create all necessary map objects, followed by the three lesser tavern/inns of the set.
Each map set, as in Tavern/Inns of Chelbonay will be featured as its own stand-alone product, however it will be part of a series of map pack sets all describing this fictional site of Chelbonay.
So the first map below is the Blue Ox Inn...
Link to full scale image: Blue Ox Inn
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Re: Mapping a town, one structure at a time...
OK, I finished the base map for the Blue Ox Inn. Stables are to the left side, the innkeeper's home is in the far top right corner, with an outhouse and a storage shed in between. Tomorrow night I begin to work on the various map objects to fill the place.
Blue Ox Inn final (full scale) version
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SeaRiver: a contest entry...
This month's challenge at the Cartographers' Guild is to create an Aquatic Civilization map, so rather than create a whole city, I opted to create an encounter scale (1" = 5' scale) location called the SeaRiver. Essentially a fast moving ocean current, in this case caused by a cascading river from the shore pushing its water into the sea. The SeaRiver village is located along the continental shelf roughly in 80 feet of water, located in a temperate zone - so lack of coral, but heavy presence of various kelp and seaweeds. The village only includes two small hovels, a kind of stable building and a sea cave, as it is more a work camp than a true village operated as an outpost for some submarine lifeform.
Nets are stretched across the current's trajectory in an attempt to catch various kinds of detritus caught in the flow - such as metal implements attached to wooden handles, serving as kind of a 'mine' of surface products fallen into the river at the surface.
I hadn't determined whose village this is, but obviously some kind of water breathing humanoid, as available weapons include spears, tridents and a net.
This map is in my purely digital style, which I can create quickly and photorealistic results. I created this map in under 24 hours. This is a purely Xara creation - no scanned linework. I do incorporate some sliced photos and a few 3D objects, including the nets.
Link to larger version: Sea River Village
GP
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Re: Illustration for my Dim Spirit adventure
So I am doing the page layout for the second adventure of my 3 part mini-arc for my Kaidan setting, called The Curse of the Golden Spear, Part 2: Dim Spirit. And I'm finding myself in the lack of needed illustrations for it, and the budget is at $0 at the moment. So I've turned to my own illustration skills once again.
'Dim Spirit' is the direct English transliteration of the Japanese word: 'Yurei' which basically means ghost.
I see about a dozen illustrations I might need to create, but 3 are definite for sure.
This illustration is for the opening scene: Lord Hachiwara is torturing Honya Tyro, the daughter of the merchant, that has hired the adventurers to escort a gift, in actuality a ransom for the rescue of his daughter. Lord Hachiwara is about to kill the poor girl and turn her into an Honna-yurei or skeleton spirit ghost, as an added lesson for the scheming father of hers. He says, "What I am about to do to you will be very painful, but do not fear, for what comes after is far, far worse..."
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Hi there. Just wanted to say I'm enjoying seeing your maps. It's something I would actually probably do some time. Great looking maps!
Thanks for posting.
Paul
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Thanks, Cholkan - and welcome to TalkGraphics!
Here's an older Tavern map that will part of the set with the Blue Ox Inn... (this is really only a thumbnail)
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Not trying to promote my products here, just excited that publication release is soon.
My three adventures for my Kaidan setting: The Gift: Curse of the Golden Spear, Part 1; Dim Spirit: Curse of the Golden Spear, Part 2; and Dark Path: Curse of the Golden Spear, Part 3 is being released as a print/PDF bundle through Cubicle Seven Publishing. The Gift will be release on June 9th, Dim Spirit on July 9th, and Dark Path on August 9th.
Its also exciting to see that these pre-orders are available at the Paizo Store, Cubicle Seven shop, Amazon.com (US/UK/AU/De/Fr/etc.), Barnes and Nobles, or can be ordered through your favorite book store or local game store, as the products have an ISBN and is in the Alliance Distribution database.
I was originally expecting these releases as PDF downloads only - to see them available in print through normal channels is way beyond expectations!
Michael
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Re: Fantasy maps created using Xara Xtreme
Here's a map for a Convention Game (1 of 2) for Kaidan, being run by the lead designer at Origins 2011 (Origins is a gaming convention held in Cleveland, OH.)
The adventure is called The Frozen Wind, featuring a remote mountain monastery during a snowstorm. The adventures are caught in the might of a snow storm and forced to seek shelter at a Yamabushi stronghold.
