Thursday 10 February 2011

Mapmaking merry (5)




As promised last week, another instalment of the very occasional series on merging mapmaking and terrain-making. The reason given to the mapmakers for tuning in?

For a different kind of expression, for time away from the number crunching and paper, from pencils and dice. Indulge the artist within, get tactile - show yourself in another medium. It's a breath of fresh air, and will likely give you a different understanding of spaces and decor that will feed back into games.

And for the terrain-makers just a few of those words need switching round.

For a different kind of expression, for time away from the sculpting and scattering, from paints and LOS. Indulge the planner within, get calculating - show yourself in another medium. It's a breath of fresh air, and will likely give you a different understanding of spaces and movement that will feed back into games.

Board games are popular all over, and many manage to mix both approaches - carefully considered arrangements with beautifully decoration, perhaps even raised or sculpted elements. Think Space Crusade and HeroQuest, or Space Hulk and Warhammer Quest. Skirmish games often have narrative approach to space and form a link to larger wargaming. Recent Triffles have also tried to bridge the gap, with the secret passage coming closest yet.

The first post in the series offered ideas found out on the thoroughfares of cyberspace, a range of approaches from 2D to 3D. The second post had links for giving an idea a fixed final form. The third dealt briefly with campaign maps, and the fourth with planets and systems. This fifth will just get us back up to date with the magic that's going on all over the place and offer more stunning vistas. Click and lose yourself in new worlds.


General setting design

Fantasy, modern and sci-fi 2D

Fantasy, modern and sci-fi 2D / 3D

Fantasy, modern, sci-fi and more, 3D

2 comments:

Dr. Willett's Workshop said...

Blimey, that's tones of interesting links, Thanks!!!

The Angry Lurker said...

With wargaming the maps are a little less intricate but I always use something for a game especially skirmish, so you know where you've placed the hidden zombies/baddies, claymores or vital supplies and as a small aid to the gamers but you don't want it too easy for them.