Very cool map Kiskstarter finishing soon - great VTT maps

[Trenloe]

I've backed previous Kickstarters from this guy and Kris does great artwork - and this Kickstarter is perfect for FG VTT use, with lots of different generic maps that you can put together for those encounters that pop up during your games.

You get 11 different terrains in PDF format for approx $20 USD (the prices are in Australian Dollars) with each terrain type having a few terrain tiles that allows you to create different layouts. You can extract the images from the PDF for use in Fantasy Grounds, and Kris will provide graphics files at 72dpi (just let him know in the survey).

Bot long left, get in while you can: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/gametilewarehouse/meanders-themed-boards-with-connecting-paths-for-r

[Zacchaeus]

Ok, done

[Gwydion]

I've backed previous Kickstarters from this guy and Kris does great artwork - and this Kickstarter is perfect for FG VTT use, with lots of different generic maps that you can put together for those encounters that pop up during your games.

You get 11 different terrains in PDF format for approx $20 USD (the prices are in Australian Dollars) with each terrain type having a few terrain tiles that allows you to create different layouts. You can extract the images from the PDF for use in Fantasy Grounds, and Kris will provide graphics files at 72dpi (just let him know in the survey).

Bot long left, get in while you can: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/gametilewarehouse/meanders-themed-boards-with-connecting-paths-for-r

Just so I'm clear, if you purchase the Meander superpack at $25 AUD or roughly $19 USD you get the pdfs and can extract the images yourself but in addition if you note on the survey you want 72 dpi graphics files, is this for the individual tiles that make up the 11 maps you get so you can create your own? I think I'll go ahead and get these, just trying to understand what the 72 dpi graphic files will be. Thanks!

[Myrdin Potter]

I backed it at the level that includes the gimp building block files and the detailed instructions. My daughter is currently starting art classes at our local college and she wants to learn more digital techniques anyways.

The file size seems pretty large - 40 Meg, but I am hoping that cropping and saving down in quality will solve most of that problem.

[Gwydion]

I backed it at the level that includes the gimp building block files and the detailed instructions. My daughter is currently starting art classes at our local college and she wants to learn more digital techniques anyways.

The file size seems pretty large - 40 Meg, but I am hoping that cropping and saving down in quality will solve most of that problem.

Thanks, Myrdin! I think I'll jump in as well.

[Gwydion]

Thanks, Myrdin! I think I'll jump in as well.

Just backed at the $35 AUD/$25 USD level. Now, who to gift the other set to.... Santa knows who has been naughty and who has been nice..... :)

[Gwydion]

I read your comment about the file size, Myrdin and now I just saw the comment by the author that even at 72 dpi, one map file size is 40MB. Like you say, Myrdin, hopefully we can save down so they still look decent and under 1MB! We will see......

[Myrdin Potter]

His maps are huge, so if you are using a more normal screen size map and scale it for tokens and VTT use, I think it will be fine. He is making a big board to be used on a table with miniatures. You need very high resolution to pull that off. The upside is that as you save it down in quality for screen size, the higher base resolution should help the final product look better.

My bigger concern about the Kickstarter is that the funding level is highly dependent on one $1K pledge.

[Trenloe]

My bigger concern about the Kickstarter is that the funding level is highly dependent on one $1K pledge.
Ooohhh, didn't spot that.

30 minutes to hold on... Great that Kris (the designer) has added the Cthulhu meanders to the rewards. Need another $140 (AUD) to be pledged to get the next stretch goal - Western, which will be great for Deadlands...

[Myrdin Potter]

And I asked further about file size and it looks like will be fine.

I tend to look for one or two big pledges and my experience is that Kickstarters are almost always late if they involve printing anything (with a few exceptions that prove the rule).

I bet this one is delivered on time and we'all be happy. And that Kris learns enough to repackage the graphics into VTT friendly form.

