Infernal Titans Battlemaps

I know that fantasy novels and gaming go hand in hand, so I have decided to plug my friend's business who makes Battlemaps for any RPG. They are the 1" square maps that we all have seen if we play any type of table top RPG.

Since I had some traffic coming here from other gaming sites and blogs, I wanted to re-post something here for Nick about his Battlemaps, especially since I talked about them last week here. So. without further ado, here is the post and the link to Infernal Titans TWITTER, BLOG and RPGNOW spot!

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I love maps. They're one of my favorite things about D&D I think. Whether maps of the world, maps of a kingdom, maps of a city, or maps of a dungeon makes no difference. I love looking at them, drawing them, and using them. A good map can be as inspiring as a good book.

A while ago I was talking to a friend of mine who worked in the printing business about having poster maps printed for my gaming group. We love using battle maps. The only problem was there weren't enough of them. Turns out it would be damn expensive to print out individual maps for personal use. The more you print though, the cheaper it becomes. So I figured why not try to sell them. I've seen plenty of threads where people are asking for poster sized battle maps.

The hardest part was finding someone to draw them. I had one artist flake out on me, and one just got too busy. I had limited options, and an even more limited budget. I was stumped, until I talked to my cousin Mark. We were talking about the maps, and he said "I guess it's something you can't do yourself?". To which I replied "I don't know, I never tried." So that evening I opened up Photoshop, and started drawing/painting/photoshopping or whatever. I even downloaded the free 30 day trial of Adobe Illustrator to mess with. 

I figured any artwork is better than no artwork, and at least I was moving forward. Even if it was at a snails pace. And even if it was for nothing, at least I was doing my best to see it through. So after several months of lumbering through Illustrator and Photoshop I had a final product. Was it perfect? Not in my opinion, but we are our own worst critics.

Then came the business end of things: forming the LLC, getting a tax I.D. number from the IRS, starting a business checking account. I was doing things wrong more often than I did them right. But in the end, I got it all worked out. Ultimately my goal is to give as much as I can back to the game that has given so much to me these past twenty four years. I don't even want to imagine what life would have been like if I did not have my fantasy world to escape to. So check out the site, let me know what you think. I look forward to input from my fellow gamers

I love maps. They're one of my favorite things about D&D I think. Whether maps of the world, maps of a kingdom, maps of a city, or maps of a dungeon makes no difference. I love looking at them, drawing them, and using them. A good map can be as inspiring as a good book.

A while ago I was talking to a friend of mine who worked in the printing business about having poster maps printed for my gaming group. We love using battle maps. The only problem was there weren't enough of them. Turns out it would be damn expensive to print out individual maps for personal use. The more you print though, the cheaper it becomes. So I figured why not try to sell them. I've seen plenty of threads where people are asking for poster sized battle maps.

The hardest part was finding someone to draw them. I had one artist flake out on me, and one just got too busy. I had limited options, and an even more limited budget. I was stumped, until I talked to my cousin Mark. We were talking about the maps, and he said "I guess it's something you can't do yourself?". To which I replied "I don't know, I never tried." So that evening I opened up Photoshop, and started drawing/painting/photoshopping or whatever. I even downloaded the free 30 day trial of Adobe Illustrator to mess with.

I figured any artwork is better than no artwork, and at least I was moving forward. Even if it was at a snails pace. And even if it was for nothing, at least I was doing my best to see it through. So after several months of lumbering through Illustrator and Photoshop I had a final product. Was it perfect? Not in my opinion, but we are our own worst critics. 

Then came the business end of things: forming the LLC, getting a tax I.D. number from the IRS, starting a business checking account. I was doing things wrong more often than I did them right. But in the end, I got it all worked out. Ultimately my goal is to give as much as I can back to the game that has given so much to me these past twenty four years. I don't even want to imagine what life would have been like if I did not have my fantasy world to escape to. So check out the site, let me know what you think. I look forward to input from my fellow gamers!

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I've got poster maps for sale on my website. We're doing a pre-print sale to see what kind of interest there is in the community. Four full color 36"x24" battlemaps for $10. They'll be available at that price until we go to print. I know I want more battle maps, hopefully many of you do also.

Check out the pics in my photos for a preview, and check out the website HERE

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Thanks all for checking this out and I will see you in Wothlondia! Cheers!

