So I'm currently running Dragon Heist, and it comes with two lovely maps of Waterdeep: an empty one for the players, and a fully annotated one for the DMs. I'm trying to find a way to create something in-between: I'm looking to gradually, as the game progresses, add the landmarks from the DM version to the player version. Does anyone have advice on the best way to do this outside of photoshop / MS Paint?
Some VTT software and similar things online will let you do map layers and you could reveal a layer at a time. Both Astral and World Anvil have this capability. Astral is currently free for the pro version until 5/31 due to coronavirus. WA will let you do some basic things including a few map layers for free to try it.
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WOTC lies. We know that WOTC lies. WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. We know that WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. And still they lie.
Because of the above (a paraphrase from Orwell) I no longer post to the forums -- PM me if you need help or anything.
As others have said different VTTs (virtual table tops) can handle this.
I use roll 20 (not an advert), and you can take the image and upload that as a background, then set fog of war and slowly reveal.
If you are doing this in person, then you can predraw a map on a battlemap and cover it with paper, or predraw sections on transparency paper and add them down as the characters explore.
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"An' things ha' come to a pretty pass, ye ken, if people are going to leave stuff like that aroound where innocent people could accidentally smash the door doon and lever the bars aside and take the big chain off'f the cupboard and pick the lock and drink it!"
If playing in person with printed maps i cut construction paper to fit over sections. Shape and size depended on players area of visibility. Though something digital would be easier. Even playing in person a 30 inch or larger LED TV makes for a great digital map.
For online-maps I use Photoshop and simply add text labels. If the maps are identical (but for the DM-info), you could simply copy paste from the maps. If you don't have PS I think Gimp is still around and is free, but I haven't used that for some years.
Lots of great advice here. Wanted to clarify something: This isn't really a fog-of-war sort of situation, where as they explore more, they see more of the map. They have a full map of waterdeep with a few landmarks, and I need to add landmarks as the campaign plays out (don't want them seeing things like how "evil guy hideout" is 3 blocks from their house). Thanks for the advice everyone!
Lots of great advice here. Wanted to clarify something: This isn't really a fog-of-war sort of situation, where as they explore more, they see more of the map. They have a full map of waterdeep with a few landmarks, and I need to add landmarks as the campaign plays out (don't want them seeing things like how "evil guy hideout" is 3 blocks from their house). Thanks for the advice everyone!
Physical maps I'd just create labels to add to the map once they have become aware of exactly what it is. In a digital platform such as roll20 you can setup the label or info and use the ability to show said thing to the players once they know the info. In roll20 that would be accomplished by making a blank map/background token to overlay on the building in the map. In the token's settings put buildings label in the nameplate box. Checking show nameplate will show you the label. Then under advanced settings player permissions check see next to name when they know the info and will see the text on their screen as well. To make the blank token you'd need to upload a small completely transparent PNG file. Perhaps making the image size 70x70 pixels to match a single grid square. That would give the flexibility of labeling just about anything from doors to places on a wall etc simply by placing the blank token where the label needs to be and then making the nameplate of that token visible to players once they know the info.
I run almost all of my adventures in Waterdeep, and this is what I've found:
The DM side has SO many landmarks on it, only a small portion of which are mentioned in the Dragon Heist adventure, that I find letting my players see the whole DM map from the get-go is a non-issue. How will they know whether the Queenspire, Gralhund Villa, St. Laurenn's Hospice, the Hawk Man, or the Field of Triumph matter? Putting all those landmarks on there was a good idea on the side of the designers - it makes it so I can safely show the whole map to my players and not have to worry about whether they'll catch on to the importance of key locations. There's too much content there and Dragon Heist is too short to do that accurately.
So basically. I'd say you're safe to just show them the whole DM's map from the get go. They probably won't guess key locations accurately.
Lots of great advice here. Wanted to clarify something: This isn't really a fog-of-war sort of situation, where as they explore more, they see more of the map. They have a full map of waterdeep with a few landmarks, and I need to add landmarks as the campaign plays out (don't want them seeing things like how "evil guy hideout" is 3 blocks from their house). Thanks for the advice everyone!
Ah, yes, I know exactly what you're talking about. :) Thankfully, Dragon Heist is set up so that specific location isn't mentioned in the Chapters 1-3 at all, unless you've captured Urstul or someone and thoroughly interrogated them, until you happen to stumble across it while searching for that thingy using the umbrella thingy (no spoilers!). So being able to see the name and location of that specific place on the map early probably doesn't matter - they wouldn't have any reason to suspect that location is the place they're looking for.
As for the hideouts of the 4 Big Bad Evil Guys (BBEGs), two of them are on the map. One of them is obvious and not a secret - you could probably ask anyone in that ward to direct you to the summer BBEG's house, as they are a very prominent public figure. And the other one, the name has no relation to the BBEG whatsoever, so again, there wouldn't be any reason the characters would be looking for the winter BBEG at that location, unless they captured Urstul or someone and interrogated them very, very thoroughly.
Blah blah blah I recommend you make it easy on yourself and just show them the whole map. That's what I do and it works out great.
Lots of great advice here. Wanted to clarify something: This isn't really a fog-of-war sort of situation, where as they explore more, they see more of the map. They have a full map of waterdeep with a few landmarks, and I need to add landmarks as the campaign plays out (don't want them seeing things like how "evil guy hideout" is 3 blocks from their house). Thanks for the advice everyone!
Ah, yes, I know exactly what you're talking about. :) Thankfully, Dragon Heist is set up so that specific location isn't mentioned in the Chapters 1-3 at all, unless you've captured Urstul or someone and thoroughly interrogated them, until you happen to stumble across it while searching for that thingy using the umbrella thingy (no spoilers!). So being able to see the name and location of that specific place on the map early probably doesn't matter - they wouldn't have any reason to suspect that location is the place they're looking for.
As for the hideouts of the 4 Big Bad Evil Guys (BBEGs), two of them are on the map. One of them is obvious and not a secret - you could probably ask anyone in that ward to direct you to the summer BBEG's house, as they are a very prominent public figure. And the other one, the name has no relation to the BBEG whatsoever, so again, there wouldn't be any reason the characters would be looking for the winter BBEG at that location, unless they captured Urstul or someone and interrogated them very, very thoroughly.
Blah blah blah I recommend you make it easy on yourself and just show them the whole map. That's what I do and it works out great.
This is actually a really good point. We're already into chapter 3, and the only thing that could possibly be given away is the fact that somewhere named Gralhund Villa is near Trollskull Alley. I think I'll take your advice and show them the whole map.
I've been using GIMP, and it has worked well. I am currently running the Citadel campaign using it. I have my my macbook connected to an external monitor. I do all my DM stuff on my laptop screen and use the monitor for PC views. I have two versions of each map, one DM view and one PC view. GIMP can fairly easily use a "fog of war" feature by adding a black layer over the map, then using the eraser to reveal. The players seem to like it.
I've been DMing Dragon Heist too. I'm an artist by profession and have access to Photoshop, but something free like GIMP or something could also work.
I put the Players map on a bottom layer in Photoshop and the DM map on a layer above it, but hidden. I also added a bunch of landmark buildings using online resources to help me.
As the players have been traversing around the city, I'll reveal the landmark/DM map layer using a Mask by brushing along the street, revealing businesses and such as they go.
This is a shot of the current map.
This is the photoshop layer mask that reveals the landmarks that I paint on invisibly to show through on top of the player map (a little messy).
I use this same method for combat maps and such too, with little circles representing players and creatures. It's been working well so far.
Hi All,
So I'm currently running Dragon Heist, and it comes with two lovely maps of Waterdeep: an empty one for the players, and a fully annotated one for the DMs. I'm trying to find a way to create something in-between: I'm looking to gradually, as the game progresses, add the landmarks from the DM version to the player version. Does anyone have advice on the best way to do this outside of photoshop / MS Paint?
Thanks!
Some VTT software and similar things online will let you do map layers and you could reveal a layer at a time. Both Astral and World Anvil have this capability. Astral is currently free for the pro version until 5/31 due to coronavirus. WA will let you do some basic things including a few map layers for free to try it.
WOTC lies. We know that WOTC lies. WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. We know that WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. And still they lie.
Because of the above (a paraphrase from Orwell) I no longer post to the forums -- PM me if you need help or anything.
What tool are you using to do this?
Crop sections of the map using pic software. Combine as needed. Playing online? Easy to replace. Playing IRL? Print out new maps every weak.
As others have said different VTTs (virtual table tops) can handle this.
I use roll 20 (not an advert), and you can take the image and upload that as a background, then set fog of war and slowly reveal.
If you are doing this in person, then you can predraw a map on a battlemap and cover it with paper, or predraw sections on transparency paper and add them down as the characters explore.
"An' things ha' come to a pretty pass, ye ken, if people are going to leave stuff like that aroound where innocent people could accidentally smash the door doon and lever the bars aside and take the big chain off'f the cupboard and pick the lock and drink it!"
If playing in person with printed maps i cut construction paper to fit over sections. Shape and size depended on players area of visibility. Though something digital would be easier. Even playing in person a 30 inch or larger LED TV makes for a great digital map.
