A review of the Black Scroll
Games map The Keeper
of Realms.
Pros
- Well draw and coloured maps
- Isometric visual aid images included
- Often used location (wizard's library is a popular location)
- Example story with visual aids and riddle included
- A PDF document broken up for printing as well as .jpg files are provided
- 1 inch grid size
- Free after signing up for the newsletter (for at least a year)
Could Go Either Way
- The adventure idea included is system neutral (more accessible but more work)
Cons
- The 3D style makes it difficult to combine with non-3D style sets unless they are used in their own separate sections (you need to commit to the 3D art style for at least some sections of your dungeon). You can still do so, but there will be an aesthetic break.
Introduction
In keeping in the tradition of me looking for free maps wherever I
can find them, I've recently stumbled upon Black Scroll Games
and their maps. In particular, The Keeper of Realms set is currently provided for
free when you sign up for their newsletter (when I asked, I was told
it would be this way for at least a year).
The Map
There are two main maps included, though that isn't really telling
the whole story. The PDF files make use of layers so that there are
options included for things such as background colour and grid style
(classic square grids or rounded grids, since the library itself is
circular). The main map is the large, 9 page library. Within the
centre of the library, after solving the included puzzle, there is a
secret chamber that is also provided. This secret chamber is made
further more useful by providing an alternate empty version. It's
missing the details such as tables, but it means it is much easier to
customize for your own personal games. The ability to remove the
details easily in the lower chamber section allows the placement of
3D props without conflicting with already present details. The story
included with the map has a part where a spiral staircase to the
lower chamber is revealed. In the set a tile with this opening is
provided allowing you to visually show the event to players by
placing this tile over the previous one. I really liked this added
detail. Sound like too much work for too little gain? It's in its own
.pdf file. Just don't print it.
An optional adventure is presented along with a riddle and adventure
aids. These aids are handouts that are meant to be given to the
players (a riddle in a code/dead language, the code/dead language
itself and a drawing) and isometric depictions of the areas. The riddle isn't too difficult but it's fine for its purpose (you typically don't want riddles your party can't ever figure out).
Libraries are a common feature in tabletop role-playing games and
when they are featured, they usually belong to wizards. As a result,
this map is quite reusable. It is easy to rework into a homebrew
though it is probably not enough for a complete adventure on its own.
With a little bit of work to flesh out the process of finding the
library, it can make for a decent one-shot. It is very easy to
convert it to something else entirely as well. If your players need
to find some kind of scroll, chances are you can recycle at least
part of what is found here.
Art
It looks really nice. The map presented is detailed and has a
perspective that shows off the details and height of the library in a
way that isn't otherwise possible in a flat map. In many other maps
you only see the top edge of the wall. In these maps, you get to see
the angled face of the wall as well. As a map on its own, it looks
really nice. However, this perspective choice makes it naturally
harder to combine with other sets that don't go for this 3D approach because of the presence of the two different styles.
In such cases, you can still use what is found here to create a room.
When the 3D tiles are placed together with 3D tiles the issue is
avoided. I also find it far less jarring to have flat style tiles
lead to a 3D style room than a mixture of both styles in the same
section. I've run adventures like that and my players didn't mind but
some people might prefer to stick to either all 3D style art of to
all flat style art. All of this isn't a problem if mixing art styles together doesn't bother you. In some similar maps I've been concerned that 3D
props don't work well. This is because they don't completely cover up
the art (for example, in the case of the book shelf). In this case,
part of the library is raised. This means that if you have 3D prop
miniature bookshelves and place them on the map, they will now be
higher than the raised part of the library. For this reason, I'd
suggest running the library itself without props. Without them,
thanks to the 3D art style, it looks almost as if you had recreated
the entire thing using 3D terrain and props. However, it's easier to
set up than tiles and 3D props. If you really like going for full 3D, you'd need to build the
raised section (this would require you to
carefully cut out the raised section).
The isometric aids are very nice looking and the lighting in
particular is very nice. They aren't an essentially but they are a
really nice addition to the package. It also means that even if
prefer theatre of mind play, you can still find something of use from this
package.
Conclusion
It's a very nice map. The location itself, a wizard's library, is
very easily reusable and comes up often in play. The library map in
particular has a good sense of height. The visual aids give a nice
alternate view of the area and allow for use even in theatre of mind
play. A possible adventure idea and puzzle are provided with the
adventure. For the puzzle and adventure idea, visual aids are also
presented in order to enhance the experience. These take the form of
a dead language/code, a riddle written in the dead language/code, and
a drawing. As a map it is very nice and all of the extras, from
visual aids to adventure elements, are just icing on the cake. The
lower chamber part also allows you to remove details, further
enhancing its reuse. It has just about everything you could want from
a map. I hope I see more packages in the future that have so many
elements for Dungeon Masters. The adventure isn't the most developed
but it is system neutral. The 3D art style works best with maps and
tiles that also have a 3D art style. It can still, however, be used
to make art style consistent rooms even if you use mostly 2D style
tiles. Doing so is less jarring but some might prefer a consistent 2D
or 3D art style. For now it's also free. If you think you'd like it
based on what I've said, go ahead and check it out. I've always liked
the no risk and informative approach of samples and demos.
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