Please visit MY HOME PAGE to enjoy an extended reading experience, see direct links to purchase Covenant of the Faceless Knights and to see what else Ashenclaw Studios, LLC has in store in the future!

All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios, LLC 2011 unless otherwise noted. 

Which version of D&D do you play?

I was going to do a post about different gaming attractions and such, but then I decided to break it down into different versions of Dungeons & Dragons specifically. Reason being is that I have several friends who play older versions of Dungeons and Dragons as well as the more current 3.0, 3.5 and 4^th editions as well as the DDO MMORPG. (Eberron? Really?!)

I have been staying current, albeit reluctantly at first, as I generally fear change! Actually, not really, but, I saw no good reason to move forward as I thought that 3^rd edition was pretty good and advanced D&D as far as it could go. I may have been right! Current 4^th edition D&D is a far cry from your older versions and really mirrors the feel of an MMORPG, which I assume it feels as its competition.

Again, these are my opinions, so feel free to disagree. I love a good debate.

I think each of the versions has 'good' and 'bad' characteristics and I wanted to touch on a few of the good and bad. Let me preface also by adding that I think all of them have their place and they are meant for you to have fun in whatever form that may take.

Older versions of D&D were fun, simplistic and a bit generic. Role-playing was the key as well as the imagination of the DM and players both. Managing your inventory is another factor as it added a ‘realistic’ quality to the game. I personally did not enjoy this as I felt it detracted from the overall game-play and felt more like homework than actual fun! In addition, I felt that there was nothing heroic about an average guy picking up a sword and shield to go adventuring—it’s just silly. Add in the fact that all classes were basically the same. (ie. all characters have the same statistics, hit points, etc, like your fighter is made in a production line like a car or a piece of equipment), detracted from it further as more modern versions became available. But, it was an older representation and sometimes classic is the way to go. It was very dependent upon the story and the environment to move the game along. I personally enjoy the character that I play and want him to be a bit more…heroic? But, I digress--to each his own--que sera sera.

Third edition was pretty unique in that it diversified from the norm and really brought old school D&D into the modern age. It felt like an amazing leap in game mechanics while still keeping the familiar names, spells and abilities we all knew and loved. You could custom build your fighter, rogue, barbarian, etc. so that he or she was different from the others. Multi-classing, prestige classes and customizations were its strengths. Third edition was also ground-breaking in that they opened the game up to the community and made it essentially an open-source product (think Linux) which enhances the overall game experience as the consumer has a vested interest in the end product. However, as supplements became more and more available, power-gaming eventually put an end to this version and the market was saturated with over-the-top classes/variations/prestige classes. Sometimes, we experienced that a player accidentally created an overpowered character! Yikes! 

In 4^th edition, I kind of miss the skill selection or separation as I think they may have lumped too many of the individual skills into one overall skill. That being said, simplification has its place, I suppose. DM’ing has seriously gotten easier, encounters can be extremely easy to prepare and balance and the monsters are quite easy to manage now. As opposed to third edition where a significant monster may have two pages of spells, abilities and powers of which would send your head spinning when it was the monsters turn to go! Balance I think is the key to 4^th edition and it is very clear that they wanted combat to be very gripping and encapsulating to the point of making the battles a bit more epic. It certainly has become a tabletop game for the most part.

I have also heard grumblings on the internet that 4^th edition loses the RP feel, which I disagree with totally. This is completely up to your DM as it is his or her job to add that element. I have also heard that 4^th edition isn’t deadly enough. Wrong again…I have gotten my derriere handed to me several times and have been in one TPK (total Party Kill.) It was vicious! 

I am the DM! Whatever I say-goes!

All in all, I think you can take each framework of the game and add whatever style you like to it as they all have their own charm and ambiance. The bottom lines is that we are having fun, exploring dungeons and slaying dragons…After all, this is what it’s all about!

My question to you is: What version do you like best and why?

See you in Wothlondia! Cheers!

Please visit my HOME PAGE to enjoy an extended reading experience, see direct links to purchase Covenant of the Faceless Knights and to see what else Ashenclaw Studios, LLC has in store in the future!

All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios, LLC 2011 unless otherwise noted.  

