Dude, you are a one-stop shop for helping DMs. I'm just over a year into this hobby as a Dungeon Master, and your videos have really helped. Thank you!
I too am a map hoarder, but have found that by naming each map as what it includes helps for a quick search for a specific type of encounter map, i.e map-forest-stream, map-forest-road. Great videos! Keep 'em commin!
I keep mine in separate, nesting folders for each country/city/district/area/biome type and then name them super specific things like "garden behind Agatha's house encounter," and I separate random encounter maps from dungeon maps in their own respective folders. Makes it super easy to keep track of which maps I've already used for very specific things, or different maps that are consistent with the layouts that I've already specified to my players. for example, if my players have already visited Agatha's house but I plan to possibly have them fight something near her house at night in a future session, I know that all maps labeled as "Agatha's house" are consistent with the layout that they've already seen. I tend to give my players maps for every area they're in, not just encounters and dungeons, so I have tons of previously used maps to keep track of. Not trying to teach my grandmother to suck eggs here! I just thought I'd add on to your comment so anyone reading could get additional tips from my comment, too
All of your content is super helpful and I’ve not seen very many unbiased videos out, you manage to be straightforward and massively influential in my quick decision making on what online tools to use. Thank you!!!
I absolutely love Dynamic Dungeons. Amazing for if you use a television at your table but he's been moving more and more towards gearing them to web based gaming options as well. The maps are great and his dungeon software is perfection.
Bah, I do not like this. It is not my mug of ale. Might as well play a video game. Not what I am looking for, but thanks for posting. I am sure that a lot of "Youngins" will like.
@@manfredconnor3194Why the need to throw out "a lot of 'Youngins' will like"? Just like throwing shade for no fucking reason? You don't know what people will and won't like. Say your piece and be done but don't you dare attempt to assume what others will like.
Thanks for putting something like this out! I only recently started working with Roll20 and making maps is easily one of the most exhaustive steps of my planning every other week.
I've started to run mines of Phandelver for a party of friends that never played a tabletop rpg (we usually play 40k). And I bought both dungeondraft and wonderdraft. And I must say I'm very pleased with dungeondraft as you can create every single encounter map for this specific campaign (surely the option to recreate most) and I use 2mintt (mentioned here) for more assets and tokens, which I use for the party characters and most npcs. The only thing is that I create bigger encounter maps as my friends tend to focus in fighting. I just need to find a place where I can share them for free.
Two things: I don't play RPG's or D&D...but I'm obsessed with maps and still totally fascinated by fantasy map generators. I'm not sure how I feel about that haha. Secondly: Color palette posters like you have hanging in your background is a fab idea. I'm tots stealing that and would like to thank you.
Tom Cartos has fantastic maps and assets for your own map making. I now have hundreds and hundreds of assets and tons of very high quality maps. Love talking about where to go for great maps. Always looking for more.
I’m a new DM/GM and running homebrew campaigns for friends and family. Seems like no matter what I search for, it leads me to your channel. Great content! Thanks for the advice.
Don't be afraid to ask some of your players to help draw maps. I play Adventurers League games with a few DMs and I offer up making maps for them with Dungeondraft. Many times the maps in the AL modules are very rough outlines of what the maps should look like so I take those and re-create them with Dungeondraft (the overlay/trace tool helps with that).
Want to shoutout some up-and-coming map creators. I highly recommend Cosmic Stew RPG and Map Masters for vibrant, high-quality encounter maps! There are so many talented map creators out there who deserve more recognition!
Tabletop Simulator is where its at. I like my dragons 3D, large, flying with wing beats and muscle flex, breathing green gas on the table. Throw in some fog, lightning strikes that hit the table & ambient music. Beauty.
