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Post by Wothbora on Mar 13, 2008 19:55:15 GMT -6
I've always been intrigued with making wilderness maps randomly. I still haven't found a method that I like. I must admit that I've worn my Rolemaster Campaign Law book to pieces plus I've got a tattered notebook with notes I've gathered from here and there in the past 25+ years.
Anyway, I was wondering if any of you have a good method that is random yet seems realistic (i.e., no tundra next to jungle).
I received my First Fantasy Campaign book this week from my eBay Triumphal Bid and there are some guidelines which are helpful, but still thought I'd ask and see any of you had a personal method of generation.
Oh, I also found a reference to a board game from way-back-when called "Source of the Nile" and there was a blip on a web page that said,
Anyone know anything about this method or have one of your you'd like to share?
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Post by makofan on Mar 13, 2008 20:13:52 GMT -6
heh I was going to suggest Source of the Nile. It is semi-random. First you have to label your 6 direction points, like NE is 1, E is 2 and so on around to NW is 6. Now, let's say you are moving to a new hex. You roll 2 dice, 1 at a time. Let's say you roll a 3 and a 4. You check the hex in direction #3. If it has already been mapped, put that terrain into your new hex as well. If it has not yet been mapped, check the direction from the second dice roll and use that terrain as the base. If neither has been mapped, then roll randomly on your list of terrain types (which you would define).
After this has been done, roll to see if there is a river starting or continuing. There are some complex rules here.
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Post by howandwhy99 on Mar 14, 2008 12:37:31 GMT -6
I do wilderness creation just like drawing a dungeon map. It looks just like any topographical or overland map with a legend and as many details as I feel like including. And I only add to the original drawing as much as I need. Enough to keep ahead of the players is all. And I try and use pencil only. Things tend to change in the world. Heck, you could say they are always changing, so inked maps of any kind tend to be less useful.
As far as populating them I think randomness is there as a challenge. I populate before play so I can come up with cool concepts and interlinked histories of the things in the world. Sometimes I have a cool concept even before I start rolling, so I have no problem just going with that. I think the randomness is there to help you fill in the blank pages. Sometimes people can freeze up and get very little done in no time at all because of writer's block or a lack of good ideas. Random rolls give ideas and offer a challenge for why things would be in the same place together. Are they allies? Enemies? Unknowns to each other? And if I can't overcome the challenge I just roll again. I'll take as many good ideas wherever I can get them too, so I steal mercilessly. It's not as if I can't hide the true form or keep it as cheese.
As far as hexes or squares I like to use plastic overlays and just draw my maps freehand on blank paper. Grid paper is always handy though in a pinch and a compass and ruler are definite musts. I personally prefer colored pencils for the big world map. 30 or 60 miles /inch. (for the divisibles)
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Post by castiglione on Apr 15, 2008 14:41:28 GMT -6
Was there ever a random wilderness generator ever written up a la the random dungeon generator in the back of DMG?
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Post by badger2305 on Apr 15, 2008 15:17:34 GMT -6
This topic is what i am going to cover in the next installment of the Wilderness Architect. Look for it tonight!
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Post by coffee on Apr 15, 2008 15:23:12 GMT -6
Woo hoo! Can't wait!
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Post by ffilz on Apr 15, 2008 15:42:49 GMT -6
Here's an online Source of the Nile website: www.amarriner.com/sotn/Complete with rules scans and game board images etc. Frank |
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Post by geoffrey on Apr 15, 2008 16:58:30 GMT -6
Was there ever a random wilderness generator ever written up a la the random dungeon generator in the back of DMG? on p. 173 of the DMG.  |
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Post by castiglione on Apr 15, 2008 17:51:31 GMT -6
Weird - never noticed that.
Is that the same random wilderness generator that was in one of the early Dragons?
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Post by badger2305 on Apr 16, 2008 8:58:56 GMT -6
Weird - never noticed that. Is that the same random wilderness generator that was in one of the early Dragons? If you are thinking of the one presented in The Dragon #10, I don't believe so. That one has an almost wargame like feel to it (which would make it potentially quite old school, but it's a different approach to this issue, I think). |
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Post by coffee on Apr 16, 2008 9:41:34 GMT -6
Weird - never noticed that. Is that the same random wilderness generator that was in one of the early Dragons? If that's the same one that was reprinted in Best of the Dragon v. I, then no. That one was designed for creating a battlefield; i.e.; laying out terrain on the tabletop for a battle (whether mass or man-to-man). It starts out by directing you to the table that corresponds to the terrain of the hex you're in ... |
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Post by Mordorandor on Oct 20, 2022 18:29:16 GMT -6
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