I was wondering what you all used for maps? While we have our share of D&D type maps, we don't have much in the way of Sci Fi themed maps. We have used a battle map with dry erase markers, but things are so much more enjoyable on nice maps.

If somebody could point me in the right direction that would be great. I have ran across some that you can DL and then print, but I would much rather have something on nice paper. I know I know.

Thanks in advance!

It seems to me that using a battle map with EotE runs contrary to how the system is supposed to work. There's no set move for the characters and no specific range bands for the weapons. I can see using a map to draw a general layout of the area, but once you get down to counting hexes there might be some issues.

We use maps sometimes for a general frame of reference. We don't worry about exact distances or anything like that, but being able to see the lay of the land, and approximately where everybody is standing can really help one to visualize the situation.

Another player in our group brought the maps, but I think they're from the old WoTC Star Wars miniatures game. Occasionally I'll do it the old fashioned way and draw it out on a battle mat.

We don't count the hexs, we just use it as more of a visual aid. Really nice maps, like those in the Beginner Game really added to the fun imo. It was so pretty.

We have used battle mats with markers in the past, but have moved mostly to map-less sessions. (None of us liked the focus on squares as a unit of measure in SE.) Now when we need a visualization, we tend to drawn on a piece of paper or put dice on a table top to represent beings.

I picked up a few Pathfinder and D&D maps that weren't overtly fantasy settings. Things like jungles and ice caverns are generic enough. The Marvel HeroClix game has a few maps out there with sci-fi type interiors and lava maps.

I haven't found any free downloads that were terribly impressive though. Most of the sci-fi maps that I found were just grey corridors and metal plating. Not a whole lot of set pieces or interesting visuals to flesh out a location.

I love that there are no figures. 4E D&D took so freaking long to do one combat. Figures and drawing maps just made what should've been the best part of that system just drag on and unfun.

For those who are interested (and have some money to spare) there's an app for the iPad called Battle Map 2. It's primarily aimed at fantasy games, but there are additional sci-fi tilesets and tokens you can download. I've been using it for a while in my fantasy campaign, and personally I love it.

I GM an online Maptool campaign, so I feel some sort of visual aid is compulsory. That said, the maps I've been using are pretty free & loose. I build to scale (because I can), but don't use a grid. I have set range bands, but leave them open to interpretation if it makes for a better story.

I love that there are no figures. 4E D&D took so freaking long to do one combat. Figures and drawing maps just made what should've been the best part of that system just drag on and unfun.

I think that's a 4e problem, and can offer supporting evidence; I play in a 4e campaign, also with Maptool, with (most of) the same guys who play in my EotE campaign. 4e turns do seem to drag (even with macros all set up to make power use easy). Same players in EotE? Turns are snappy. A couple of good combats plus plenty of RP a session is no sweat.

You can also check out maps of mastery .com

Christapher west has some very cool si-fi maps for sale

You can also check out maps of mastery .com

Christapher west has some very cool si-fi maps for sale

Another great source is Matt Francella, who used to be known as JediCartographer. He didn't do mapwork as a profession, but is still very good.

I have a buttload (that's a technical term) of both their stuff.

I GM an online Maptool campaign, so I feel some sort of visual aid is compulsory. That said, the maps I've been using are pretty free & loose. I build to scale (because I can), but don't use a grid. I have set range bands, but leave them open to interpretation if it makes for a better story.

I love that there are no figures. 4E D&D took so freaking long to do one combat. Figures and drawing maps just made what should've been the best part of that system just drag on and unfun.

I think that's a 4e problem, and can offer supporting evidence; I play in a 4e campaign, also with Maptool, with (most of) the same guys who play in my EotE campaign. 4e turns do seem to drag (even with macros all set up to make power use easy). Same players in EotE? Turns are snappy. A couple of good combats plus plenty of RP a session is no sweat.

imagine playing in person and not over the internet. Combat took far to long.

Those at Maps of Mastery seem very nice. Thanks for pointing me the right direction!

I got a Chessex vinyl wet erase battle map and I freehand all my maps. There is no attempt at scale or precise measurement. It's really a way to keep track of who is where and what is still active in the encounter.

This was a snap from one of my groups' last session: http://imgur.com/usWNCSS

You can see the PCs in the outer alleyway and back storage room, listening in on a gang meet while trying to steal an R4 droid. The d6 you see are meant to be cover.

In both my campaigns (beta and current one) I've not used maps per se. In my GM pack, I carry a pad of graph paper and if the players want a visual representation, then I'll sketch something out on the graph paper. That's it.

