Hey guys!
I just started playing deathwatch with my group and it didn't take me long before i realized that combat really needs a good tactical overview.
Since we've only been playing various swedish RPGs before (they rarely have any need for maps combat) i don't have any good grids for drawing maps on. so I'm wondering is there any good software i can use to make the maps or should i just get graph paper the draw the maps on?
thanks in advance!
Graph paper is the best option. If there is any software then i can't find any. Personally i use models and assume range, which is ok for the players i play with. but Graph paper is the best option.
Maybe you can use this . Only discovered it yesterday myself, so I do not know if it is any good.
I use MS Visio for map drawing, or I draw my maps directly in Photoshop, on paper or on the battlemat I have.
thanks guys! just wanted some opinions
i'll try software and if it's no good i'll just stick to graph paper and markers
EDIT: the software is great for overview maps (not combat though) as long as you stick to one single artist and you just need a quick map but there doesn't seem to be anyway to control the outcome of a map so if any one wants to use it i suggest printing out a few 4x4 sheet and then glue them it onto something sturdy and the cutting out each separate section so that you can create your own maps, like a puzzle of sorts.
Once again thanks allot!
Watch-Captain Albus said:
Maybe you can use this . Only discovered it yesterday myself, so I do not know if it is any good.
I use MS Visio for map drawing, or I draw my maps directly in Photoshop, on paper or on the battlemat I have.
Personally i find darwing up my own maps more fun than the generator. but it's obviously only a matter of opinion
I so far have drawn out my maps on blank paper A4 size and then after filling in all the details, buildings, craters, ruined areas etc. I take it down to the local Alpha Print Graphics shop and they print it out on a large plotter sized machine, giving a massive sheet that you can then place tokens onto and such. it doesnt have a grid for extact scale movement, but you can decide on how much the team moves within a turn, marking their new position directly onto the map.
Printing out the maps this way, in simple black and white costs not more than 6 dollars, and the players I have found really enjoy them, helping them visualize the battle situation.
There are a lot of resources in the Internet for this. The problem is that most of them are not very well organised. Here is my favourite; it has a lot of fan created maps for modern, fantasy and sci-fi. I created a couple maps with Photoshop some time ago and placed them there.
http://www.cartographersguild.com/
At the moment I am creating my maps in A4 graph paper, but they don't need to be too nice, as I plan on using minis and scenery for my sessions, as I think it plays very well with Deathwatch. I am also taking a look at ProFantasy software... they have quite powerful tools for creating great maps; the problem of course is time, but in the other hand, creating a nice looking map is a rewarding experience in itself. The main program is called Campaign Cartographer, and it has special modules for Modern and Sci-fi. Compared with the price of a CAD system (or Photoshop) it is quite cheap and very powerful for creating maps for RPGs (as it is specially designed for that):
Finally, in my club we play our D&D sessions with MapTool (we use two laptops and an LCD screen set horizontally on the table), and I know some people have done a very good job creating frameworks for Dark Heresy, Rogue Trader and Deathwatch:
http://forums.rptools.net/viewtopic.php?p=129576
That could also be a good source for inspiration, and it is perfect if you want to play with friends through Internet.
Other sources of inspiration would be computer games, specially Dawn of War series and Space Marine, as they are about Warhammer 40K.