If however, it is permissible as part of the Athas.org team's agreement with WOTC, the second point would be does anyone actually want to make a new map for Dark Sun or think that we really need to remake it? If no one else thinks that a new fangle map for DS is a must, then once again the point becomes null and void.
If the idea is actually permissable, and the general consensus says its a good idea, the next question becomes what kind of map does everyone want? What style, what creation platform, etc? Campaign Cartographer seems like the most reasonable choice to me (I have CC2, but have yet to really tinker around with it much). There's always the option of hiring someone to draw one up all nice and purty like, but with CC at least you can alter the map easily for players and DMs, and expand upon and or update it as new material comes about.
Lastly, who the heck would actually want to do it? I'm game since now that I'm back home from a few week vacation/crisis intervention but I've absolutely no artistic talent to do up a free hand map and have yet to try out CC (doesn't seem too tricky for an addle-brained nitwit like myself to swing), but if anyone else wants to give it a go or make a group effort of it that would probably be better option.
Well, that's my brain leaking out of my ear at 5:30 a.m. with too much coffee in my system for my own good. I'm going now before the ji-tt-ttt-e-eee-rr-rrrs-s-sss kick in any more than they already have.
- making a printer friendly version (only graytones, fitted to a4 paper)
- a possibility for several "layers" of the map such that a DM could print a version of the map only showing well-known sites which could be handed out to the players. As they gain knowledge, more layers could be added to the map.
I don't know whether it is feasible, or if such options are already contained in eg. cc2
I was thinking of creating a 3D satellite map of the Tyr Region in Adobe. Complete with realistic looking mountains and terrain, but it would be lots of work and I it would either look right or it would not.
Granted I like the nostalgia of the old school TSR maps, I was thinking something along the lines of a more realistic and detailed map rather than just 'generic city symbols' and such.
The layered aspect of CC is what I was looking at most. The fact that you can easily craft several layers onto the same existing map means you could easily have a player's map, a DM's map, forts, villages, 'zoom' in detailed maps via click interface, etc.
As for entirely realistic maps, you would have to start with either designing them with digital programs that I myself have absolutely no access to nor the intellectual capacity to fathom the inner workings of such programs
There are combination options though that may indeed do the trick, from either hand drawn or computer generated that can be used as background images that could then be overlayed with CC layers. That's one of the reasons I'm trolling about and asking for a few more brain boxes to crunch together on the effort.
An enormous one with all the existing info + the new stuff that will come. That would be frelling great. You'd get athas.map.v1.1 and then 1.2....
I've seen some of Eric Anondson's maps as well, and they really are excellent. Maybe something to consider once some more of the core material is finalized?
Urrgos
Athasian Atlas
http://www.digitalwanderer.net/darksun/
If you want to play Dark Sun, you still have to buy the box set. Making a cooler and better map of the Tyr region is region is like advertising.
Also, I once that of creating a full 3D world of Dark Sun, that a user could walk around in like a massive online role playing video game.
Making a cooler and better map of the Tyr region is region is like advertising.
ERrr . . . I would never think of shamelessly advertising or promoting the Dark Sun setting . . . *looks at sig* . . . never.
What I really need (or would think is just too uber nifty mega cool as heck) would be some custom symbols for the various city states and some of the more prominent villages and forts. I could troll about some other message boards and see if I can get a bit of assistance on this one (the Art Gallery has a lot of threads with smile experts drawing bitmaps and such).
What I would like is some feedback on what everyone wants specifically.
1: DM and player versions. That's a give in. The DM version will have everything from all known DS sourcebooks, adventures, and other official resources. As for novels though, except for the Prism Pentad and Rise and Fall of etc, I'm at a loss since I don't have any other novels. Not sure what if anything could be or should be included from the other novels though.
What should be included in the Player only version? Just the basics from the original box set map? Or should it include a little more than that? Perhaps the villages from Slave Tribes and forts from Dune Trader? I'm personally thinking a bare bones style for the Player version, but I'm open to suggestions.
