Madness at Gardmore Abbey Encounter Maps

[Jacktannery]

This is a set of encounter maps I made to run the 4th Edition Dungeons and Dragons module 'Madness at Gardmore Abbey' published by WotC.

The maps are made from scratch using the GIMP and resources downloaded from the intergoogleweb, particularly from this forum and the Dunjinni forums. Bogie and jfrazierjr also provided invaluable advice that helped greatly improve the maps.

The WIP thread for these maps is here http://www.cartographersguild.com/sh...Encounter-Maps. I have not uploaded ungridded versions because it is too onerous, however the grids are quite subtle. All maps are at a scale of 100 pixels per grid square and 72 PPI, and generally measure 2000 x 2000 pixels but the size is very variable; with the single exception of the Watchtower Overview map at 50 pixels per grid square.

I am not uploading the 'missing' encounters because these are depicted in the poster maps that come with the module – Jason Engle did these for WotC and they are magnificent. Following NeonKnight, hopefully not redoing these will help to reduce piracy.

All maps are for non-commercial use only.


Part 1: Gardmore Village

Encounter 1: Main Gate

1 Main Gate2.jpg 1 Main Gate Upstairs.jpg

Encounter 2: N/a

Encounter 3: Double Talk. The keep is Bogie's church in his 'Back Alley' scene ; the sandy rocks are by Neyjour.

3 Keep courtyard.jpg

Encounter 4: Ruined Garisson (WotC provided an excellent map for this encounter, no need to remake)

Encounter 5: Arcanian's Lab

5 Arcanian ground floor.jpg

Encounter 6: Arcanian's Study

6 Arcanian Study.jpg

Encounter 7: The Chieftain's Retinue. Staircase and balustrades from Dunjinni forums.

7 Chieftan's Retinue .jpg

Encounter 8: The Orc Chieftan (WotC provided an excellent map for this encounter, no need to remake)

[Jacktannery]

Part 2: The Feywild

Encounter 9: Outer Gardens. Trees by Kepli.

9 outer garden.JPG

Encounter 10: The Whispering Grove.

10 Whispering Grove.jpg

Encounter 11: Bell Tower.

11 belltower.jpg 11 belltower Interior view.jpg

Encounter 12: Groundskeeper's Cottage.

12 cottage.jpg 12 cottage2.jpg

Encounter 13 & possibly more: Font of Ioun. Fountain by Supercaptain.

13 Font of Ioun.jpg


Part 3 - Encounters 14-17: The Watchtower

Watchtower Overview. Inspired by a sketch on these forums.

14 Watchtower.jpg

Watchtower Ground Floor (Far Realm)

14 Watchtower - Psycho.jpg

Watchtower Ground Floor (Defending the Watchtower) Interior tiles on these are by Neyjour/Bogie.

14 Watchtower - Interior Ground Floor.jpg

Watchtower Main Floor (The Last Defenders)

14 Watchtower - Interior Middle Floor.jpg

Watchtower Top Floor (Defending the Watchtower)

14 Watchtower - Interior tpo floor.jpg

[Jacktannery]

Part 4 - Dragon's Roost

Encounter 18: Heroes' Gate

Hero's Gate.jpg

Encounter 19: Barracks

Enc 20.jpg

Encounter 20: Hall of Glory

Enc 20.jpg

Encounter 21 & 22: Temple (WotC provided an excellent map for these encounters, no need to remake)


Part 5 - The Catacombs

Encounter 23: Altar of Glory

Enc 23.jpg

Encounter 24: Font of Divine Health

Enc 24.jpg

Encounter 25: Memorial Chamber

Enc 25.jpg

Encounter 26: Dragonslayers' Tomb

Enc 26.jpg

Encounter 27: Great Hall (WotC provided an excellent map for this encounter, no need to remake)


Part 6 - The Vaults

Encounter 28: Hall of Erathis

Enc 28b.jpg

Encounter 29: Arena of Kord

Enc 29.jpg

Encounter 30: Feast Hall of Moradin

Enc 30.jpg

Encounter 31: Hall of Bahamut

Enc 31.jpg

Encounter 32: Sun Hall of Pelor

Enc 32b.jpg

Encounter 33: Great Temple (WotC provided an excellent map for this encounter, no need to remake)

[lothel]

Completely incredible! These are amazing and hopefully I can one day learn how to make something like this


Have you thought about making a tutorial or recommending ones that you used for these maps?

[Jacktannery]

Thank you lothel. I'm not sure I can do a tutorial because I don't have much of a system - its just lots and lots of shading and recolouring and luck. I'm also quite surprised how well they turned out. It is my second set of maps using the GIMP, and I'm still learning how to use it since I started in December. I think the main thing is confidence: if I had seen these maps last november I would have assumed that I could never make anything like that. I'm not very artistic (I thought!) or particularly good at computers.

If you wanted and had the time, I would be happy to take you through the entire process from concept to completion of an encounter map using the GIMP in the WIP thread here: http://www.cartographersguild.com/sh...Encounter-Maps. Just download the GIMP (its free and works on mac or pc) and post in that thread and we'll work through it stage by stage together.

[Jacktannery]

Edited (maps removed and added above).

[Lukc]

Good stuff there Jack! You're turning into a real pro battlemapper

[ithildin]

Do you have any advice on printing these? I'm not sure how to split them up into pages for home printing and I don't want to spend $20 on each one for a poster from FedEx

[Jacktannery]

I'm afraid not ithildin. I just import them into a google drawing document and my players move their token around on them online (I DM online). If I was going to print these I would use a process of trial and error on my own home printer (try printing it on one A4 sheet, then try printing it in two halves on two A4 sheets, and so on) until I found something that worked. If you do find out a good system do let me know as I'd be interested in how they print out.

[ithildin]

The best option would be a projector battlemap! Alas I don't have one of those. I'll have to play around with printing and see if I can do it in a cost effective way. I love these maps btw. Nice work.