[Trenloe]

The A$1000 didn't flake out at the last minute. :)

I've backed one of Kris's Kickstarters before that included printed products and he turned it around very quickly. He's also very open to providing the maps in a usable digital format.

[Myrdin Potter]

And he unlocked Wild West as well.

[Gwydion]

And he unlocked Wild West as well.

Yep. Very cool! Thanks again for lettings us know about this, Trenloe!

[gtw2017]

G'day guys. This is Kris from GTW, and the dude behind the Meanders campaign :) Thanks very much for backing me - Martin Blake, from here, (Trenloe?) and I were trying different things, I got one down to 2.88mb just from screenshot, crop and restretch but he just shared a technique to get the proper VTT maps in GIMP:

"For the VTT maps, people can do the whole process in GIMP - no need to take a screenshot.
1) Resize the map in GIMP to whatever pixels/5 foot square resolution is needed - usually between 50-100 pixels per map square. I tend to use 50 pixels per 5 foot square on the map, or sometimes 100 pixels when displaying on a TV for a face-to-face game.
2) Export from GIMP as a JPG - choose a quality level of around 75 (a bit lower if you want to save more space). You should then have an image that is the right resolution for your chosen VTT and at a good small size (0.5 - 1.5MB).
For example, I took the very nice "10x10 Prison Tower Complex by Day.png" from your previous KS (original size 12.3MB, 3000x3000 pixels), resized to 1000x1000 pixels (100 pixels per square) and exported as a JPG with quality = 75. This still looks great on screen and is 0.24MB in size."

As to the large backer, a guy in the States came in, did the campaign and me a huge favour and bought 24 boards - pushing the campaign over into the funded state, which brought a deluge of backing. It was nervous going for a while there though. My Kickstarters have not yet been late, and in fact ahead of quoted timeframes - and I will work hard to ensure this one is no exception. I'm not one of those guys that pockets the money and sits on his *** - I'm an old school gamer, and I work hard to ensure my products are on time and delivered to promise.

If I need to do something extra to the original files to make them more usable for you guys, then no problem, we'll cross that bridge if we come to it and I'll do what I can to assist.

I also set up a paypal pledge if you want to jump in, or didn't have a credit card, at gametilewarehousedotcom

Look forward to getting to know you all - and thank you again for your support with Meanders.

Kind Regards,
Kris

[Zacchaeus]

Hi kris welcome to the community.

Yeah, that Trenloe guy is pretty good. We're still trying to figure out who he is though :D

[Andraax]

Are you planning on adding any more pledge levels that get the PNG pieces? That's really all I'm interested in, but I didn't get there quick enough...

[Trenloe]

We're still trying to figure out who he is though :D

https://www.fantasygrounds.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=16183

[gtw2017]

Hey Andraax, there's only one pledge level to get the PNG's and that's anything $45 or over. You can still get it via paypal at my Game Tile Warehouse pledger.

[Andraax]

Hey Andraax, there's only one pledge level to get the PNG's and that's anything $45 or over. You can still get it via paypal at my Game Tile Warehouse pledger.

When I tried to get in on the KS, the $45 AUD pledge level was closed and would not allow me to pledge. If I pledge now via PayPal, it's $45 USD, which is more. I'll have to think about it... :-)

[gtw2017]

Its in USD? Well ****. Be right back - thanks for the heads up!

EDIT - Fixed, sorry about that, it was supposed to be AUD, and I thought it was - its fixed now.

[Andraax]

Done deal.

[gtw2017]

Thanks Andraax!

I posted a detailed report on expected time frames for finishing up (approx 2 weeks from now) [link below] if you want to check out more info - and if there is anything else you need to know, hit me up here or there or via the email reply I sent you.

End of Kickstarter Update for Meanders (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/gametilewarehouse/meanders-themed-boards-with-connecting-paths-for-r/posts/1732355)

[Myrdin Potter]

What resolution (DPI) should I pick? It seems that 300 DPI can always be scaled down for screen use but is best for printing. Am I right?