2: Format. Granted there should be a bitmap and or jpeg version of the maps, but is there really a need or want for a complicated fast cad version for those with the profantasy viewer? This would answer the next question which is
3: Layering. How many and of what? Layering means you can take out aspects of the map and view only certain things. Like all forts, or all major city states only, or all major roads, or any combo of anything you can think of.
4. Breaking it down. One huge map would suck. So what's the most intelligent way to break the map into smaller sections. I was thinking myself of doing the whole thing in roughly ten sections, 4 for the Tablelands, four for the Upper Region, and one each for the Deadlands and Valley of Dust and Fire (not much there now, but once again, with layering you could have an 'old and new', just remove the layer for the cerrulean storm and poof, Ur Draxa and environs).
5: Detail level. How much is too much? Should you be able to zoom into say the Ivory Triangle region to see the battle sites between Nibenay and Gulg? Or should those be 'linked' maps seperate from the main maps.
6. Why stop with mapping Athas? Why not (after this is finished) move on to doing some city mapping? Draj could use a little sprucing up (no offense meant
). Then there's Tyr, Gulg, and Nibenay that have been mapped already that could become part of later projects. Balic is being worked on at the moment by Paul (can't remember the last name, sorry, and not sure if he posts here). Of course, that's for a later date.Anyhow, I'd love some feedback. Please don't force me to send rabid giant minature space hamsters to every one of you. You wouldn't want that now would you?
Please don't force me to send rabid giant minature space hamsters to every one of you. You wouldn't want that now would you?
Mmm. Lunch! :D
Seriously, this sounds cool. The level of detail would depend on how much time you see spending on this. Though adding stuff beyond the original maps (such as your example with battlesites) would mean a high unofficial factor.
a high unofficial factor
To start with, I woldn't put in anything that isn't 100% official, i.e. comming from a official published resource or from Athas.org. The battle site example comes from the Ivory Triangle box set. I was merely using that as a reference for just how 'comprehensive' this dange thing should be.
Later on, once the project is considered 'officially finished', and if I'm not so sick of mapping that I want to puke at the thought, I might go in and put in 'unofficial stuff' by request, but as I said, that wouldn't be until the main stuff is finished.
No love . . .
For the moment I'm also into the mapping (cc2), therefore I would like to ask to someone of the official team to give me a desrciptive of Ket (as I want to start there).
BTW does anyone know which software was used by TSR to make their DS maps??
For those interested try Realmoverseer 3D -> great stuff and fully compatible with cc2
I don't know what TSR used to make their map... but I'd sure like to know too.
(was that dramatic enough?)
BTW does anyone know which software was used by TSR to make their DS maps
It looks freehand, likely touched up with a paint program afterwards.
For the descriptive I wanted to know what it looked like according to you cause in the CT of Draj it is not mentioned how the lay-out of the village is.
Originally posted by Gab
I don't know what TSR used to make their map... but I'd sure like to know too.
Yeah. kicks the Dregoth Ascending files. That'd be nice to know. :headexplo
Do you expect to take any profit from your work, through comercial use?
If not, I think you could move on your project... Guess the only difference between having or not the Wotc permission will be if you can call this project official or not.
Maybe even a map from the computer game.
From the computer games, 'Dark Sun 2: The wake of the ravager' has scenes in the mines.
I have it at home.... if you're really in need send an e-mail and I'll see if I manage to send then to you!
If not, I think you could move on your project... Guess the only difference between having or not the Wotc permission will be if you can call this project official or not.
There's more to infringement than just whether or not your making a profit off something though. As for hiring a little outside help, permission means the difference between giving the project a clear go ahead and having people run screaming mad from the entire idea and blocking my emails out of fear of legal action.
Originally posted by Mach2.5
There's more to infringement than just whether or not your making a profit off something though. As for hiring a little outside help, permission means the difference between giving the project a clear go ahead and having people run screaming mad from the entire idea and blocking my emails out of fear of legal action.
Well, I guess I'm not familiarized with you legal system... a pitty.. Would make you feel better if I said I wouldn't "run screaming mad from the entire idea and blocking your emails"??, at least until I was sure we could get in trouble.. :D
What kind of outside help would you hire?
As you can see, I don't really like to do things halfway
, but then again, sometimes I think to big.