[WIP] Castle Ravenloft 2D Battle Maps REDUX!

[Hervis]

Let me see if I can explain.

If you look at the position of the large staircase that goes all the way from the crypt to the top of the tower (K18 in the original module) as compared to the nearby one that goes from the dungeon upward (K21 in the original), you will notice that on the Larders of Ill Omen (and above) that the smaller staircase's center is in a different relative location to the large one. On the bottom level it is 10' west and 40' south of the larger staircase. On all of the other levels it is 30' west and 10' south.

The long hallway that leads from the brazier room doesn't also line up with the crypt that it comes up to. Here is an image that I hope helps explain it.

StairOffset.jpg

The 'too short' one is on the Court of the count, there is a long staircase near the north west corner that takes a turn up into the room with the 10 statues on the Rooms of weeping. This staircase shows that is goes 40' west, turns left, the becomes a half spiral at the end. In order for it to reach the destination shown on Rooms of Weeping it would have to go 50' West before turning to the left.

[pelinorerevived]

Let me see if I can explain.

If you look at the position of the large staircase that goes all the way from the crypt to the top of the tower (K18 in the original module) as compared to the nearby one that goes from the dungeon upward (K21 in the original), you will notice that on the Larders of Ill Omen (and above) that the smaller staircase's center is in a different relative location to the large one. On the bottom level it is 10' west and 40' south of the larger staircase. On all of the other levels it is 30' west and 10' south.

The long hallway that leads from the brazier room doesn't also line up with the crypt that it comes up to. Here is an image that I hope helps explain it.

StairOffset.jpg

If you draw the western portion of Map 12 like this then stairwells K21 and K18 are in the right positions all the way up...

Capture.PNG

The problem in the original isometric maps is that the foot of stair K21 is 40' lower than the foot of stair K18. Because the first flight of stair K21 is only drawn 10' high, it appears to be in the wrong position in the map - but if you were to extend it another 30' up then it would actually appear in its correct location behind area 24.

I hope this helps.

[wthrasherb]

@Hervis, Thanks dude! I started to ask you on Roll20, but decided I should teach myself. I'm going to try yours for now and see how I like it and THEN might take the time to do my own. Good looking out man!

[wthrasherb]

Hey folks! This is just a quick image post of how I've adjusted the floor pattern inside the keep and adjusted the grid to be plainly visible. I've also been working on figuring out how to do stairs all day. Some of you may laugh, but every version I tried today looked like crap and I had to try try again I also wasted A LOT of time in Illustrator. I finally figured out how to create a satisfying "stairs effect" that I SHOULD just be able to use as a sort of template from here forward, but it's not quite finished... I need YOUR help!

StairsandGrid_PROGRESS_POST.jpg

How do the stairs look? Do they look like they are going UP or DOWN?

What about the grid? How does it look now? Does it stand out enough now with the floor pattern?

Any other comments or thoughts on the stairs or grid?

Thanks!

[wthrasherb]

Ok, still no feedback from the community, but I'm still diligently working to make this map look better! I'm still focusing on the stairs until I get them right... that time may have come, at least for spiral stairs (strait stairs should be easy after this). I personally think this version looks great (just looking at the stairs here), but I'm still not sure I have the "UP and DOWN" effect correct yet.\

In this image STAIRS_TEST_02.jpg the stairs at the top should look like they are going "UP" and the stairs on the bottom should look like they are going "DOWN".

Please let me know what you think. Thanks!

Oh, and for those of you following my progress, I may slow down some due to starting a new job tomorrow... don't know exactly what kind of schedule/hours I'm working yet...

[Bogie]

Nice work. The grid looks ok on the lighter floor, but the glowing grid lines are distracting where it is above the darker stairwell. The stairs are clearly going down. I would consider putting a wall or a railing dividing the break between the lighter floor and the drop to the darker lower stairwell. The code enforcement officer will write you up for having an open unprotected drop, very hazardous.

EDIT, You posted before I could.
Oops, Nevermind, now I see you were going to go with stairs on both sides.

The stairs have a nice look to them and work the way they are intended.

[wthrasherb]

@Bogie, I agree the grid is a little distracting on the stairs. That can be masked out later prob. As for the direction of travel, do BOTH sets look like they are going down?

How can I make the top set look like they are going UP and the bottom set look like they are going down?

Thanks in advance for any input! I may be getting to bed soon, but I'll be back at it, bright and early in the morning.

[wthrasherb]

Ok, last thing and I'm off to bed for the night...

I just did a quick clean up of the grid lines over the stairs and I added some temporary notes to point out the directions I am intending for the stairs to be travelling.

Any feedback would be great! Thanks!

STAIRS_TEST_03.jpg

[Falconius]

It is because the "up" stairs also fade to black that makes it look like its receding. It would seem to me they need to get lighter as they ascend. I'd say get rid of that fade altogether there and just choose a stair to end on and have the black fill after that.

Other than that issue I think they look pretty fantastic, as do the other changes.

[Jacktannery]

Your stairs work really well - well done. I would be happy with them if I was you, I don't think you need to change them. It's obvious to me which part is going up and down. Good job.