Interview with an Avid D&D Gamer

 

 A very good friend of mine is a HUGE Dungeons and Dragons gamer. He has played since 1987 to present. He has played alongside your truly as well, but most of the time without. That being said, I wanted to do a brief interview for all of you gamers and D&D players who have played over the years and thought it would be cool to ask him a few questions. He was kind enough to take the time to answer my questions.

The interview is with Nicholas Titano of Infernal Titans, a company that he established this year in an attempt to provide gaming maps (at first) to the gaming community as he felt there were very few to choose from. Check his website out here...go now! And then come back here to see what Nick had to say!

We here at INFERNAL TITANS have been avid gamers for over two decades and as such, have had our finger on the pulse of the gaming community the entire time. Being mindful of your income, our goal is to not only provide the gaming community with quality products at an affordable price, but to satisfy what our own players have been clamoring for in the past few years: new gaming products! We strive to produce the highest quality role playing supplements that we can and look forward to producing many more in the future. These products are the first in a line of what we hope will be MANY products that make your game (and ours) a more enjoyable experience.

INFERNAL TITANS

What drew you to Dungeons & Dragons?

I was always a fan of swashbuckling sword and sorcery stories. My favorite toys as a child were the castle themed Lego sets, and anything Star Wars. So Dungeons & Dragons was a natural progression.

What is the most important element of the game in your opinion?

The social element. Dungeons & Dragons is inherently a group activity, if you don't like the people you play with, you are not going to enjoy yourself.

Did anyone ever ask you if you won or lost a game of Dungeons & Dragons?

Yes, on several occasions. It's usually a waste of time to try to explain the game to them, so I usually just say "Yes, yes I did."

How would you attract new gamers in the video game age?

Make a video game. If the game accurately simulates the tabletop experience, that would generate interest in the tabletop game. Then couple the video game experience with an in depth online community that caters to the video gamers, and the tabletop gamers. Thereby creating an interconnected community of gamers.

Making the game more dynamic, accessible, and user friendly is also a good idea.

What do you like best as a player in Dungeons & Dragons?

Being a part of a team. I generally lean towards characters that fill more of a supporting role when I play.

What do you like best in the role of Dungeon Master in Dungeons & Dragons?

Creating memorable experiences for my friends.

Why do you still play after 20+ years of playing?

Because I still enjoy it. As I grow and change, so does the game. That's the beauty of a tabletop RPG, it can be anything you want it to be. There are no constraints.

What is your favorite edition of Dungeons & Dragons?

4th edition is my favorite. Its elegant mechanics are far easier to work with than any previous edition. At the same time it brings back the feelings I had as a 12 year old back in 1987 paging through the old Red Box Basic Edition- "Anything is possible in this world".

What is your most memorable event in Dungeons & Dragons as either a player or a Dungeon Master?

 

Surprisingly my most memorable events occur away from the table, as opposed to at it. The fact that my wife named her cat after an NPC from one of my campaigns is awesome. Obviously that campaign, and that NPC in particular, had a profound impact on her. That's just one of many. My players remembered minute details about a minor NPC whose purpose was purely comic relief. The party was close to Epic levels, so I figured one of the "famous" heroes should have a stalker. They remembered that his "spirit companion" (The PC he is stalking is a 4E shaman) was a plush badger attached to a string. Things like that stand out to me more than anything specific that happens at the table.

What do you think of the internet wars of Pathfinder vs. Dungeons & Dragons?

I don't, and neither should anyone else. Internet "Wars" are a waste of time.

Nick can be reached here:

customerservice@infernaltitans.com

Oh, before I forget, go like Nick's facebook page found here. It is so easy! Follow the link here, click the 'Like' button! It is super simple!Thanks in advance for you assumed compliance and cooperation in this matter. :-)

NICK'S FACEBOOK PAGE

Also, I would encourage any of you who are interested to take one of the questions, copy it and paste your answer in the comments!

See you in Wothlondia! (And maybe at the gaming table!) Cheers!

Please visit: www.ashenclaw.com to enjoy an extended reading experience, see direct links to purchase Covenant of the Faceless Knights and to see what else Ashenclaw Studios, LLC has in store in the future!

All maps, names and content copyright Ashenclaw Studios, LLC 2011 unless otherwise noted.