Fantasy maps and mapmaking tutorials by Jonathan Roberts
We found out earlier this year that the world of Zobeck is really the world of Midgard, and the new material for the setting would be carrying the new branding in the future. I got the gig to design the logo, and this turned out to be not one logo but many. Now more of the logos have been revealed, I can show them off here (spoiler – there’s still one more to come).
Continue reading “Midgard is here! More Midgard logos and some map teasers”
What says norse more than Yggdrasil, the world tree? And what says steampunk more than clockwork gears?
The world tree of Rhune holds the different planes of existence, many of which represent different futures for the world of Midgard. Some represent the triumph of death, others a mechanistic hell and a few where good triumphs. Continue reading “The Great Tree – Yggdrasil with gears”
Rite Publishing has launched a new project today – the Ruins Perilous. The setting for the project is a seris of ruins used as a testing ground for the Questors’ Society. It’s loosely based in the sandbox setting of Questhaven, but can easily be dropped into any campaign. The twist on this project is that it’s a ransom project. People chip in money, and when the threshold is met, the room is released. Donations of more than $3 will net extra goodies – the high res jpg for the room, a side view illustration, a detailed top down token and more.
Here’s a low res sample of the first room to whet you’re appetite: Continue reading “Enter the Ruins Perilous”
In the US the Friday after Thanksgiving (that’s today) is traditionally the day for the biggest sale of the year. Now we can open up that sale to the whole world! Today only all maps in the Fantastic Maps Store will be 30% off! Continue reading “Black Friday Sale”
Open Design has released their latest patronage project – the Tales of the Old Margreve. It’s set deep in an ancient forest of dark happenings and lingering curses.
As the cartographer for the project I’ve just received the final pdf and it’s a beauty. The layout work is fantastic and really reinforces the feel of old eastern European legends and horror. The anthology draws on fairy stories of the old school. Anyone who read the Brother’s Grimm wouldn’t go gaily into the forest looking for elves. This forest is one of ancient power and you disrespect it at your peril. Continue reading “Gather round and hear Tales of the Old Margreve”
The official first installment of the D&D comic by IDW has hit the shelves and there’s an edition that comes with a module with a nice red cover (reminiscent of some older adventures on purpose I’m sure). There are maps and stats for the various creatures that the characters encounter in the comic. It was fine to be asked to do the maps for this – and here they are.
First off we have the opening location in a bar when a chasm opens in the floor and all sorts of badness comes out, the Staggered Goat:
Some time ago there was a discussion on the Kobold Quarterly forums to decide upon a layout for the Midgard logo, the logo that would represent the world of Zobeck. This caused some interest (to put it mildly) and many opinions were presented for and against different designs. I was then asked to go off with these and make everyone happy. This was one that passed the cut:
The final logo officially appeared for the first time in this month’s Kobold Quarterly so I can finally share it with the world! This is actually one of the five final logos – but you’ll have to wait for the others.
The new Kobold Quarterly is out in pdf – and being shipped in physical form. It’s a beautiful creation with a very lovely cover. I was asked to do a map illustration for the interior for a vertical battlemap. Here’s a downsized (25%) preview of the map:
This one completes the set of map packs from the Coliseum Morpheuon project by Rite Publishing. This map is a great stepped ziggurat that players must assault. This can work as an ancient ritual site, as a half buried relic of an ancient culture or as a location for the crowning of the party after they have defeated a great evil. Continue reading “The Stepped Pyramid”
Two new map packs on sale this week – Glass Ships and Icebergs and the Arena of Fire. These are both from the Coliseum Morpheuon project by Rite Publishing and form the backdrop for different contests in the adventure. In you own campaign these could be the terrain for an arctic exploration with ice breakers, or the entrance to a frozen underwater lair. The Arena of Fire could be an alien vault with a river of lava or the central square of a city, shaken by an erupting volcano. Continue reading “New Map Packs – The Ice Ships and the Arena of Fire”