I have recently been using Dungeon Scrawl to build out maps. You can get far more detailed maps in it if you import a ton of assets and use the assets to build it out. They look great and import incredibly easy into OwlBear Rodeo. Thanks for the content Nate, keep up the good work buddy
@@dukejaywalker5858 For sure, plus it imports perfectly into the OwlBear Rodeo program so that the grid lines up just right and is pretty seamless. The only downside I have found to Dungeon Scrawl is that if you add too many assets it can overload pretty quick. So export often if your map starts getting huge
Owlbear rodeo is AMAZING. I used to use Roll20, and it's great for an all- together system, but I just found owlbear rodeo and it's SO MUCH easier to use lol cannot cannot CANNOT recommend it enough
Here's some bonus interaction in the comments :D really great video. Am new to online DMing and it's great to get some tips on the resources. Really like thw look of that map making software.
When I was still gaming, I used Campaign Cartographer for the maps. Digital gaming is something that I never got to implement as computers were still rather new and expensive when I was still playing D&D 2E,
Great video and tips. Thank you. I will say, it is WAY harder to find good-quality, high-res maps for sci-fi and other non-fantasy genres. There are some great ones out there but they aren't nearly as plentiful as your forests, caves and goblin camps.
I love Eightfold Paper's maps. As well as SpellArena & Forgotten Adventures (I actually use FA assets in photoshop to make my own maps which I post on reddit!)
He didn't touch on the fact that often you need to size the map for your needs. As in how much screen space it takes up and the scale. (Fantasy Grounds needs the files to be certain sizes W x H to work well, not sure if Owlbear or Roll 20 can autosize). Many maps you try to just grab off the google search result page will be very small or on occasional way too big.
I've been using Dungeon Painter Studio for a while, but I find a number of my maps end up not feeling like they're part of the same whole. After this, I might need to do some looking into Dungeondraft
I have a similar experience with DPS, they just release a beta of the newer version and now there are some features I enjoy like sources of light that you can place. I do not like that is not easy to import objects though. I will also try dungeoncraft, it looks like nicely drawn maps.
The problem I have with premade maps is that I always write my own campaigns and trying to find something that fits exactly what I have in mind is almost impossible. I'm tempted to take more of a white board approach and just roughly scribble the terrain onto owlbear rodeo as and when needed. I've always played theatre of the mind so honestly I'm still undecided at this point.
Hey, so I'm pretty sure you've already tried this, but have you used Incarnates battlemap tool? Ever since you published one of its older videos I've been using it ever since and it's been pretty good at producing a wide variety of map styles. love your videos and I hope you have an amazing day!
I've never been DM before and I would love some tips because I want it to be fun for the players too and I don't know anything really about being a DM. I would love some help.
How do you get physical maps? I'm starting a campaign soon which'll be my first one with maps and minis, but it's an in-person campaign and I have no idea where to get physical battle maps
I've been trying to find free map making tools online that allow me to use the 2-Minute Tabletop assets I've bought. Similar to Dungeon Draft but it's like none exist and everything is costly. Given that I bought the Everything Package I don't have much else to spend on, any suggestions?
New to using a VTT (tv in a case) and I’m starting my first 5e campaign doing so. Any ideas where to get the Dragon Heist/Mad Mage encounter maps? I don’t mind paying if I need too.
I love dungeon alchemy, it is spendy for 1x purchase but LOVE the animation and everything about it. Dungeondraft is ok but hate the cartoon look of the maps
im curious if you would be willing to design a 8 x 11 small abandoned town map for me ...ive been trying to find one to print out for my home game with no luck. i dont have much funding but would be willing to pay a little if that is needed.
What makes me most upset about maps is when I buy a VTT set for something like the Keys to the Golden Vault and the rest of the internet has better VTT maps than I do. I bought a replacement set of maps recently, but I can't get them easily- I can't get them in the Roll20 system - they have to be sold separately in DM Guild or something and I have to put them in by hand and maybe do the walls/doors. Also, lots of tokens in Golden Vault are not custom- just a circle with a name on it. Weak performance guys. NOT Professional. And I'm a novice to VTTs. If I had background - I would probably notice more stuff. These were the day one issues. So yeah, angry I paid for Roll20s module. Was expecting much more.
