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Re: Help with map drawing techniques I appreciate all the good advice given here! I've done a bit of mapping using Gimp in the past with rather good results. Only problem is that those maps tend to look "too clean" for a fantasy campaign. Despite the usefulness of layers, I've decided to go to paper and pencil, just for the look and feel. I've decided to scetch the city contours on a A3 paper and the photocopy it a few times. I'll use one copy to fill in the details for the players and the rest will be for me to do reference stuff on.

Re: Help with map drawing techniques Thank you everybody for interesting ideas. The reason I can't use premade maps is that the city is built around some major (and unusual) objects which will greatly influence the layout of roads and where certain buildings will tend to be. However, I'll be sure to use the city map idea for constructing other places in my campaign world. The Swedish phone company provides detailed electronic road maps of the country available on line (Swedish On-Line Phonebook with Maps , use the Maps-link on the top left), perhaps it could be of some use to you. Fitz asked what I will use the map for. The idea is to have a large A3 (30x42 cm) map on the table when the group is in town, with all the known places marked out together with the major streets. From my limited experience, this tend to give the players a much better feel for the place than if you just describe eveything to them. I'll use a less fancy but more detailed map for myself. For now, I've ruthlessly stolen a few available maps from the internet and am trying to learn a few techniques from these. I never imagined it could be so hard to draw a four-sided box so that it looks good.

Not sure this thread belongs in this forum, as it isn't a HERO System problem, but a fantasy problem in general, but I gather you are a bunch of experienced fellows and just maybe you would lend a hand anyways. If I'm wrong, perhaps a moderator could direct me to the propper place. I'm in the process of mapping out the principal city location in my setting but am pretty inexperienced in this. I've relied on 3rd party maps before, but this time the city sports some really unusual concepts so I decided against using a map from a source book or similar and set out on my own. I'd appreciate any links to relevant tutorials or help for doing fantasy city maps that you can think of. I don't run Windows so any mapping software you have in mind must be available for Linux as well.

Re: 1st time HERO System GM advice

Re: 1st time HERO System GM advice Heh, well I think I'm going to need a little time getting used to the effect centered approach of building powers. I'm still interested in hearing about any experiences playing in FF-like settings. Specifically the Materia related parts are of interest. I think it offers great potentials for quests (going after rare or unique Materia) and reduces the need for somebody to be branded "the mage" or "the healer", since it can be passed around between the characters. The possibility of combining them and more or less build your own magic items would at least appeal to me as a player. And... if things get out of hand... it can be stolen

Re: 1st time HERO System GM advice Ok, I'll buy that. Many times there seem to be several ways to build the same thing but with diffrent costs. Should you strive to always use the cheapest way or is it better to consequently use the same reasoning, even though it might lead to more expensive powers in some cases?

Hoi all, I've decided to try to emulate the feel from some of my console rpgs (mainly the Final Fantasy series) but as this is my first attempt at GMing HERO System, I wanted to ask some advice from the more experienced. Are there any pitfalls in not being very strict in building everything the players come across with powers/advantages/limitations? Take potions for example. In Final Fantasy, there are these healing potions. You buy them in shops. If you're not KO'ed, they heal so-and-so many HPs. What would be the drawback of just saying that they heal 5 BODY, 25 STUN and leave it at that? I've seen some discussions on how to model the materia based magic from FF7. These were mainly from sometime in 2003. Has anybody attempted to use these ideas since then? Any results worth mentioning? Did it turn out well? I've never tried hexagonal-based battle maps and I'm not sure I will like it (the Cubic-Hex discussion alone makes me hesitate ). Would it alter things largely to use a square-based grid instead? I currently don't own Fantasy Hero or Fantasy Grimoire. Let's say I've already come up with my setting and my magic system, what reasons would you give for me to buy it/them?

I'm trying to figure out how to use aging as a Side Effect for a powerful magic spell, but can't seem to find any good examples to support it. The spell should, if used carelessly, age the caster a number of months. By 'carelessly' I mean too often (as in more than once a year or so). Can you give me a hint of how to solve 1) the aging thing 2) the 'careless' thing Sincerely, Mikael Lindberg PS. I picked up your 5th edition a few days ago as an attempt at finding a system for my epic fantasy campaign. So far, I'm very happy that I did. Keep up the good work and please don't fall to the temptation of adding alot of rules in other supplements. One book to rule them all, the _rulebook_, ok?