elventower

City of Swords - 100th Map !!!! (milestone)

Prospect Denizens of the Tower, it is my pleasure to cheer for my 100th map in my numbered series ! it's been a long way and It wouldn't have been possible without the help and support of my amazing patrons, the Denizens !

This is Zoradun, the City of Swords, a homebrew created capital city you can use in your home game. This huge metropolis has an estimated population of 140,000.

This will be a growing project, as of now, I have this city illustration and a short descri...

Map 100 - Zoradun, City of Swords (photoshop)

Here's the .psd file for map 100. Notice that it is necessary to have Photoshop to use it. Inside you will find it is all white. That is the uppermost layer, I only use it to make the file preview smaller in size. Once you remove that uppermost layer you'll have access to the illustration. (it's just one click)

Most of the illustration elements are properly named and arranged in folders in the layer area.

This files are strictly for didactic and/or personal use.

Map 100 - Zoradun, City of Swords

This is Zoradun, the City of Swords, a homebrew created capital city you can use in your home game. This huge metropolis has an estimated population of 140,000. The city has everything anyone can hope to find. All kinds of factions and power players strive to control the city. This city has never been conquered due to its large army, thus the city’s surname.

This will be a growing project, as of now, I have the city illustration and a short description for...

Future Kickstarter Collaboration

It's My pleasure to announce that I'll be taking part of this Kickstarter project by Micah Watt. "What Lies Beyond Reason Part 2; Adventures for Pathfinder/5e"

My ...

Collaborative Dungeon Project

About two weeks ago I suggested the creation of a collaborative fantastic location and some folks were interested.

Right now the illustration is just a crude sketch, after all contributors have added their share, I will create a professional illustration with the provided material.

About room descriptions. This is an experiment and I just want people to be creative and add whatever they want to rooms. Whether that is a monster, furniture, crazy stuff. I don’t really care. Nor do I expe...

Upcoming 100th map !

We've come SOOO far. I'll be releasing my 100th map soon. This is a preview of what's brewing in my studio. It's a big original city map. Still a work in progress.

We've talked in the past about building a city map with zoom-in maps of certain wards and this is going to be it. This will be the first installment.  After this, in stages, I will create zoom-in maps of the different wards or neighborhoods in the city. The goal is to create a pretty defined city with lots of illustrations that...

Map 99 - Street Market - Photoshop file

Here's the .psd file for map 99. Notice that it is necessary to have Photoshop to use it. Inside you will find it is all white. That is the uppermost layer, I only use it to make the file preview smaller in size. Once you remove that uppermost layer you'll have access to the illustration. (it's just one click)

Most of the illustration elements are properly named and arranged in folders in the layer area.

This files are strictly for didactic and/or personal use.

Map 99 - Street Market

Howdy Denizens of the Tower !

First of all I'd like to thank all of you for being awesome supporters and also the new blood who recently signed up.

Here's a fun encounter I created with a street market. The attached PDF has the info about it, it's a fast one, but it has potential to become a big thing. Usual map versions are included.

Also a treat, I included all the different carts, wagons and vendor stalls in a folder as tokens you can import in roll20 or similar VTTs. The encoun...

Map 98 - Acorns Vale (Photoshop File)

Here's the psd file for map 97. Notice that it is necessary to have Photoshop to use it. Inside you will find it is all white. That is the uppermost layer, I only use it to make the file preview smaller in size. Once you remove that uppermost layer you'll have access to the illustration.

Most of the illustration elements are properly named and arranged in folders in the layer area.

This files are strictly for didactic and/or personal use.

The fonts used are named "Dominican", "Iokh...

Recent maps are actually linked

Prospect Denizens of the Tower, I bring you an update in recent map creations.

I drew this map to tie in several locations from recent maps published. The town Galifar’s Hollow is illustrated in detail in Map 95. Farendil’s Hut is Map 96. This concludes this very small series of illustrations tied to the same location. Of course it doesn’t necessarily have to be that way in your games. This is just a game aid. But if you wish to...

