Uploaded February 2022 | Updated September 2026, 4 hours ago
⬇️ Download the notes and resources with the links below! ⬇️
Kelsey from The Arcane Library goes over how to design a DnD map for a 5E one-shot. There are several things to consider that affect pacing and exploration!
Follow along in as we design a brand new 5E one-shot, The Bone Pavilion of the Shadow Hounds, from scratch in the third part of this live Adventure Writing series.
00:00 - Saying hi and sound check
02:28 - Today's topic: designing maps!
04:40 - Recap of Parts 1 and 2
08:20 - Map first, or encounters first?
12:15 - Brainstorming, starting with themes
16:30 - Short aside: evocative writing
17:48 - Brainstorming room ideas
23:38 - Time to start drawing
25:55 - The Mythic Underworld
27:45 - Going outside the outline
30:30 - Cat in a jar
33:09 - The "don't touch" museum
37:10 - Avoid impassable roadblocks
41:20 - Make multiple paths
45:40 - Circles and lines into a map
48:03 - Variety of room shapes
50:00 - Steps recap
53:19 - Q&A. Is historical reality/realism important?
🔥 The title image features the Acid Dungeon that Kelsey designed in collaboration with Lantern's Light Maps. It's a good example of some of the principles discussed in the video. You can download it (and four others) for free when you join the Lantern's Light newsletter: lanternslightmaps.com/pages/newsletter
Download the notes from the livestream here: dropbox.com/s/ej529cg8dcdoehi/Part%203%20-%20How%20To%20Design%20a%20DnD%20Map.pdf?dl=0
Check out the full playlist of this series here: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsIJw22Nm-ctYiy8qK6TtrTgjnYbHsxiC
🔮 Subscribe to the channel and cast Toll the Dead on the bell icon to get notified when the next part of this series goes live! 🔮
⬇️ Download the notes and resources with the links below! ⬇️
Kelsey from The Arcane Library goes over how to design a DnD map for a 5E one-shot. There are several things to consider that affect pacing and exploration!
Follow along in as we design a brand new 5E one-shot, The Bone Pavilion of the Shadow Hounds, from scratch in the third part of this live Adventure Writing series.
00:00 - Saying hi and sound check
02:28 - Today's topic: designing maps!
04:40 - Recap of Parts 1 and 2
08:20 - Map first, or encounters first?
12:15 - Brainstorming, starting with themes
16:30 - Short aside: evocative writing
17:48 - Brainstorming room ideas
23:38 - Time to start drawing
25:55 - The Mythic Underworld
27:45 - Going outside the outline
30:30 - Cat in a jar
33:09 - The "don't touch" museum
37:10 - Avoid impassable roadblocks
41:20 - Make multiple paths
45:40 - Circles and lines into a map
48:03 - Variety of room shapes
50:00 - Steps recap
53:19 - Q&A. Is historical reality/realism important?
🔥 The title image features the Acid Dungeon that Kelsey designed in collaboration with Lantern's Light Maps. It's a good example of some of the principles discussed in the video. You can download it (and four others) for free when you join the Lantern's Light newsletter: lanternslightmaps.com/pages/newsletter
Download the notes from the livestream here: dropbox.com/s/ej529cg8dcdoehi/Part%203%20-%20How%20To%20Design%20a%20DnD%20Map.pdf?dl=0
Check out the full playlist of this series here: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsIJw22Nm-ctYiy8qK6TtrTgjnYbHsxiC
🔮 Subscribe to the channel and cast Toll the Dead on the bell icon to get notified when the next part of this series goes live! 🔮
