Originally Posted by
damonjynx
Hi XCali,
Nice map.
A couple of things re RPG Dungeon maps.
Scale: when drawing a map to use in an RPG you have to decide whether the map is going to be an encounter map, a battle map or an overview map. Encounter maps usually use a grid where 1 square = 5 feet or 1.5 metres and can be drawn to any scale, battle maps use the same grid as an encounter map but are drawn at a scale of 1 sq = 1". So a Letter sized sheet would produce a map 8 squares x 11 or 40' x 55'. Overview maps generally use a grid where 1 square = 10 feet and can be drawn at any scale. So your "lake" would roughly be either 100 feet square or 200 feet square...
Dressing: In caverns such as your map, apart from elevation changes which Bogie mentioned above, you could add things such as stalagmites, stalactites, crevasses, collapsed tunnels and so on. In more "built" dungeons, there are numerous traps, wells, trap doors (ceiling & floor), dais', statutes, magic circles, sarcophagi and so on. Google "dungeon symbols or icons" and you'll get a good idea of what's what. Then it's simply a matter of deciding whether you prefer the "old-school" symbols or the more realistic/artistic representations that folk like Bogie produce.
It also helps to think about the size of the creature(s) that may inhabit your dungeon. Smaller than human size it makes no difference. Humans and most monstrous humanoid races are regarded as "Medium" sized which means they take up 1 x 5 foot square on a map. Large creatures take up 4 x 5ft squares, i.e. a 10ft x 10ft area and so on. If you google either "Pathfinder creature sizes" or "D&D creature sizes" you should get a good idea.
But my best advice is; find a game and actually play! You know you want to! It's great fun and you'll get a much better understanding of what's needed for a good RPG map. Also, look at stuff by Mike Schley, Rob Lazzeretti, Doug Kovacs and a heap of others (including many members of the guild) and on this forum in particular, for ideas.