This software for Mac & Windows PCs will create batches of custom geomorphic tiles for use in creating top-down battlemaps for RPGs.
I've been a huge fan of Heruca/BattleGrounds Games for over a decade. Not only did he offer a useful VTT, but he also offered links to the VTTs of competitors, and he also offers links to competitors of his mapping software.
BattleGrounds Games used to be best known for offering a competitive VTT, but now I believe they are best known for their popular mapping software, MapForge.
The TileForge Kickstarter is BGG's latest offering, to allow one to design and print out battle maps on demand for their game sessions.
25 bucks is a very fair price, especially when you consider the price and storage issues of Dwarven Forge terrain and the like.
TileForge is a new program that I would like to develop, to support the creation of maps for tabletop RPGs (e.g. Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, etc.). It should serve quite well as a companion app to my map-making software, MapForge, but that software is not required.
Whereas MapForge is focused is on creating battlemaps, TileForge is for creating geomorphic mapping tiles and stand-alone assets. These tiles and assets can later be used in your favorite image editor, map-making app, or even in a virtual tabletop app (e.g. Roll20, Foundry, Fantasy Grounds, etc.), to quickly assemble custom map layouts from the modular assets.
Creating geomorphic mapping tiles can be a tedious and labor-intensive process. TileForge will automate that process. Simply choose a few textures (you'll be able to drag-and-drop texture images right onto the app), and TileForge will apply the necessary shape masks, drop shadows, bevels and other effects, and create an entire set of geomorphic map tiles using those textures.
And TileForge won't be limited to creating just modular hallways or roads. You will also be able to create rooms or buildings, including multi-tile ones. Even create them without a background, so that you can place them anywhere on your maps.
Depending on the textures you use, you can make tilesets for a variety of genres: Fantasy, Modern Day, Sci-Fi, etc. Some examples of tilesets you could create include space station/base, dungeon, fantasy castle corridors/rooms, modern city roads, etc.
Entrepreneurs take note: If the textures that you utilize in a tileset allow commercial use, you could sell your TileForge-generated tilesets on sites like DriveThruRPG, the Roll20 marketplace, Etsy, Fiverr, and/or other online stores that cater to RPG fans. Or run your own crowdfunding campaign to deliver your tileset/s printed on card stock designed for use with dry erase or wet erase markers.
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Should be interesting to see where he takes it. I put some money toward it just to keep funding VTT projects.
ReplyDeleteJust a reminder that today is the last day of the TileForge Kickstarter campaign. It's less than $400 away from being funded!
ReplyDelete$178 needed to fund, ends in 11 hours. This is really coming down to the wire!
ReplyDeleteThe TileForge Kickstarter has funded, with 5 hours to spare. Whew!
ReplyDelete