If it's in person you could also do the old school thing and have them map it themselves on hex paper.
WOTC lies. We know that WOTC lies. WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. We know that WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. And still they lie.
Because of the above (a paraphrase from Orwell) I no longer post to the forums -- PM me if you need help or anything.
For online-maps I use Photoshop and simply add text labels. If the maps are identical (but for the DM-info), you could simply copy paste from the maps. If you don't have PS I think Gimp is still around and is free, but I haven't used that for some years.
Ludo ergo sum!
Lots of great advice here. Wanted to clarify something: This isn't really a fog-of-war sort of situation, where as they explore more, they see more of the map. They have a full map of waterdeep with a few landmarks, and I need to add landmarks as the campaign plays out (don't want them seeing things like how "evil guy hideout" is 3 blocks from their house). Thanks for the advice everyone!
Are we talking physical maps or online?
Ludo ergo sum!
Physical maps I'd just create labels to add to the map once they have become aware of exactly what it is. In a digital platform such as roll20 you can setup the label or info and use the ability to show said thing to the players once they know the info. In roll20 that would be accomplished by making a blank map/background token to overlay on the building in the map. In the token's settings put buildings label in the nameplate box. Checking show nameplate will show you the label. Then under advanced settings player permissions check see next to name when they know the info and will see the text on their screen as well. To make the blank token you'd need to upload a small completely transparent PNG file. Perhaps making the image size 70x70 pixels to match a single grid square. That would give the flexibility of labeling just about anything from doors to places on a wall etc simply by placing the blank token where the label needs to be and then making the nameplate of that token visible to players once they know the info.
I run almost all of my adventures in Waterdeep, and this is what I've found:
The DM side has SO many landmarks on it, only a small portion of which are mentioned in the Dragon Heist adventure, that I find letting my players see the whole DM map from the get-go is a non-issue. How will they know whether the Queenspire, Gralhund Villa, St. Laurenn's Hospice, the Hawk Man, or the Field of Triumph matter? Putting all those landmarks on there was a good idea on the side of the designers - it makes it so I can safely show the whole map to my players and not have to worry about whether they'll catch on to the importance of key locations. There's too much content there and Dragon Heist is too short to do that accurately.
So basically. I'd say you're safe to just show them the whole DM's map from the get go. They probably won't guess key locations accurately.
Ah, yes, I know exactly what you're talking about. :) Thankfully, Dragon Heist is set up so that specific location isn't mentioned in the Chapters 1-3 at all, unless you've captured Urstul or someone and thoroughly interrogated them, until you happen to stumble across it while searching for that thingy using the umbrella thingy (no spoilers!). So being able to see the name and location of that specific place on the map early probably doesn't matter - they wouldn't have any reason to suspect that location is the place they're looking for.
As for the hideouts of the 4 Big Bad Evil Guys (BBEGs), two of them are on the map. One of them is obvious and not a secret - you could probably ask anyone in that ward to direct you to the summer BBEG's house, as they are a very prominent public figure. And the other one, the name has no relation to the BBEG whatsoever, so again, there wouldn't be any reason the characters would be looking for the winter BBEG at that location, unless they captured Urstul or someone and interrogated them very, very thoroughly.
Blah blah blah I recommend you make it easy on yourself and just show them the whole map. That's what I do and it works out great.
This is actually a really good point. We're already into chapter 3, and the only thing that could possibly be given away is the fact that somewhere named Gralhund Villa is near Trollskull Alley. I think I'll take your advice and show them the whole map.
I've been using GIMP, and it has worked well. I am currently running the Citadel campaign using it. I have my my macbook connected to an external monitor. I do all my DM stuff on my laptop screen and use the monitor for PC views. I have two versions of each map, one DM view and one PC view. GIMP can fairly easily use a "fog of war" feature by adding a black layer over the map, then using the eraser to reveal. The players seem to like it.
When I play as a player, I really love mapping by hand. Something about it feels .. authentic? Like it makes it less of a video game experience
I've been DMing Dragon Heist too. I'm an artist by profession and have access to Photoshop, but something free like GIMP or something could also work.
I put the Players map on a bottom layer in Photoshop and the DM map on a layer above it, but hidden. I also added a bunch of landmark buildings using online resources to help me.
As the players have been traversing around the city, I'll reveal the landmark/DM map layer using a Mask by brushing along the street, revealing businesses and such as they go.
This is a shot of the current map.
This is the photoshop layer mask that reveals the landmarks that I paint on invisibly to show through on top of the player map (a little messy).
I use this same method for combat maps and such too, with little circles representing players and creatures. It's been working well so far.
Example: