Making and Using Maps

[Icthius]

When I was working on the first 4e game I was to DM, I found that I was drawing a blank on cool concepts for rooms that I could use in what was built to be a "tutorial" dungeon for some first time players. I eventually went back to some 3.5 modules and shamelessly plagiarized as much of them as I could, and it seemed to work alright, but I'm wondering how the pros do it when it comes to drawing maps.

Usually, I draw them out on 8x11 letter paper, then transfer that to my grid that I can draw wet-erase marker on (kinda like this thing: http://paizo.com/store/gameAids/gami.../v5748btpy83yx ), then just not erase it until the game. Of course, that only works for one set of rooms or locations at a time, so you've got to either be prepared to draw mid-game, or have another one handy. How does everyone else get along with maps? Any good ones you'd like to share?

[tesral]

Anything from grab a piece of graph paper and draw to using a draw program on a computer. I usually have some idea what I want the thing to look like before I start.

Some samples of my maps.

[agoraderek]

i use graph paper for the basic map, then, if i really like the place and want to do it up nice, i'll draw it on vellum...

[BigUgly]

I usually design my maps on the computer. I use a program called CorelDraw.
Here is the world map I use for my game. Been using it for about 10 years:

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...27/Milosha.jpg

Here is the main City State that my group tends to always end up in or based out of:

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...ly27/aslem.jpg

And here is a new map started on today. After reading about the Xorvintaal Templete I decided it would be fun to introduce my players into the World of Dragons:

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...vintaalMap.jpg

Hope you enjoy them!!

[Ramzei]

My old DM used to just heist stuff from other settings we werent using if it was on the fly. Otherwise it was all carefully laid out in color on graph paper. There was a 2E resource he used occasionally called Treasure Maps (if I recall correctly). It was just a bunch of random maps he would use for just about anything. It seemed like it would work for any edition as it was just maps. The following link may or may not be helpful, hope it is!

http://www.penandpapergames.com/foru...ead.php?t=6707