Virtual Tabletop Battlemaps

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Virtual Tabletop Battlemaps Anonymous 03/20/16 (Sun) 04:07:07 No.227380

I've recently gotten into playing some RPGs through virtual tabletop programs, like Roll20.

For the maps, I've usually used their system, where you can make maps live, on their grid.

Unfortunately, their space limits on free players has been catching up with me. So I'm looking into making the whole map in another program, then just uploading that image, rather than having to take up my storage space with all the different floor textures or furniture, or other items.

So, my question is:

What programs do you guys use for making maps or battlemaps?

I'd like to do it in Photoshop, so would you guys have any tips for what you use?

Mostly I'd be wondering if you have some grid template that you use. I see a lot of people use a grid system where each square is 70 x 70 pixels.

Any pro-tips or resources you guys use would be great, thanks.

Anonymous 03/20/16 (Sun) 16:42:18 No.227515

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Anonymous 03/20/16 (Sun) 17:55:47 No.227559

Do it entirely in ASCII.

I mean, tabletop is already about imagination. Why not have the map in minimalistic style as well?

Go to somewhere like https://www.yourworldoftext.com/OPisafagg and draw your world.

Anonymous 03/20/16 (Sun) 18:12:49 No.227570

>>227559

That doesn't really translate well to a virtual tabletop program like Roll20.

I'd still have to make sure each square of the ASCII map is around 70 x 70 pixels.

It'd work more for a gaming session where you're physically with the other players.

But at that point, you're better off just using graph paper and drawing a map, if you want the shitty "minimalist" look.

I'd really rather have a good looking map for places we'll be visiting a lot.

The crudely drawn maps work fine for random encounters along a road, but if it's an inn we'd stay at, and see a lot, it may as well look good.

Anonymous 03/20/16 (Sun) 18:46:52 No.227580

>>227380

Roll20 a shit.

Get yourself Maptool, download some textures, and you are set for life, my boy.

Anonymous 03/20/16 (Sun) 19:10:49 No.227591

>>227580

Yeah, I've been considering making a swap over to it. Thanks.

But Roll20 or MapTool, my question still remains of is it effective to use something like Photoshop for making the maps?

I've got a few resources of tiles and textures, but is there a way to make them up in PS and have them snap to a grid, like in tools like Dundjinni?

Anonymous 03/20/16 (Sun) 20:37:39 No.227634

>>227380

Use maptool, breh.

It's better than roll20, anyway.

Anonymous 03/20/16 (Sun) 22:56:19 No.227678

>>227591

You don't need any image editing software to make good-looking maps in Maptool, as it has pretty robust vector graphic editor that supports textures, unlike the Roll20 which only allows you to doodle with markers on white board. Or you can make maps in Dundjinni and then import them into Maptool.

Anonymous 03/20/16 (Sun) 23:07:46 No.227684

>>227678

Roll20 lets you search for textures, and tokens, and maps.

That's how I'd usually do it.

I'd either modify an existing map someone uploaded, or make on from scratch, placing grass tiles, then working up to making a building by popping in stone walls along the grid-lines.

It's not terribly bad, since you can upload your own images, or snag them off Google and DeviantArt. The only drawback was the storage limit, really.

That, and I felt like something like Photoshop would allow for more freedom in placing items and shaping maps.

Anonymous 03/20/16 (Sun) 23:11:44 No.227686

>>227684

>and tokens, and maps

Except all free tokens and maps are also available in Maptool.

>That, and I felt like something like Photoshop would allow for more freedom in placing items and shaping maps.

Eh, unless you want extra-good looking maps, PS is overkill

Anonymous 03/20/16 (Sun) 23:18:20 No.227689

>>227686

Yeah, I know that any libraries (Google) that Roll20 is pulling from are also available to be downloaded into other programs. It was mostly just ease-of-use.

And I'm sure PS is a bit of overkill, but I figured if there was some PSD template for battlemaps out there, it'd be pretty fun and easy to use.

But I guess I'm to take it most people on here use software like MapTool or Dundjinni for their maps.