[Trenloe]

What resolution (DPI) should I pick? It seems that 300 DPI can always be scaled down for screen use but is best for printing. Am I right?
Yep. That's what I've gone for.

[Gwydion]

Yep. That's what I've gone for.

I should have posted that question! I already asked for 72 dpi but maybe I'll see if he will change it.....

[LordEntrails]

Remember, DPI does not affect how it appears on your computer screen. DPI = dots per inch, monitors do not use inches, they use dots/pixels. So, an image that is 1000x2000 pixels at 100 dpi will PRINT at 10" x 20", but will appear on your SCREEN at 1000x2000 pixels (until you scale it). An image that is 1000x2000 pixels at 300 dpi will PRINT at 3.3" x 7.3" but will appear on your screen EXACTLY the same.

[Myrdin Potter]

Except the file sizes are very different and the appearance when printed varies. So you can scale the file size down from super high resolution but you cannot take 75 DPI file and. Are it any higher resolution for printing. Many printers are much higher resolution than screens are.

I am correct in that?

[Trenloe]

Remember, DPI does not affect how it appears on your computer screen.
Correct.

However, Kris (the cartographer on this Kickstarter) uses DPI to refer to pixels per square - as he's used to printing the maps out at one inch per square, not making them for VTTs. So, in this case, DPI as quoted by Kris does impact the final image that we'll get - and so how it appears on the screen.

[LordEntrails]

Correct.

However, Kris (the cartographer on this Kickstarter) uses DPI to refer to pixels per square - as he's used to printing the maps out at one inch per square, not making them for VTTs. So, in this case, DPI as quoted by Kris does impact the final image that we'll get - and so how it appears on the screen.
So he really means DPIPS *G*
DPI Per Square :)

[NotRussellCrowe]

Except the file sizes are very different and the appearance when printed varies. So you can scale the file size down from super high resolution but you cannot take 75 DPI file and. Are it any higher resolution for printing. Many printers are much higher resolution than screens are.

I am correct in that?

Hi, Myrdin Potter!

File size is related to bit depth, pixel dimensions, and compression algorithm. DPI is not factored into file size as it is just one value used when printing the file (of course the file stores this value among many others but that's all in the file header and compared to storing pixels is insignificant).

DPI is only used when printing and can either be explicitly specified by the user or implicitly calculated by the application if you state what your physical dimensions are instead; basically you set your physical printing size or your DPI, the other is always calculated for you. To test this you can take the same image and print it at different DPI values. What you will see different is the physical size of the image (4x5 vs 8x10) and the quality of the image, meaning you will be able to see more individual dots further away when you print at lower DPI (they are not pixels on the page, those are dots).

It's been a while since I've thought about printer tech, but I believe printers have a default resolution that they always print at but then scale what you send it so it "appears" that they print at lower DPI, otherwise you would see between the dots on the page and that generally isn't done unless you're doing a halftone print I believe (again it's been a while so if someone can verify that would be great).

Now screens do have a DPI, easy enough to figure out if you know the x pixel count, especially on LCD where there is no casing around the screen obscuring pixels like CRTs have. I believe that most are either 72 or 96 but I cannot remember what monitors are what, might be an old CRT formula too, which makes sense because when I learned all this there were no LCD screens.

Hope that helps!

Kelly

[LordEntrails]

My comment about screen DPI does stand corrected, but the number for current screens is much higher than Kelly mentions. For instance, my screen is about 13.5" x 7.6" and the max screen resolution is 3200 x 1800. Which give a screen resolution of about 236 dpi. Much higher than the old CRTs :)

My phone, I think is about 4.3" and 1920 ?? which would give something about 445.

[NotRussellCrowe]

My comment about screen DPI does stand corrected, but the number for current screens is much higher than Kelly mentions. For instance, my screen is about 13.5" x 7.6" and the max screen resolution is 3200 x 1800. Which give a screen resolution of about 236 dpi. Much higher than the old CRTs :)

My phone, I think is about 4.3" and 1920 ?? which would give something about 445.

