I worked up a set of colored levels in Adobe illustrator, here they are one over the other in 2-D:
(click to get the full size image)
Here's the same place in a 3D-ish view:
(click to get the full size image)
I'm very visual and prone to do "studies" on a subject to see if I'm taking the right approach. The overall advantage of the two maps as presented is pretty minor but it did show me sticking to the same representation for the entire development of a large and complex space like the BigDungeon is not the way to go. Having more then one way to see the place is key.
I'd actually call illustrations like these groundbreaking, with no hyperbole intended.
ReplyDeleteToday's technology begs for whole new ways to look at the dungeon concept as a whole, new manifestations, new ways to manipulate the old tropes, which is just what you're doing here.
Very cool!
Plus, those graphics'd make a great t-shirt... :)
ReplyDeleteI spend a lot of time just enjoying the act of dungeon drawing.
ReplyDeleteoooh, T-shirts are a cool idea I haven't looked into...
rad. I just yoinked the 3d view to use in my Mutant Future game. I always need more floor plans.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
Very nice maps--like Kesher said--these are literally ground-breaking! The 3-D view of the levels so that one can track the interconnections is absolutely wonderful.
ReplyDeleteThe 3D aspect of mapping dungeons is the toughest part for me. I think "up and down" mobility are very important for a megadungeon, but its very hard to IMO to incorporate into megadungeon design given the size and scope of such a project. I've felt for some time that the 3D aspect of a megadungeon is the most difficult part of designing one, at least prior to keying the dungeon with encounters after its drawn.
ReplyDeleteYour statement that, "Keeping track of one level at a time conceals interactions and just how big a dungeon can be," is very apt.