I'm in the process of trying to convert the Saga Edition Dawn of Defiance campaign (it's a ton of work so it's a bit slow going) ... but the PDF's have a bunch of encounter maps. I've been thinking of using those in other adventures as well, maybe even doing a little cut and paste if necessary to change things up if I use them multiple times ... they were designed with all of the squares for distance and so forth when using mini's, but since EofE uses a more abstract mechanic for distance and narrative, we won't use the squares, but it is nice for the group to have the map so they can visualize where they are, what's around them, relative distance, and so forth.

I've found maps to be more of a problem in my game than helpful. Now I admit the visual aid has helped and on occasion would have really helped. However more often than helping I usually end up arguing the visual reference against literal.

As two examples

in one fantasy game. A Gnoll was fighting 2 players. The fight started out with the gnoll facing the two as they were close to each other. One of the PC started, then the gnoll, then the PC again. The second PC moved 4 sqrs(abstract no counting) to behind the gnoll. Then argued for 3 minutes that the gnoll AC should be at -4/6(been awhile can't remember the exact number) since he is attacking the gnolls back. I mediated a -2 A/C for being harried to divide his defense, but his attention and awareness doesn't let some kind of large benefit.

In another situation was a fire fight in a modern setting. The npc was using a concrete road divider block as cover. The NPC was up down and looking around. A PC spent some time to work his way around. Once around because the "figured" never moved to look the other way, ended up the player fighting that the npc was unaware.

narratively I described the positioning and facing in the description, but since I never "moved" the figures facing I have to deal with arguments about literal positioning :\ I have had a good number of other situations, but never arguments.

I usually fight against the maps as I tire as a GM would only use the map as an abstract concept and far too often players want to use it as literal. I'm fine with literal when the game calls for literal as I play Descent and love it. But when I'm more RPGing maps get in the way.

Glad to hear that other groups have less problems

Most of the time, I use a strip marked "Engaged | Short | Medium || Long || Extreme || gone."

I do use ship maps so that everyone has a clue what's where.

in one fantasy game. A Gnoll was fighting 2 players. The fight started out with the gnoll facing the two as they were close to each other. One of the PC started, then the gnoll, then the PC again. The second PC moved 4 sqrs(abstract no counting) to behind the gnoll. Then argued for 3 minutes that the gnoll AC should be at -4/6(been awhile can't remember the exact number) since he is attacking the gnolls back. I mediated a -2 A/C for being harried to divide his defense, but his attention and awareness doesn't let some kind of large benefit.

In another situation was a fire fight in a modern setting. The npc was using a concrete road divider block as cover. The NPC was up down and looking around. A PC spent some time to work his way around. Once around because the "figured" never moved to look the other way, ended up the player fighting that the npc was unaware.

Is this real? I'm amazed that any GM (or other players for that matter) would tolerate 3 minutes of arguing to get a bonus on a roll . If you're playing an abstract game you shouldn't be arguing about literal placement of minis.

For those who are interested (and have some money to spare) there's an app for the iPad called Battle Map 2. It's primarily aimed at fantasy games, but there are additional sci-fi tilesets and tokens you can download. I've been using it for a while in my fantasy campaign, and personally I love it.

I took a look, and it's pretty cool. In addition to making decent maps ahead of time, you could also use it to sketch out quick maps on the fly. Thanks for pointing it out.

I have built a series of corridors for my game using thick cardboard tubes from skid wrap at the warehouse I work at. I cut out a section running the length this gives a cut away wall section. I then got some thin cardboard strips that I put on the inside to be the floor. Put some file clips on the bottom of the tube to keep it from rolling away. I'll post some pictures when I can.

I plan on painting the tubes adding detail so they look more like the corridors on the Millennium Falcon.

Also each tube/corridor counts as 1 range band.

I like using the maps that came with the beginner set, and otherwise I'm just drawing on a battlemat - but only for visualization purposes. I don't measure hexes/squares, it's just a visual reference for a scene with a lot going on.

I would certainly buy more maps if they were made available, the ones in the beginner set are really quite nice and raise the bar on my crappy wet erase drawings.

I have built a series of corridors for my game using thick cardboard tubes from skid wrap at the warehouse I work at.

I would love to see some pictures of your work when you have some time!

Back when I was playing the Star Wars Miniatures game, I found some usermade maps for that. its' got squares on it, but there were some interesting interiors like Star Destroyer/Death Star type interiors.

I like using the maps that came with the beginner set, and otherwise I'm just drawing on a battlemat - but only for visualization purposes. I don't measure hexes/squares, it's just a visual reference for a scene with a lot going on.

I would certainly buy more maps if they were made available, the ones in the beginner set are really quite nice and raise the bar on my crappy wet erase drawings.

Thing is about your 'crappy' drawings is that it allows you to dynamically adjust the encounter in a way that a pre-printed map could not. Player rolls an advantage and wants to notice something, you just add it to the map.