I've tried using dungeon draft, but I could not download some of the maps or put them into Roll20. Does anyone have this same problem? If so, how can I fix it... in saying that, it could be a problem with my computer.
Everytime I try to upload a map to owlbear it always tells me that owlbear rodeo is not responding and I have to refresh and don't get a map am I doing something wrong or do I need a certain laptop or consol
I’m not totally sure, but I’m assuming most people hook the tv up to a computer via HDMI as a second display (monitor). If you have the images for the Maps on your computer, you can then full screen them on that second display.
@@WASD20 yeah i figured that part but i thought the spaces needed to be 1 inch tiles how do you make it to where the imagine on the TV is scaled properly 🤔
Dude, you are a one-stop shop for helping DMs. I'm just over a year into this hobby as a Dungeon Master, and your videos have really helped. Thank you!
Thanks !! Appreciate it.
FOR REAL. its m y first time dming and im so stoked!
Congrats on 2 years
@@RextenTexren thanks, but i guess i'm GM and not a DM, given recent events now lol
I really like Dice Grimorium's maps. Great detail and vibrant colors. Good collection of free maps and also has a Patreon.
Good to know!
Thanks for this!
I too am a map hoarder, but have found that by naming each map as what it includes helps for a quick search for a specific type of encounter map, i.e map-forest-stream, map-forest-road. Great videos! Keep 'em commin!
I keep mine in separate, nesting folders for each country/city/district/area/biome type and then name them super specific things like "garden behind Agatha's house encounter," and I separate random encounter maps from dungeon maps in their own respective folders. Makes it super easy to keep track of which maps I've already used for very specific things, or different maps that are consistent with the layouts that I've already specified to my players.
for example, if my players have already visited Agatha's house but I plan to possibly have them fight something near her house at night in a future session, I know that all maps labeled as "Agatha's house" are consistent with the layout that they've already seen. I tend to give my players maps for every area they're in, not just encounters and dungeons, so I have tons of previously used maps to keep track of. Not trying to teach my grandmother to suck eggs here! I just thought I'd add on to your comment so anyone reading could get additional tips from my comment, too
This is the most useful D&D video I’ve seen in ages.
I’m so glad I found this channel, It’s legit some of the best DnD content I’ve found on TH-cam
Thanks!
All of your content is super helpful and I’ve not seen very many unbiased videos out, you manage to be straightforward and massively influential in my quick decision making on what online tools to use. Thank you!!!
I absolutely love Dynamic Dungeons. Amazing for if you use a television at your table but he's been moving more and more towards gearing them to web based gaming options as well. The maps are great and his dungeon software is perfection.
Thanks for the recommendation!
Bah, I do not like this. It is not my mug of ale. Might as well play a video game. Not what I am looking for, but thanks for posting. I am sure that a lot of "Youngins" will like.
@@manfredconnor3194Why the need to throw out "a lot of 'Youngins' will like"? Just like throwing shade for no fucking reason? You don't know what people will and won't like. Say your piece and be done but don't you dare attempt to assume what others will like.
Thanks for putting something like this out! I only recently started working with Roll20 and making maps is easily one of the most exhaustive steps of my planning every other week.
I've started to run mines of Phandelver for a party of friends that never played a tabletop rpg (we usually play 40k). And I bought both dungeondraft and wonderdraft. And I must say I'm very pleased with dungeondraft as you can create every single encounter map for this specific campaign (surely the option to recreate most) and I use 2mintt (mentioned here) for more assets and tokens, which I use for the party characters and most npcs. The only thing is that I create bigger encounter maps as my friends tend to focus in fighting. I just need to find a place where I can share them for free.
Two things: I don't play RPG's or D&D...but I'm obsessed with maps and still totally fascinated by fantasy map generators. I'm not sure how I feel about that haha.
Secondly: Color palette posters like you have hanging in your background is a fab idea. I'm tots stealing that and would like to thank you.
Thanks for the comment. :D
Tom Cartos has fantastic maps and assets for your own map making. I now have hundreds and hundreds of assets and tons of very high quality maps. Love talking about where to go for great maps. Always looking for more.
Thanks for sharing!
And his maps often have multiple floors which is really handy
I’m a new DM/GM and running homebrew campaigns for friends and family. Seems like no matter what I search for, it leads me to your channel. Great content! Thanks for the advice.
Don't be afraid to ask some of your players to help draw maps. I play Adventurers League games with a few DMs and I offer up making maps for them with Dungeondraft. Many times the maps in the AL modules are very rough outlines of what the maps should look like so I take those and re-create them with Dungeondraft (the overlay/trace tool helps with that).
I don’t know if it’s just me, but I feel like the video quality is better in this one!
Want to shoutout some up-and-coming map creators. I highly recommend Cosmic Stew RPG and Map Masters for vibrant, high-quality encounter maps! There are so many talented map creators out there who deserve more recognition!
Cool!
Tabletop Simulator is where its at. I like my dragons 3D, large, flying with wing beats and muscle flex, breathing green gas on the table. Throw in some fog, lightning strikes that hit the table & ambient music. Beauty.
Cze and Peku have absolutely beautiful maps.
Man, those recommendations are really awesome. Thank you!
Looking forward to see some isometric options...
I have recently been using Dungeon Scrawl to build out maps. You can get far more detailed maps in it if you import a ton of assets and use the assets to build it out. They look great and import incredibly easy into OwlBear Rodeo. Thanks for the content Nate, keep up the good work buddy
Yeah, Dungeon Scrawl is great. It's my goto resource for making dungeon maps for my regular game. Very quick, intuitive, and flexible.
@@dukejaywalker5858 For sure, plus it imports perfectly into the OwlBear Rodeo program so that the grid lines up just right and is pretty seamless. The only downside I have found to Dungeon Scrawl is that if you add too many assets it can overload pretty quick. So export often if your map starts getting huge
You're awesome. This is exactly what i needed! Love your content and you're a great person.
Been hooked on your channel since your tip on OwlBearRodeo. This is another must watch. Sharing this with all my DM friendos
Thank you for the video! I was searching for good places to find great maps like those!
I've found the furniture tokens and similar from 2 Minute Tabletop to be very useful in further customizing maps.
Heck yeah 2 Minute Tabletop! Been using their resources since the start of the pandemic and I love everything they do :) Deffo go check them out
dragon+ magazine also has some module maps for free. new free magazine every 2-3 months. 35 issues so far. free maps from issue #10 I think.
I play online so this is going to be useful! Also, I can't wait to see the Owlbear rodeo vs Roll20 video 😁
Owlbear rodeo is AMAZING. I used to use Roll20, and it's great for an all- together system, but I just found owlbear rodeo and it's SO MUCH easier to use lol cannot cannot CANNOT recommend it enough
Here's some bonus interaction in the comments :D really great video. Am new to online DMing and it's great to get some tips on the resources. Really like thw look of that map making software.
Do you have a video of how you make maps with dungeondraft? The maps you used in this video were way better than mine. I'd love to see your process.
I absolutely love this video it really helped with finding rpg maps, thank you for the great video! 👍
I'm just moving my first steps as a virtual DM and I'm kinda lost. Thanks a lot for all the sources and the advices :D
When I was still gaming, I used Campaign Cartographer for the maps. Digital gaming is something that I never got to implement as computers were still rather new and expensive when I was still playing D&D 2E,
Thanks for this info. I’ve always drawn mine but some of those are really nice 👍
Great video and tips. Thank you. I will say, it is WAY harder to find good-quality, high-res maps for sci-fi and other non-fantasy genres. There are some great ones out there but they aren't nearly as plentiful as your forests, caves and goblin camps.
