For Maps Sake #2 - Dyson Logos

I want to get right to the point on this one. In modern and retro gaming there is no better dungeon and adventure site illustrator, font of inspiration, and prompt for adventure design than Dyson Logos and his incomparable Dyson's Dodecahedron | Award Winning Dungeon Design (dysonlogos.blog) blog. 

I have been following Dyson for a very long time now. When I reengaged with the RPG community there were a few things that were a must: Johnn Four's Roleplaying Tips Role Playing Tips for Tabletop Game Masters and Dyson Logos' blog on mapping. With these two sites you could really dig on on being a better DM and having great mapping to start adventures with.

I have endlessly used Dyson's weekly map releases to flesh out a town, an adventure site, a region, or even a world. The maps are given free personal or sometimes commercial use.  I have often designed a region by starting with a dozen adventure sites that are simply interesting maps from Dyson, then fill them out once the players have decided to journey to the site, based upon rumor, quest or side quest, or exploration and treasure hunting. Dyson has a backstory for all of his maps. I typically am inspired enough by the map name and the map that I do not use the story. I prefer to develop my own.

When developing the site, I add numbers for room and encounter locations, add a quick background and history of the site, and write the descriptions for rooms, encounters, monsters, treasure, etc. I also use the map as the adventure base when online or print sections of it and use it as a physical base if playing in person. A snippet of one is below...

This is the Dujon of the Flooded Witch, the lair of a clasp of Night Hags plaguing people's dreams. It was originally called the Flooded Roots of the World by Dyson. 

HEre is just a selection of eye candy from Dyson's site.

If you want an amazing resource for your adventure sites ready to be populated with your traps, monsters, treasure, and maniacal laughter I encourage you to visit Dyson's blog site and take a real fun dive into some very deep waters on mapping. 

Enjoy. And thank you Dyson Logos for such an amazing resource for DM's and lovers of cartography alike.

Happy Adventuring

Leadaddict