Getting Into D&D 5e Adventures

One thing I really enjoy doing as a new DM is making battle maps for encounters and scenarios.  I also think it really helps some of the players since they’re fairly young by giving them a physical and visual reference of what is going on in the game (two of the players are 10 years old).

I knew I wanted to have the players deal with an encounter in the woods while traveling to the Dwarven Excavation.  I decided that I needed to create the map of the excavation site and temple first and then I’d set up the woodland encounter afterwards.

I started by getting my “go-to” supplies ready for map making and counting out the 5ft squares on the adventure map. My usually supplies are cheap wrapping paper from the Dollar Tree, markers we have laying around the house, and a pencil.  My inspiration for making the battle maps this way comes from a YouTube channel, Zipperon Disney, when I prepping for Dragons of Stormwreck Isle.  I decided that I would create separate tiles for all the hidden rooms and passages.  This plan gave me the basic size of paper I needed.

I sometimes sketch out the area in pencil and then trace it with a black marker.  I started by sketching out most of the temple space and then went straight to the black marker for the rest of the map and interiors.  Next, began to highlight and color my maps to give it some character and help everyone visual the look of the area.  I think adding some color looks a lot better than plain lines.  I went with different shades of gray markers I had to differentiate from rubble and walls.  I would use these markers to hash out solid walls too.

I think the look of the map made it so the players wouldn’t suspect that there were hidden passages and rooms.  If I mapped out the entire adventure they’d wonder what was under the hidden areas of the maps and know to search.

I set up the map and put it under the plastic “glass” from a cheap poster frame to keep it flat. I later realized I forgot to fill in the details of the temple courtyard and had to pull it out and draw in that section.  Live an learn.

Next up…the hidden passages and rooms.