Map 98 - Acorns Vale

 I drew this map to tie in several locations from recent maps published the town Galifar’s Hollow is illustrated in detail in Map 95. Farendil’s Hut is Map 96. This concludes this very small series of illustrations tied to the same location. Of course it doesn’t necessarily have to be that way in your games. This is just a game aid. But if you wish to have these places in completely unrelated scenarios that’s perfect. If you use them together, then the adventure hooks and ideas for ...

Map 97 - Demonic Burrow (Photoshop File)

Here's the psd file for map 97. Notice that it is necessary to have Photoshop to use it. Inside you will find it is all white. That is the uppermost layer, I only use it to make the file preview smaller in size. Once you remove that uppermost layer you'll have access to the illustration.

Most of the illustration elements are properly named and arranged in folders in the layer area.

This files are strictly for didactic and/or personal use.

The fonts used are named "Dominican", "Iokh...

Map 97 - Demonic Burrow

Good day Denizens of the Tower.

Here's a generic underground lair map. As it doesn't include any distinctive features, it can be adapted to mostly any kind of underground critter or encounter. The attached PDF includes an adventure suggestion regarding escaped demons, all this provoked by a wizard trying to summon and bind them.  Unsuccessfully as usual.

I included a version with numbered areas, black and white versions and also some specific for Roll20 with compatible measures and ...

How to use my asset-packs in photoshop

Here's a video tutorial you can use for working in Photoshop with my asset pack that was released around two weeks ago. I'll release roll20 packs like that around once a month.

Notice that you will need access to photoshop although you can probably do it just the same in GIMP (which is free). Maps created like this work perfectly in roll20 but also for home games and such. So this is not strictly for Roll20 or VTT users.

Pardon my weird accent and pronunciation ;)

Roll20 + Elven Tower video tutorial

Here's a video tutorial you can use for working in roll20 with my asset pack that was released around two weeks ago. I'll release roll20 packs like htat around once a month.

Pardon my weird accent and pronunciation ;)

Collaborative work with my supporters.

So I'd totally be stealing the idea from another content creator on Patreon. But I though it'd be an awesome thing to do !

The idea is, I draw a sketch of a mega dungeon with 30-40 locations or so. Then we set up a google document for it. Then anyone of you can pick a room, describe it and create an amazing location or encounter out of it.

At the end I'd re-do that illustration with all the info provided, compile it up in a single document and we could all have fun with a huge mega dunge...

Maps printed on Canvas

I'm working together with Mark Reed from Dungeon Master Maps to bring a selection of my illustrations for print on Canvas. You can see the catalog here. 

There's a second video where I zoom in on the maps here 

As this is a new thing, I have discount code for al...

Map 96 - Druid's Hut (Photoshop File)

Here's the psd file for map 96. Notice that it is necessary to have Photoshop to use it. Inside you will find it is all white. That is the uppermost layer, I only use it to make the file preview smaller in size. Once you remove that uppermost layer you'll have access to the illustration.

Most of the illustration elements are properly named and arranged in folders in the layer area.

This files are strictly for didactic and/or personal use.

The fonts used are named "Dominican", "Iokh...

Map 96 - Druid's Hut

Hello Denizens of the Tower !

Another autumn themed map you can use in the coming fall months. This is a druid's hut where plants grow green all year long. Regardless of the season.

Check out the attached adventure, the druid Farendil practices necromancy and is harboring a loose werewolf. Typical Hagrid complex here. The PDF file includes several adventure ideas easy to drop in mostly any game.

Usual versions of the map are included and also the Photoshop files in a different post...

Map 95 - Galifar's Hollow - Photoshop Files

Here's the psd file for map 95. Notice that it is necessary to have Photoshop to use it. Inside you will find it is all white. That is the uppermost layer, I only use it to make the file preview smaller in size. Once you remove that uppermost layer you'll have access to the illustration.

Most of the illustration elements are properly named and arranged in folders in the layer area.

This files are strictly for didactic and/or personal use.