I feel silly for not even thinking about that. Got stuck in the past I guess :)

Thanks!

Kelly

[Myrdin Potter]

Anyone playing with the maps that were released yet?

[Myrdin Potter]

This is what I have been doing:

Open map in adobe reader.

Select and copy the image.

Paste into gimp

Open up scale image

Divide the current size by 6 (right now the grid is 300 pixels per square)

Save as .jpg at 50% quality

Results in a file below 300 kb

Open that file in Fantasy Grounds and set the grid to 50 pixels per square.

You get a grid of 27 squares by 18 for forest A (with a little extra because of the "bleed") and it looks very nice. The forest trails are a little narrow, usually just a little wider than one square wide, not 100% sure what he intended as the square to feet ratio in the original art design.

At the typical 6 squares movement rate, it will take 5 turns on a trail not counting the wandering the trails do to cross from left to right which is quite good for a typical outdoor encounter map. And the meanders fit together so you can have a few ready so if they move off the edge of one you can just bring up another.

[Andraax]

You do realize that GIMP can open PDFs natively? (You don't need the copy and paste step, nor Adobe...)

[Trenloe]

You do realize that GIMP can open PDFs natively? (You don't need the copy and paste step, nor Adobe...)
Good reminder, I sometimes forget that.

[LordEntrails]

You do realize that GIMP can open PDFs natively? (You don't need the copy and paste step, nor Adobe...)
I didn't know that. Thanks, that will be useful!

[Myrdin Potter]

I know almost nothing about gimp or image processing which is why I went for the $45 aud option that comes with a guide to using gimp to manipulate the files.

:-)

I will see about opening the files directly in gimp, but Adobe Reader does have a nice tabs feature that lets me view a bunch of files at once.

[Trenloe]

but Adobe Reader does have a nice tabs feature that lets me view a bunch of files at once.
So does GIMP - just open multiple PDFs in GIMP, each one will be shown as a separate image.

[Myrdin Potter]

Now, I have been using AR for about as long as it has existed and I can use it with my eye closed (ok, then I can't see the file I want to read ...).

When I open GIMP, I get this floating menu bar to the left and a program screen to the right and I have a webpage open on another screen telling me specifically what buttons to click....

I'll take a look at in nonetheless. Always learning new things on this forum.

-----

OK, when I cut and paste from adobe reader, I get a much larger file in pixel size and it seems 72 dpi resolution (probably an AR setting to optimize for screen use). If I open in GIMP, I get a different pixel size and an offer to use 100 dpi. I did the other 3 forest maps the same as the first so they all match up, but I will see if I can just say 50 dpi in GIMP when I open and get the same net result is pixel size.

[gtw2017]

Hey there :) So I'm trying to convert these files down to less than 1mb so I can make them and future Meanders avilable on DrivethruRPG - but so far I've only managed 5mb even when altering the scale image to 50.00 and saving as a jpg at 20%. Can we work this one out together Myrdin - I'd love to be able to standardize these maps for VTT asap.

[Myrdin Potter]

For VTT use, all I did was click on the image in the PDF and copy it, paste into GIMP, scale down to make the automated grid 50 pixels and then save from gimp at 50%. I sent you an example file. Clocks in at .25 MB.

For VTT it looks fine.

For Fantasy Grounds, I would save the images into a map module so the files can easily be used in different campaigns without copying the images from campaign to campaign.

[gtw2017]

Thank you Myrdin, trying this now - I was starting with the base XCF 300dpi, not loading the already de-sized PDF - so maybe that was the problem. Can I ask you to elaborate on what you mean by saving images into a map module?

[gtw2017]

Hm. I'm not sure if I'm getting it. I opened the gridless (116mb) PDF directly in GIMP. Changed the scale image to 50.000 x 50.000 per Inch. Then saved as a JPG at 50% Quality and got 1.19mb - is that acceptable?

