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big teej
2011-02-17, 06:18 PM
so I'm prepping for next session and I realize that 3 encounters is NOT enough for the whole session.

which means I need to prep PAST the entrance to the dragon's cave.

which means I need a map.

suggestions on where to find one?

(a dungeon maker program would be FANTASTIC)

Enix18
2011-02-17, 07:52 PM
Unfortunately, as far as I am aware most map-making programs aren't free, so unless you're willing to shell out a sizable sum you're out of luck.

Even so, there are plenty of resources for pre-made maps on the internet. A simple Google search would probably turn up some useful results. As a starting place, you might look here: http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/arch/mw

big teej
2011-02-17, 07:57 PM
I appreciate that.

though it saddens me that there isn't a "build a dungeon" thingy somewhere

you think there'd be an app for that.

OracleofWuffing
2011-02-17, 08:16 PM
I appreciate that.

though it saddens me that there isn't a "build a dungeon" thingy somewhere

you think there'd be an app for that.

Build a dungeon thingy? You could use something like this (http://www.gozzys.com/article.php?cm_id=8). It doesn't handle what encounters go on, though, so you'll still have to do that the hard way, or write an incredibly simple puzzle for your players to overcomplicate.

Savannah
2011-02-17, 08:21 PM
Myth-Weavers' random dungeon generator (http://www.myth-weavers.com/generate_dungeon.php?) will make a random floorplan and fill it with random monsters, traps, treasure, etc. Note that everything is random, so you'll need to tweak it to make sense for your game.

Cog
2011-02-17, 08:26 PM
Myth-Weavers' random dungeon generator (http://www.myth-weavers.com/generate_dungeon.php?) will make a random floorplan and fill it with random monsters, traps, treasure, etc.
This one (http://donjon.bin.sh/d20/dungeon/) is similar, but gives a few different options for you to look at.

Vrythas
2011-02-17, 09:34 PM
I have actually been looking for the same thing since i wanted to start my own D&D group. i found a program called pymapper. it was made using python code, so it is compatible with both mac and pc. it allows you to use tile sets to design your own dungeon, as well as place in notes about monsters and NPC's. the link to the developer's site is here (http://pymapper.com/). i've used it, and found it really helpful (although i'm still working on how to be a DM before i get my group together)

Katana_Geldar
2011-02-17, 09:36 PM
There's always maptool, but that's not printer-friendly.

Draz74
2011-02-17, 09:41 PM
MapTool has one of these you can import into it, too.

big teej
2011-02-17, 10:53 PM
suhweet!

thanks everybody, hopefully those will work :smallbiggrin:

Gnoman
2011-02-18, 11:46 AM
MapTool has one of these you can import into it, too.

Oh? I use MapTool for my online game, and this interests me.

Reynard
2011-02-18, 11:49 AM
Oh? I use MapTool for my online game, and this interests me.

File -> Add Resource to Library.

There's a small selection of free stuff you can download, but you can also browse your own machine for images to use as tokens/backgrounds.

Gnoman
2011-02-18, 11:57 AM
Oh. I thought you were talking about a program expansion to integrate a better mapmaker.

EccentricCircle
2011-02-18, 06:13 PM
While its not a computer program the 4e Dungeon Masters Guide has a section on random dungeon generation. i'm sure at least one 3e book as something simialr thoguh I can't recall which off the top of my head. the DMG has lots of tables of rooms corridor lengths and furnishings. It does require a pencil and graph paper though, so the various programs you've been recomended would probably be better in this case. still the random roll tables are fun as a starting point when planning out a dungeon so long as you aren't afraid to customise the results you get to suit what you want to build.

i've used it for a planescape game where the characters were mazed while exploring Sigil. rather than mapping out a dungeon before hand I rolled it as they went along so no one know what was coming next and it was actually infinite. it works quite well if used inteligently but requires a bit of DM improvisation to justify why all of the elements fit together.

jamesbard
2011-02-19, 12:47 AM
donjon Random Dungeon Generator (http://donjon.bin.sh/d20/dungeon/) (there's also a 4e version (http://donjon.bin.sh/4e/dungeon/))