The font used is named "Dominican" and can ...

Map 95 - Galifar's Hollow

Good weekend Denizens of the Tower ! 

This is Galifar's Hollow, a very small village growing slowly.

It includes a PDF with the village's description, some NPC's and a few adventure hooks. Usual map variations are included too. A version for roll20 is included, although squares are 70 pixels. due to scale. It might pixalate with too much zooming in.

Notice this is the first map for which the psd files will be released for $3.00 dollar patrons and up. But that will be present i...

Update in Patreon Rewards

I'm making an update to my Silver Dip-Pen reward level ($3.00 USD /map).

Starting at that pledge level I will make my Photoshop (.psd) files available for my supporters.

These files and any files exported from them are strictly for personal use. There are two main uses for this. The first is didactic, people can see my work files and catch a tip or two about how I do my illustrations. You could also turn off color and practice coloring in photoshop.

The second is more practical, so...

Cursed Temple - Builder Pack

Good Day Denizens of the Tower

As we have now crossed my latest Patreon Goal !  Congratulations to us all. I'm committed to provide dungeon builder packs or token pack once a month. I have attached two zip files to this post.

The "Prebuilt Dungeons" zip file includes 7 variations of a dungeon similar to my Map 93. Same style but plain black background. These are 26x26 and can be imported into Roll20 in a moment. However they are also useful to any o...

Map 94 - Bastion of Ice and Snow

Hello Denizens of the tower. These illustrations were commissioned by M.T. Black; a colleague, friend and supporter for his upcoming adventure product "Bastion of the Frost Lord"

The adventure has already been released. These are the illustrati...

Poll about assets in digital form (photoshop)

It's come to my attention that several other Patreon users provide their source files in Photoshop format as a form of reward. While I'm not sure about people wanting that, it doesn't hurt to ask.

Would you be interested in having access to the Photoshop files of my work? If this became a thing, it would be a reward for Silver Dip-Pen ($3 dollars) supporters.

Blood Temple

Prospect denizens of the tower ! This illustration is a level up in my cartographer class (level 4 now, wink). I'll leave a few close up shots attached here for prospect inspection.

Hope y'all having fun in summer ! Make sure you're using the toughest monsters you can and make those PCs cry.

If you're interested in the HD illustrations of my work consider becoming my sponsor here in Patreon and Enter the Tower.

2017-07-13 23:04:36 +0000 UTC View Post

Map 93 - Blood Temple

Good day Denizens of the Tower. This is a very interesting add to our collection. I tried some very new things for me when designing this place. You'll see that it is a complete evolution of my style.

I also want to ask you what you think of it. In particular the way the floor looks, because that's the biggest step here. I did not include versions with grid because the grid is implicit in how the floor tiles look.

Also, please do check out the attached PDF, it contains a sample adventure...

Ennie Awards vote ballots

To all my supporters and followers, votes are open for the Ennie Awards. Consider this a "Contact other Plane" followed by a "Suggestion" spell. I'm expecting you to fail the save.

Elven Tower would gladly accept your vote in the "Best Website" category. Choose number 1 when you do :D Also a partner in crime Loot the Room is nominated for "Best Blog", you can totally vote for us both.

2017-07-11 15:14:13 +0000 UTC View Post

Important question ???

I just recently hit my $210.00 milestone !  That mean I will release Roll20 asset packs. I released one a little while ago but now my intention is to release one or two a month.

Now my question. I've been thinking about my path to come and a bigger goal for my work. I have seen other creators set a goal after which they release they content for free to the general public, thanks to the generosity and support of their patrons.  What do you think of this? It would mean setting a bigger...

New map addition, roll20 compatible

Just added this pirate cove map to my catalog. Notice that the boxes, barrels and boat are individual assets that can be used, moved or removed entirely from the map.

The illustration is also optimized for use in Roll20. According to pixels per square needs of Roll20.

Thanks for your reading and hope you submit your application to become a Denizen of the Tower.

Derek Ruiz