[Myrdin Potter]

You would need to have Fantasy Grounds. Fantasy Grounds puts files into zip containers but changes the .zip to a .mod.

You would open a "development campaign", put the images you want in the module in the images folder, and then export them to a module using Fantasy Gounds. That would result in a .mod file,that is a bundle of the images. Now to use those images in any game I am running, I just need to open the module and the images become available. If I wanted to sell them, then I could sell the .mod file.

If you want to sell Fantasy Grounds versions, Smiteworks does maintain a store here and I would write them about what it takes to sell here. As far as I know, only the DMS Guild site from One Book Shelf explicitly supports FG files (and gives Smiteworks a small cut of the proceeds).

I don't think any of this helps to make the PDF smaller, though. And I buy PDF larger than 5 mb all the time on OBS.

[gtw2017]

OK... Can you use PDF's to convert to FG? I.e. Could a 12mb or higher PDF file be converted to JPG and then to MOD by an FG user? I am not yet ready to convert files to every possible format - but putting them as PDF's on DriveThruRPG is a first step.

[Myrdin Potter]

I used the PDF you provided for the Kickstarter. I sent you an example file by email of what I ended up with which is fine for FG use. FG draws the grid when it displays the file (once you turn in grids inside the program) and that grid can autosize tokens.

Making a map module is just about the simplest of all modules to make as it is just the images files.

[gtw2017]

Thank you - but I still don't understand what you mean my Map Module - do you mean, join the related Meanders together?

[Myrdin Potter]

A FG module is a .zip container renamed. It is just files grouped together, not joined in any way.

[Andraax]

I just fired up GIMP and loaded "Jungle Terrain A no grid" from PDF. I read it at 300dpi, then did an image scale to 33.33%. Exported as JPG, 50%, chroma quartered, and it ended up 800kb. That would make 50 pixel for 5' in FG, if you assume those paths are about 10' wide...

[Myrdin Potter]

https://www.fantasygrounds.com/forums/showthread.php?34534-Storm-King-s-Thunder-Maps

That thread had a map module you can download. Change the .mod to .zip and you can open the file and look at it.

[Myrdin Potter]

I just fired up GIMP and loaded "Jungle Terrain A no grid" from PDF. I read it at 300dpi, then did an image scale to 33.33%. Exported as JPG, 50%, chroma quartered, and it ended up 800kb. That would make 50 pixel for 5' in FG, if you assume those paths are about 10' wide...

Based on the grid version, you need to scale at 16.6%. 1393 pixels across is what I ended up with. Still 50 pixels = 5' , but these things are all subjective as well.

[Trenloe]

Thank you - but I still don't understand what you mean my Map Module - do you mean, join the related Meanders together?
A Fantasy Grounds map module is a file that FG loads into it's library - it is a single file in a very specific Fantasy Grounds format. A library module can contain all sorts of information - text entries/descriptions, maps/images, RPG system specific details (PCs, NPCs, Magic items, etc.). As you're not familiar with Fantasy Grounds, nor did you promise to produce a Fantasy Grounds module, IMHO I wouldn't worry about producing a Fantasy Grounds module. Maybe a nice FG community member will do that for you? It will be a lot quicker and easier for them to do it rather than you.

Regarding image file sizes. This is what I have done to get the map images down below 1MB in size, with good resolution and nice quality:

Load the PDF directly into GIMP and select a "Resolution" of 100 pixels/inch. See first screenshot below.
Select File -> Export As. Change the filename to what you want it to be and so that it has .jpg as the extension and click "Export".
The "Export Image as JPEG" window appears - see second screenshot below. Change "Quality" to 50 (#1 in screenshot). Expand the "Advanced Options" and change "Subsampling" to "4:2:0 (chroma quartered)" and click "Export" (#2 in screenshot).


https://www.fantasygrounds.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=16717

https://www.fantasygrounds.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=16716

Using this method I have kept the resolution at 100 pixels/inch (good resolution to meet most people's demands) and reduced the size to less than 1MB. For three tests I did (autumnal forest A and B and Forest A - all no grid) produced 949kb, 966kb and 822kb, respectively.

I think this approach is fine for providing files for VTT use. If individuals want to try to reduce the file size further they can easily do that themselves.

[Myrdin Potter]

What do you set the grid to inside of FG? To more directly convert using the files with the grid on it already, the file needs to be a further 50% scale smaller to make 50 pixels per inch work. You can, of course, use 100 pixels per inch and get the same result but the window is larger in the screen and a little harder to use.

[Trenloe]

If Kris is providing a one-off set of files for VTT use I'd recommend he provides a better quality than most people will use. There are quite a few people on these forums who use more than 50 pixels per grid square, and so they would not be happy with 50 pixels. 100 pixels is a good level that will keep most people happy. And it's a simple process within FG to resize and zoom out to make it fit on any user's screen (of which there could be many different sizes, and even 50 pixels per grid square could be too big for some).

It is just a quick resize once the image is opened within FG: use CTRL+left mouse button to get a nice width on your screen and then use right-click -> Resize -> Resize Vertical, which will keep the width you've set and resize the height of the map to fit that width. It's a 2 second process to get the map at the right size you want on the screen. Something that most everyone will want to do once the image is shared anyway.

There's no "perfect" resolution to cover everyone's requirements - so it's better to provide more than most people want (as long as file size and quality allow) rather than less.

[gtw2017]

A FG module is a .zip container renamed. It is just files grouped together, not joined in any way.

Thanks - I had a feeling that is what you meant but just had to have the terms you were using translated into mine. And do they function adequately for VTT with your changes - and for you too Andraax?

[Myrdin Potter]

I guess the only other thing is that many maps meant to be used in FG use one square somewhere on the map as a guide for grid size. For the meander maps, they are out doors and with the exception of maybe the treetop village and the castles, there is not much need to align a grid with a structure, and sizing the grid by eye for what you want from the encounter works well enough.

My players are quite impressed by the look of the maps. The trails in the forest are a little narrow (about 5' wide), but you can adjust by changing the grid size if you want to.

I was able to easily convert for FG use and I am no where near as experienced as Trenloe.

As I mentioned in the Kickstarter comments, roads through different terrain types are super common for encounters in RPG and more open fields also are common. Could have some terrain like hills.

[gtw2017]

Trenloe - perfect information grab - thank you, I was looking at that screen earlier but didn't want to mess with it - that will help immensely, as has your help Myrdin and Andraax. I will be putting the means to buy the Hi Res files up on my website shortly - (and this will eventually include Meanders 2) while I will add a lower res 100 DPI set to DriveThruRPG as Jpgs. And potentially another digital set through Shopify on facebook.
But this is all very useful and I appreciate you guys taking the time to explain it to me. Is there anything I can do for the future meanders 2 designs to assist - besides making the paths at least 2" wide and probably more like 3" and 4" to balance out the narrow paths in Meanders 1?

[gtw2017]

PS - Roads are a definite, as are Blenders to merge terrain types, as are Edgers to add an dge to forest for example that peter out into fields etc. Meanders 2 will make Meanders 1 more complete.

[gtw2017]

Thanks Trenloe - using that technique I have successfully gotten the image down under 1mb as recommended. Much appreciated!

[Trenloe]

It is just a quick resize once the image is opened within FG: use CTRL+left mouse button to get a nice width on your screen and then use right-click -> Resize -> Resize Vertical, which will keep the width you've set and resize the height of the map to fit that width. It's a 2 second process to get the map at the right size you want on the screen. Something that most everyone will want to do once the image is shared anyway.
Quick demo video of this process (and showing off a couple of Kris's maps):

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B6oOdW6SsMwsOG9TdHczb0pHZ2c

Note: Since making this video there is now another right-click menu resize option "Small Size". This sizes the map/image to fit on the screen, allowing you to: make small, size window in one direction as desired, resize horizontally/vertically.

[damned]

They are nice maps indeed. Thanks Trenloe.

[gtw2017]

It might be of interest to know, thanks to folk's assistance with the initial Kickstarter and kindly answering my follow-on questions about VTT - GTW is now selling a 48 piece 100 DPI set of Meander JPGS on DriveThruRPG (https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/199578/MEANDERS-SynchableTerrain-Maps-MegaPack) - & - Higher Resolution PDF's in Square Gridded, Hex Gridded, Cross-haired and Gridless all in a single bundle 300 DPI (https://gametilewarehouse.wixsite.com/rpgtilesupply/buymeanders) can be purchased from gametilewarehouse.com

Thank you for all your help guys!

(EDIT - DriveThruRPG account since cancelled - will work out another way in the near future to distribute)

[Myrdin Potter]

New Kickstarter - this time for digital coin designs. Probably not as immediately useful as battlemaps, but could be a nice flavor element for your campaign.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/gametilewarehouse/digital-coin-forge-design-print-rpg-coins-on-your

[gtw2017]

Thank you - it's almost funded and within an hour - and speaking of battlemaps, Meanders 2 is already underway Myrdin...

[Bidmaron]

I registered for the $75 level. This looks awesome and I can see asking dulux to update his extensions to support links to coin images and currency specifics

[gtw2017]

CONFIRMED:

Forest Edges (peter into fields)
Forest with Hillocks and Road
Forest Grove / Henge
Forest Road Section - Straight
Forest Road Section - Straight with Inn
Forest Road Section - T-section (base road lower)
Forest Road Section - T-section (base road upper)
Forest Road Section - Crossroads
Forest Road Section - Road Bend /Busted Wagon / Cut Tree Clearing
Forest Road Section - Road Bend 2 / Pond / Fallen Tree
Open Field
Forest Creature Home / Underground and Above
Tangled Evil Forest
Pre-Battle Field with Fortifications / Barricaded Village
Post-Battle Field with Blood / Gore / Dropped/Battered Shields.
Desert Tomb / Giant Statue Entrance
Desert Canyons
Desert Graveyard
Desert Arabian Tents
Desert Road Section - Straight
Desert Road Section - Straight with Caravan
Desert Road Section - T-section (base road lower)
Desert Road Section - T-section (base road upper)
Desert Road Section - Crossroads
Desert Road Section - Road Bend / Temple Entrance / Oasis
Desert Road Section - Road Bend 2 / Scorpion Pit
Jungle - Ziggurat Temple
Jungle - Headhunters Village
Jungle - Twin Statues to Deep Chasm
Jungle - River Section - Straight
Jungle - River Section - Straight with Bridge
Jungle - River Section - T-section (base river lower)
Jungle - River Section - T-section (base river upper)
Jungle - River Section - Waterfall
Jungle - River Section - River Bend / Floating Village
Jungle - River Section - River Bend 2 / Rapids
Ice - Glaciers with Mid River
Ice - Cracked Floes
Ice - Frozen Whirlpool
Ice - Mountainous Road
Ice - Road Section - Straight
Ice - Road Section - Straight with Bridge and Snowfall (blocked road)
Ice - Road Section - T-section (base road lower)
Ice - Road Section - T-section (base road upper)
Ice - Road Section - Crossroads (Ambush Point)
Ice - River Section - Riverbend into Caves
Ice - River Section - Riverbend Icy Waterfall
Ice - River Section - Frozen
Sewers / Flood Tunnels x 6
Treetops - Gated City Entrance
Treetops - Larger platforms mix
Treetops - Larger platforms mix 2
Treetops - Prison
Underdark - Crystalabra
Underdark - Giant Caverns I
Underdark - Giant Caverns II
Underdark - Wide Caverns I
Underdark - Wide Caverns II
Underdark - Slug Pit
Dwarven Citadel - Forge Entrance
Dwarven Citadel - Housing Units
Dwarven Citadel - Bridge over Lava Flow
Dwarven Citadel - Statue Row of Ancestors
Town - Open Streets I
Town - Open Streets II
World Serpent Inn - Tavern Section x 2
World Serpent Inn - Hub Portal Floors x 2
Island - Volcano
Island - Volcano I
Island - Volcano II
Island - Crocodile infested Swamp
Island - Ruined Temple
Island - Caves
Island - Shore
Ocean Reef
Coral Reef
Open Ocean
Shark Infested Waters
Dinosaur Valley I
Dinosaur Valley II
Lava Flow x 2
Zombie Apocalypse - High Security Checkpoint
Zombie Apocalypse - Hospital
Zombie Apocalypse - Main Street x 2-4
Zombie Apocalypse - Barricade Street Sections / Rooftop Fortification
Zombie Apocalypse - Shopping Mall
Zombie Apocalypse - Supermarket
Atlantis - Doric Colum Row / Smashed Street
Atlantis - Deep Sea Shelf
Atlantis - High-Tech Functioning Building vs Ancient Ruin
Atlantis - Palace
Atlantis - Homes
Atlantis - Armory
Atlantis - Treasure Hoard
Sci-Fi Spaceport x 8
Australian Outback