Once settled into their beds (area 1a), sometime during the night Ice Oni and their mistress a Yuki-onna invade the monastery and kill all the resident monks. The adventurers awaken to a cold dead monastery and all other inhabitants are dead.
Because of the size of the complex and details needed, I hand-drew this at 33" x 43", scanned then imported to Xara. Beveled shapes with dropshadows placed underneath the scanned linework - my usual process.
Enjoy!
Link to larger version: (8.4" x 10.8" 300 ppi) Frozen Wind Monastery
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Quote:
Originally Posted by
Gamerprinter
...I hand-drew this at 33" x 43", scanned then imported to Xara....
Hi Michael,
It looks great! Curious; what type of scanner are you using to scan something of this size?
Regards,
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Re: Fantasy maps created using Xara Xtreme
Traditionally I've been scanning my linework onto an 11" x 17" flatbed scanner in multiple pieces then composite the whole in Xara, however for a 33" x 43" that's too many scans. I run a graphic design studio/digital print shop and I have a large format B/W scanner/printer in the shop capable of 36" wide scans by up to 10' long (Kip 2053). I've avoided using it as it scans as B/W and not grayscale. But since the linework is black ink on white paper, I decided to give it a try. I was fairly satisfied in the results so may use the large format scanner for future map scan work.
Michael
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Re: Fantasy maps created using Xara Xtreme
Thanks Michael, it seems to work well.
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I should have a couple more maps to post next week, but just wanted to post some good news.
Those reading this thread should know about my Kaidan game adventure and setting that much of these maps are dedicated to. Well, the digital version (PDF download) was released June 1st, with the printed version to be released on the 9th.
The first two reviews have come in for it and both are 5 out of 5 stars! Yippee!
Game Knight Reviews
Megan Robertson
Its great when the industry leading reviewers have good things to say about your first product! I'm happy.
Michael
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Really pleased to see that your excellent skills and endeavours are getting the positive reception they deserve. Excellent.
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Many congratulations! Well deserved! :-bd
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Thanks guys! As promised here's a map to post. This is the Village of Kinogasa with shrine and temple/monastery for my Kaidan setting. This map is the primary map for another convention game being run by Jonathan McAnulty at Origins gaming convention in Cleveland, OH.
This adventure is for a low level party of adventurers doing a rather 'Scooby Doo' kind of mission. They have been sent by officials of the empire to investigate a haunted bronze bell at the Shrine of Kinogasa, and possibly cleanse it of its spiritual manifestations. Although a ghost indeed haunts the bell, it is not responsible for the current troubles. An onmyoji wizard formerly a member of the imperial staff fell out of favor in court and was delegated to a rural position serving a sohei monastery. In an attempt to redeem himself, the wizard 'cursed the bell' by having a shikigami (least oni) familiar haunt it and cause various problems. The plan was to discover the curse and cleanse it himself, thus making himself look good, and possibly returned from this rural backwater. Unfortunately the ghost within the bell prevented the wizard from finishing his shinnanegins.
So the adventurers may find the partial curse initiated and may be helped by the actual ghost to identify the true perpetrator. Sounds like a typical Scooby Doo episode.
Anyway, the map of Kinogasa Village...
Michael
Link to larger file Kinogasa Village/Shrine/Temple
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Next map is a cave that is part of the previous map (note: top center).
This cave is used to toss bodies of dishonorable persons: criminals, etc. It also causes the formation of ghosts unfortunately.
Link to larger file: Kinogasa Cave
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So I've finished the layout for the third adventure, and am starting work on some of the smaller supplements like Player Character Monster Race books - so players can play other than human types in the game. For Kaidan this means 'Kappa' (which I've already done the book and posted some of that here), Hengeyokai, and Tengu (currently working on the Tengu book).
The first maps are lower levels of a Japanese Castle that will be visited by the players.
Anyway one of the more unusual maps for Dark Path, below is the top deck and side view of the brigatine sailing ship, the Scarlet Harlot.
Finally an illustration of a non-standard tengu featured in the book for barbarian types characters this is a Kite Tengu (as in the predatory bird 'kite').
Michael
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OK, the next Tengu illustration - I have to create 6 - 8 such illustrations to fill the book.
This is (of all crazy things) a tengu spear chucker riding a giant dire boar. The more barbarous members of the race do this, apparently...
Enjoy!
Michael
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Working on the next Kaidan supplement: Way of the Yakuza.
Michael
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