Use Chris Perkins' Map-Fu to Make Beautiful Battlemaps

[@salka90]

“Perfection is the enemy of good” may be my favourite phrase ever

[@Mystic-Arts-DM]

Words to live by! Voltaire knew what he was talking about.

[@ZarHakkar]

Counterpoint: mediocracy is the enemy of excellence

[@hawkshot867]

It's my mantra dude

[@hawkshot867]

​@@ZarHakkar both are equally true. OP's is never let the pursuit of excellence paralyze you. Yours is to never stop striving for better. Both are true, perfectly balanced as all things should be.

[@CoffeeStained]

My version is “Perfect is the enemy of Done.” Dunno if that came from somewhere else, but if you are struggling with perfectionism, try being a DM. Nothing highlights the futility and the counterproductive nature of perfectionism more than being a DM.

[@chaosmeisters6781]

I totally do not run campaigns like you do, tending to do shorter ones, and none of them D&D. But seeing someone actually pointing out you need Game elements in a Roleplaying Game is so refreshing.

[@jeromeverret]

Yes this is why I subbed right from the get go. He brings the game elements back in RPG where most modern RPG are all narrative first and improv heavy without actual game design elements.

[@NemoDtwenty]

Really love this video. I might add that using colors is helpful, especially for wood etc. Blue for the obelisk. Etc.

[@TheBradfordKids]

I really like how all of these videos bring in game design elements. The purpose of a battle map is to tell the players what they can do and where as clearly as possible. How do you make it serve that function? Suddenly it clicks so well for me

[@gregorybrazell5133]

WTH, this guy came out of nowhere, and is amazing on script, camera, just right amount of humor, and more. Where the heck did he come from??

[@rickyetter]

“Draw that obelisk” just peppered in there is the perfect vibe I like to see

[@Ok-Runki]

I love how you hit these somewhat uncovered areas in the dnd youtube-scape

[@TheCrytterion]

i love your channel because it perfectly aligns with my style of a lot of imprvisation and shortcuts to just get the most, flexible fun. You dont need hours of statblocks, research and wiki entries when you can go with the flow of a few outlines story beats and have a good grasp of concepts and pacing. So youre filling in the blanks that my style sometimes leaves and give a lot of inspiration while doing so. love it!

[@Zebwak]

I've used dry-erase maps a ton, and a quick tip is that if you or someone else uses a non-dry erase marker on it (by mistake or necessity), Windex is very good at cleaning it.

[@SangwiSigil]

@@Zebwak You can do it by rubbing it with anything that contains alcohol. In school, I once traced the permanent marker writings with a dry-erase one, and it did a fine job.

[@jakodar]

Fantastic! Due to vision issues, I am not a great artist so I use a lot of prepared maps that I print or theater of the mind. However, I CAN draw maps like this! Thanks for the tips and the article link.

[@andya5456]

Three additional tips: 1 consider drawing on large paper or poster board so you can pre draw maps and then save them for reuse 2 mix colors and marker sizes for variety, but try to use consistent coding. My doors are always hot pink so my players can distinguish them. 3 it's ok to use simplistic symbols if you lack artistic ability. Draw an old school star to represent a statue. Let player imagination work for you.

[@Mystic-Arts-DM]

Totally right!

[@leandroschenone7253]

Dyson Logos have a great symbol coding is someone need dysonlogos.blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/map-key.jpg

[@badgerchillsky535]

I’ve been thinking about trying clear transparency film as an overlay. Draw maps on that and mainly use the battlemap for the grid, but I could roll them up and store them with my battlemap. The problem I’m having is finding rolls wider than 11” that aren’t 100’ rolls. I wouldn’t mind having a nearly unlimited supply, but it’s hard to bring myself to drop $50-$100 on a roll when right now that would be my only use 😅

[@ricketts0]

Great advice! I'm currently building up a Dwarven Forge collection (it's addicting but $$$) and this reminds me of how attractive a nicely drawn, well thought out map can be.

[@inigocilveti3287]

You can see the Matt Colville inspiration in the style of the video, very good content! you deserve many more views

[@hjaltos]

Map-fu is a super interesting concept. Also, love the outro! It's very neat.

[@Mystic-Arts-DM]

🤜 Map-Fu🫷 is one of the ancient Mystic Arts!

[@Tysto]

Historical note: churches didn't have pews until the beginning of the modern period (1600s). Prior to that, they were lucky if they had benches. In ancient temples, people sat on wide staircases if at all.

[@nathancorso4067]

I always appreciate when some love is given to the ultra useful tools and thoughts generated by the 4th edition! Kudos for your clear view of a role playing *game* too! To often dms and players forget the "boardgame" aspect of an rpg like dnd (other rpgs may have a lesser part tied with boardgame asoect, or even none, but it'snt the dnd cade).

[@wtchrol7864]

0:48 Love the transition and camera work!

[@carolyng11]

The camera angles in the intro are great haha. Plus super useful advice!

[@Eisenbrei]

Super interessting! Thanks for the video!

[@MrMuddyWheels]

Learning some of the blueprint indicators like for doorways would make these maps more effective

[@juangalvan5835]

These videos are amazing

[@disgruntledbob2812]

Shame to take the likes past the blessed 69, but your content deserves each one

[@georgegonzalezm.8393]

Wow…that voice!

[@ZipperonDisney]

Ah, someone else knows the lost art of Map Fu. Thought to be lost to the ages when *Dragon* went down, only few knew of the archive whence it was stored.

[@Mystic-Arts-DM]

Oh my god its ZipperonDisney! I'm a huge fan! Thanks for watching!!

[@ZipperonDisney]

@@Mystic-Arts-DM you're doing great! keep up the good work!

[@Joshuazx]

I like wet / dry erase markers too.

[@vikingofmars]

What brand of wet erase markers do you use/prefer?

[@seaborgium919]

can your dad sell those tables because that's amazing.

[@Mystic-Arts-DM]

Hahaha, he sells stickers and similar products for advertising and signs. Custom tables are unfortunately not available for purchase.

[@kevoreilly6557]

As a rule - do not put in time to supporting work where you will be pissed off is the players don’t do it. This is the difference between “real” roleplaying and “KZbin” roleplaying

[@gusteinnfannar7019]

This is neat! Do you think you will do a video about "theatre of the mind", for those who don't have access to mini-figs?

[@SerifSansSerif]

Theater of the mind is best when you have maps drawn out, just... On the DM side. And they can be scribbled on a napkin for all that it matters. The point is for the DM to be able to have a visual guide to figure out location and what's where.

[@peledalon13]

Where do i get a big erasable squared matt/map like this?

[@Mystic-Arts-DM]

You FLGS likley carries some wet earase maps: though mine was ofc custom, as mentioned in the video

[@RoughGalaxyYT]

Ok... now, for those of us terminally online (incapable of finding an in person game) any advice for digital map-fu?

[@Mystic-Arts-DM]

Oof, I don't know, man. Get the Cze and Peku patreon or other similar patreon map makers, I've been a member of loads of those when I was running in the pandemic.

[@RoughGalaxyYT]

@@Mystic-Arts-DM I definitely follow a ton of map makers on bluesky. I was wondering if there were some tips for just drawing maps in a digital space but it comes with a bunch of complications huh?

[@Mystic-Arts-DM]

We're working on a video for some tools for that, maybe one on making your own too. 🤔

[@RoughGalaxyYT]

@@Mystic-Arts-DM colour me intrigued