Dozens and Dozens of new designs to expand, blend and enhance your Meanders.

MEANDERS 2 will be offering Interiors and even Level png/pdf layers. I will be offering an option to 'Reverse Engineer' your Meanders 1's to add underground tunnels/bunkers/caves and interiors to these as well.

Expected Launch: Mid to Late Feb.

I will also be able to offer ready to go VTT maps for Fantasy Grounds thanks to all you guys here helping me sort out how to shrink the size.

Kind Regards,

Kris

17427

[gtw2017]

Hey guys - how are the new wider roads/rivers working for you? Any issues with the formats used? Any trouble adjusting the Meanders to VTT? Any suggestions to improve the format?

[gtw2017]

[Edit - that was all over the place, I'll try again] Hi guys - well it's almost all wrapped up now with 95% of rewards delivered and just some PDF conversions (underway) and some special conan grids to go. Over 100+ new designs were created this time around and I hope you enjoyed the campaign and liked the maps produced and will consider backing me again in future projects.

As I go forward I hope to continually improve my skills, learn more about how to achieve different effects and hone my art and will be seeking funding for new computer upgrade to make even bigger, better maps and eventually break into the 3d side of things as well. Before I take Meanders to the public via my website Game Tile Warehouse, I wanted to have some backers spend time with the designs to get feedback on quality, design and utility. I'm now trialling a new format that will see a change to the standard size of a Meander (8175x5475 - which originally accounted for a design meant for physically printing onto gameboards - and extra bleed) to a more robust and precise 8100x5400 with the grid taken all the way to the edge. From this standard hi-res format to be in JEPG, there will be two more JEPG formats especially for VTT.

The 2nd format will be sized at 2700x1800 and suit 100 pixels per grid, and the 3rd format will be sized at 1350x900 and suit 50 pixels per grid. The new standardization in size should neatly enable scaling the maps down for more convenient use, as well as be easier to handle with the reduced file size. Less uploading and storage requirements means I can make more of them, and also offer them as instant digital downloads from my website in the coming month.

The files are currently in the hands of two users here, and a backer who had a long discussion with me put me onto the changes, Phergus. So with luck, the files prove to be a better all-round format and I can take them to market very soon - with new maps added to the collection on a semi-regular basis. I'll also be adding a new code instead of the existing file names that will quickly identify which meanders series it is, and make it easy to find what you are looking for even when there are a thousand.

My Sci-fi Meanders 2 Kickstarter is also just around the corner and will offer 75+ new maps in a huge range of sci-fi themes - I hope to launch it around Mid-May or the 21st at the latest.

Thank you everyone that backed me, I will let you know how the trials go, and keep you updated on the next wave.

Kind Regards,
Kris