I love Eightfold Paper's maps. As well as SpellArena & Forgotten Adventures (I actually use FA assets in photoshop to make my own maps which I post on reddit!)
Thanks for sharing! really helpful infos for me
I like dungeon scrawl for dungeon maps.
first time dm. this was greatly helpful
I'M HELPING THE ALGORITHM.! Thank you for all the info.
I appreciate you. 😁
I'm a patreon subscriber of Maphammer. Good stuff!
Soooo helpful! Thank you!
Very good video. Some great advice. Thank you.
great advice on map resources
You’re a beast Nate, thanks for the content
Thanks, Dallin. :)
He didn't touch on the fact that often you need to size the map for your needs. As in how much screen space it takes up and the scale. (Fantasy Grounds needs the files to be certain sizes W x H to work well, not sure if Owlbear or Roll 20 can autosize). Many maps you try to just grab off the google search result page will be very small or on occasional way too big.
Donjon is a good place for maps and other resources like npc names, encounter builder, etc
Maphammer is also really amazing. Highly recommended!
Love 2 min tabletop!
Howdy! Do you have any advice for finding scifi maps specifically? Most programs seem to be set up for primarily medieval map making.
Check out Miska’s Maps on Patreon. They are pretty much all sci-fi these days.
Owlbear was so damn good. Just upload a map. Upload 5-6 tokens. Boom done. A DM can have a spontaneous battle on the roadside done in
Brilliant tip! Thanks a lot
I've been using Dungeon Painter Studio for a while, but I find a number of my maps end up not feeling like they're part of the same whole. After this, I might need to do some looking into Dungeondraft
I have a similar experience with DPS, they just release a beta of the newer version and now there are some features I enjoy like sources of light that you can place. I do not like that is not easy to import objects though. I will also try dungeoncraft, it looks like nicely drawn maps.
If it weren't for the currency exchange right now there's a bunch of patreons I'd support. 2-minute tabletop, caeora...
wow, nice! dungeon alchemist is software i use for maps, pretty cool and nice views
i found really good maps on pinterest too
thanks dude!
Thanks so much!!
Dungeondraft seems cool.
/r/battlemaps is great too!
The problem I have with premade maps is that I always write my own campaigns and trying to find something that fits exactly what I have in mind is almost impossible.
I'm tempted to take more of a white board approach and just roughly scribble the terrain onto owlbear rodeo as and when needed. I've always played theatre of the mind so honestly I'm still undecided at this point.
You're the man!
I've been watching some of your map and worldbuilding videos for help, but I still have a few questions that I've got to ask
Go ahead! Or, better yet come on over to my discord server. Lots of helpful people there.
Alright, I've just joined^^
Just in case you need to know, my username there is Yume Dream
ive backed a kickstarter perfect for this topic! Its called "Dungeon Alchemist"
I saw that. Looks really cool.
Great video. Could you do one for streaming dnd since a lot of artists have copyright on their art/maps
Dungeon Scrawl is a good site to make your own maps.
Hey, so I'm pretty sure you've already tried this, but have you used Incarnates battlemap tool? Ever since you published one of its older videos I've been using it ever since and it's been pretty good at producing a wide variety of map styles. love your videos and I hope you have an amazing day!
Thanks for the comment. I have only messed with it very briefly. Definitely been meaning to check it out more.
I've never been DM before and I would love some tips because I want it to be fun for the players too and I don't know anything really about being a DM. I would love some help.
Bbsproductions does some good maps on patreon too
Woah! Awesome shirt! That's my local convention. Did you come to Grand Rapids or did someone send it to you?
I live in Grand Rapids. :)
I would love to be able to create isometric maps for roll20, but not idea what tool to use...
