Dungeons in Blue - Entries and Exits Set One Released

The mapping streak continues this week, with Dungeons in Blue Entries and Exits Set One. These geomorphs are focused on getting into the dungeon and delving deeper into the depths. Each tile contains either a surface access point or stairs leading to the depths, plus connections to the current level, of course.

This set rendered at 100px per five-foot square and fully compatible with the rest of the Dungeons in Blue line. It includes twelve tiles (EE1-EE12):

• Six 50x50 foot tiles.
• Six 50x100 foot tiles.
• A map legend image detailing all map markup.
• A one-third scale summary map showing all tiles.
• A short readme PDF.

All maps are ready-to-use PNG-format files compatible with most virtual tabletops. Use them as-is, or combine them into larger maps using your favorite image processing software.

I've also updated the free Dungeons in Blue Master List with information on the latest releases, a new map legend, plus a preview of the next few Dungeons in Blue releases. The Master List includes preview images of all Dungeons in Blue products plus a small set of free sample geomorphs, so it's well worth grabbing. Upcoming products include:

• Edges and Alcoves Set Two - more side and edge geomorphs.
• Entries and Exits Set Two - the companion collection for the current release.
• Tunnels and Passages - a big set of connection tiles with lots of corridors, caves, and passages.
• Parts and Pieces Pack - a bundle deal that includes all the above-mentioned stuff, plus the previously released Icon Pack One and Icon Pack Two (all at a discount of course).

And speaking of discounts, it's been over six months since the release of Deadly Blows and Koslac's Crossing, so I've dropped the list price on both these products. You can see all these and more on PBE Games' publisher page.

Thanks for reading, happy dungeons!

The Wilds - Black Water in Blackpool

"Stand back, just in case," says Raúguey, hefting the crowbar and eyeing the bar-lined door at the end of the water-filled hall. When the others nod their ready state, he jams the bar into the gap by the lock, and heaves. There's a creak, and then a sudden SCREE-SNAP as the lock mechanism twists, then breaks in the rusted frame. The door sloooshes inward then grinds to a stop against the submerged floor.

Photo of the Week - Mantis Makeover!

Today's photos were taken in my back yard. The first is about a month old; the second I took just a couple days ago. I'm fairly sure both these shots are of the same praying mantis (it's not like my yard has a ton of hiding places for big insects.

Young Mantis on Sage

Older and Wiser Mantis on Basil

Images copyright Mark A. Thomas
Creative Commons CC BY-NC 3.0

Wilds - Back to the Dungeon!

With a clear course of action in front of them, the party, at the urging of Saurabh and Raúguey, elect to spend a day exploring the area around the current camp to see if they can find a better site for the mules and guards. The old fire pit and trails in the ruins have made folk cautious. Leaving the camp in place and guarded by the usual suspects, the main party heads out to explore, using the old road as a guide, but diverting off the rough path to investigate anything interesting.

The Wilds - Blackpool at Last?

Last turn the party found a ruin beside a vast lake, about where Vukota told them they'd find it. Could it actually be Blackpool Maze?

Photo of the Week - See?

I told you Indiana was kind of flat.

I took this on the drive out to one of my favorite little nature preserves, Weiler-Leopold / Black Rock Barrens, part of the Niches Land Trust. It's obvious Autumn is on the way. Lots of old and dying flower heads around.

But not everyone has given up on summer yet.

Images copyright Mark A. Thomas
Creative Commons CC BY-NC 3.0

Wilds - Hey Look! Ruins!

A few turns have passed, and not without incident. After discovering the skull on a stick and some other signs of activity, the party decided to attempt contact with whoever / whatever was encamped in the fortified cave they'd found. Leaving the bulk of the group at the camp near the little clearing, Maro, Mordikarr, Ingvild, and Dagmarten retraced the trail north to spy out the cave and see who they were dealing with, hopefully without being seen...

Dungeons in Blue - Edges and Alcoves Set One Released

I've been on a mapping tear lately, so here's another set of virtual tabletop geomorph tiles ready to roll! Dungeons in Blue Edges and Alcoves Set One contains twelve unique map tiles rendered at 100px per five-foot square (now with magma!). It includes two versions of each tile, one for players and one for GMs. The GM's version shows additional features, tricks, and traps. This set includes (EA1-EA12):

• Six 50x50 foot tiles, all with a single entry side.
• Six 50x100 foot tiles, all with a single entry side.
• A map legend image detailing all map markup.
• A one-third scale summary map showing all tiles.
• A short readme PDF.

These tiles are all edge pieces, meaning the standard entry and exit points appear only on one side of the tile. All geomorph dungeons need to end eventually, don't they? Here's the one-third scale summary sheet of all geomorphs in this set.

And don't forget, you can still get Dungeons in Blue Icon Pack One at a 25% discount right here. This offer expires September 15th.

Photo of the Week - Weeds

It's been hot, humid, and generally not very good for walking about with a camera weather the last couple days, so I had to dig into the archives to find a couple shots for today's post. The theme is weeds, which are everywhere. These shots were taken at Fort Ouiatenon Park, at the same time as last week's shots.

Wilds - Out and a Scout!

After the fight with the giant ticks, the party decided to head back to the spire, south to the road, and then east along its more clearly marked path in hopes of finding known terrain. This plan leads them east northeast for just over a day, where they find vault hill, the place they found the weird shapes and the key that unlocked the spire. Emboldened by this discovery, they head out northwest, along the other fork of the road that leads away from the hill. After passing through the ruins of what might have been stone-walled huts or a farm with several outbuildings, the road ends. Undeterred, the group continues northwest, hoping to reacquire the trail. Instead they find a grisly skull, probably a kobold or goblin, stuck on a post next to a narrow trail.

Dungeons in Blue - Icon Pack One Released

The first icon pack for Dungeons in Blue virtual tabletop geomorph tiles is now available!

This product contains over 75 map icons designed for use with Dungeons in Blue geomorph tiles and your favorite virtual tabletop software. Icons are drawn using the same style and scale (100px per five foot square) as the original maps, allowing you to quickly and easily customize your map. The icons in this pack include:

• Trees, altars, statues, and pillars
• Boulders, individual and arranged in piles and markers
• Slime patches and stalagmites
• Grates, curtains, and cages
• Pits, wells, stairs, and pools
• Normal, trap, and false doors
• Wall and floor tiles to cover unwanted features

This product also includes a copy of the latest map key. You can check it out right here, right now, and if you're an impulse buyer, you can use this link to pick up the product for $1.29 between now and September 15th, 2013, a 25% discount off the regular price.

Photo of the Week - The Birdhouse

Almost forgot to post something today. This is a really crusty birdhouse I found along the edge of an open field at Fort Ouiatenon Park. It's seen better days. Perhaps it's occupied by undead birds?

Also, a happy little butterfly.

Images copyright Mark A. Thomas
Creative Commons CC BY-NC 3.0

Path of Exile

I first played (and wrote about) Path of Exile (PoE) about a year ago during the early phases of the beta process. Recently I stuck my toe back in to test the waters. One of the nice things about free-to-play games is that it's easy to jump back in after a hiatus. After a big client patch, I was back in and running. My original characters were all there, but wiped back to level one, not surprising given then were created during a beta weekend. I wrote up a long list of info for my friends to see if I could incite some of them to give the game another try, and after rereading it, I realized it was a pretty good summary of the starting experience, so, here it is: