(WIP almost done) Ambush!

[Tom]

Hello folks!
A couple weeks ago I started a new D&D campaign as master, and for the second adventure, I thought about a classic: a forest ambush!
I'm pretty sure none of the players read this forum, so ahead with the spoilers!
The players are escorting a circus toward the nearest village, and the road cross a dangerous forest: a powerful witch/sorceress rule over a tribe of goblins that prey the travellers.. Along the road the caravan will be attacked from a pack of goblins, spiders and evil plants (Yes I'm an evil Master) and I thought about making a map of the encounter instead of the same old withe grid with erasers and pencils as obstacles
The map should be formed by 3 pieces of A3 paper (200gr) then plastified.
I make a premise: I made this map in a hurry, using old props I did for other maps, and with a wrong scale (square are 2cm) because I had the idea too late and tomorrow I got to play.. Yesterday I made some printing test at home, and the result was fine, but today when I printed at the store I noticed that obviously (my mistake) the colors were much more warmer
P_20170525_170137.jpg
I'm struggling now because I don't know if tomorrow I will have time to go to the print store, and I wanted to plasticize them... However, I made a "fix" toward a blue tone, which I could use in case..
AmbushB.jpg
Give me your guesses about the dots, there is no legend

P.s. In the weekend I will post the pictures of the game session, with the prints and the tokens (also made from old props), then if anyone want the files I'm willing to share, now I can only post a resized version of the map, the original is too big.

Enjoy!

Tom

[Bogie]

Nice work Tom, It is not uncommon to have to adjust the brightness or color shade for the printers. the maps usually print out much darker than they look on the screen. I usually prefer a less obvious grid, so in a forest setting I would use a dark green at a low intensity for the lines.

I would have guessed that the red dots were spiders and the orange dots are goblins, but then there should be a third color for the evil plants... That's a lot of bad guys, you are an evil dungeon master,,,,Nice!

[Tom]

Nice work Tom, It is not uncommon to have to adjust the brightness or color shade for the printers. the maps usually print out much darker than they look on the screen. I usually prefer a less obvious grid, so in a forest setting I would use a dark green at a low intensity for the lines.

I would have guessed that the red dots were spiders and the orange dots are goblins, but then there should be a third color for the evil plants... That's a lot of bad guys, you are an evil dungeon master,,,,Nice!

Thank you Bogie! I'm about to post the pictures and final versions on Finished Map section!
p.s. the dots represent obstacles and difficult terrain, I'm not that evil

[flyenemu]

Tom,

Welcome to the other side of the screen! I have a blast as GM, and I love creating my own maps and handouts. The traditional 'Ambush in the Woods' is a great tool to teach new players (and GMs) and their characters(monsters) how to deal with such encounters. Due to my ignorance regarding the system you are even using, and this being a forum for maps not encounters, I will spare you my opinion on balancing a surprise encounter (just remember ambushes can be used against the ones ambushing).

My only words of advise on you beautiful map (one I would surly use) is in regards to the monster markers. In my experience, ambushes are a very fluid thing, and are best done by allowing the party to fall into the trap rather than placing them in it. Let them place their markers on the map, establish a marching order, and inform you what they are doing as they traverse the map. Though they may know something is fishy out of game, I would advise against letting such skepticism to pervert the actions in game. As the ambush happens, not all of the baddies will be seen, so having dots on the map will cause players to subconsciously change tactics during combat to avoid unseen dangers. I would recommend there be two maps, with the one you have behind the screen having your dots (and perhaps markers for pit/snare traps if you really like being evil), while the players have one that only shows the area. As things are discovered, they then can be added to the player's/active map.

In closing, I love your map, and the ideas behind it! If I picked up a pre-made campaign and found this as one of the encounter supplements I would be most pleased!