I’d love Owlbear Rodeo better if there was an easy way to display hit points and conditions on the map.
thed20initiative has some awesome maps. Facebook, patreon, TH-cam
Thanks
How do you get physical maps? I'm starting a campaign soon which'll be my first one with maps and minis, but it's an in-person campaign and I have no idea where to get physical battle maps
I've been trying to find free map making tools online that allow me to use the 2-Minute Tabletop assets I've bought. Similar to Dungeon Draft but it's like none exist and everything is costly. Given that I bought the Everything Package I don't have much else to spend on, any suggestions?
Why not Dungeondraft?
Hey Nate can you do a review of above VTT?
I....make all of ours. Either I hand draw them or use Illwinters Floorplan Generator. $7 on Steam.
New to using a VTT (tv in a case) and I’m starting my first 5e campaign doing so. Any ideas where to get the Dragon Heist/Mad Mage encounter maps? I don’t mind paying if I need too.
great vid
I missed it again!!! Darn!
Any tips for copying icewind dale maps onto battle grids? Thanks!
I love dungeon alchemy, it is spendy for 1x purchase but LOVE the animation and everything about it. Dungeondraft is ok but hate the cartoon look of the maps
I only know how to print on standard paper how do I print on or find bigger pieces of paper?
im curious if you would be willing to design a 8 x 11 small abandoned town map for me ...ive been trying to find one to print out for my home game with no luck. i dont have much funding but would be willing to pay a little if that is needed.
I'm a big fan of Dungeon Fog
Me too!
Will dungeon draft let you print? Can you save maps as a jpeg?
5:00, look at links in description
I live for the three paintings behind you. Can u tell something about it?
Just some Star Wars ep. vii art from Etsy. I don’t remember who the artist is.
What makes me most upset about maps is when I buy a VTT set for something like the Keys to the Golden Vault and the rest of the internet has better VTT maps than I do. I bought a replacement set of maps recently, but I can't get them easily- I can't get them in the Roll20 system - they have to be sold separately in DM Guild or something and I have to put them in by hand and maybe do the walls/doors. Also, lots of tokens in Golden Vault are not custom- just a circle with a name on it. Weak performance guys. NOT Professional.
And I'm a novice to VTTs. If I had background - I would probably notice more stuff. These were the day one issues. So yeah, angry I paid for Roll20s module. Was expecting much more.
I've tried using dungeon draft, but I could not download some of the maps or put them into Roll20. Does anyone have this same problem? If so, how can I fix it... in saying that, it could be a problem with my computer.
I tried owlbear rodeo and it's the best I feel comfortable in owlbear rodeo!
I'm not gonna be watching now, but I'm gonna come back (I don't like watching live)
I finally got back here, over a week later.
Please pardon my ignorance but to use Dungeondraft do I need to download an app first? Plz plz answer me, trying to make maps for my first DMing.
Yep. It’s a paid application you have to download.
@@WASD20 thanks.
Ware did you get that boba fet mask on the printer ??
It was a gift. Plastic head with a t shirt inside. :)
Ah. So if I'm making my own homebrew world for DND I should just make my own maps. Ok.
owlbear IS a dumbed down version of roll20 it has FAR less features
Everytime I try to upload a map to owlbear it always tells me that owlbear rodeo is not responding and I have to refresh and don't get a map am I doing something wrong or do I need a certain laptop or consol
It might be that your map is too big. Try making it lower resolution, and see if it works.
How do you convert the maps you download so the grids match up on Roll20?
I don’t know , but I do remember seeing it in a roll20 tutorial video at one point.
Helpppp so let's say i want to import maps into a tv inside the table how do you scale the maps so they fit on a tv???
I’m not totally sure, but I’m assuming most people hook the tv up to a computer via HDMI as a second display (monitor). If you have the images for the Maps on your computer, you can then full screen them on that second display.
@@WASD20 yeah i figured that part but i thought the spaces needed to be 1 inch tiles how do you make it to where the imagine on the TV is scaled properly 🤔
2:00 Dunfeondraft is pretty nice. I got it about 6 months ago.