Gimp Mapping-Fu

Using the photo I posted yesterday I have been practicing my l33t mapping skills in gimp following RobA's tutorial Using GIMP to Create an Artistic Regional RPG Map at Cartographers Guild.com I thought I would post the result of too many hours of practice. (click the thumbnail for a larger 1.4 Meg version.)

It is still not where I want it to be, but it is getting much closer.
Though the mountains and forests look pretty good, the grass/land needs improvement; I still haven't added the city and forest of glass on the southwest Continent on the river delta; I need more labels for things; The islands need help and the sea texture is a bit too coarse; I also need to add a compass rose, scale and other eye candy.

Snork
--
Snorkey: all I see are masks, bump maps and textures.

Asmor's Instant Dungeon: 2nd Level: Goblin Lair

Back Story: The Mavin family tomb has been in disuse for several years now, and has become the lair of a small group of Goblins.

Treasure Lots:(Players Handbook and Adventures Vault generated using Asmor's Quartermaster)

1. [Level 6 Magic Item]: Phylactery of Divinity (Adventurer's Vault, page 144 [Head Slot Items]) (DDI)
2. [Level 5 Magic Item]: Breach Bracers (Adventurer's Vault, page 116 [Arms Slot Items]) (DDI)
3. [Level 4 Magic Item]: Deathstalker Weapon +1 (Adventurer's Vault, page 67 [Weapons]) (DDI)
4. [Level 3 Magic Item]: Delver's Armor +1 (Player's Handbook, page 229 [Magic Armor]) (DDI)
5. [291.2 gp]: 283 gp, 76 sp, 60 cp
6. [260 gp]: 52 gp, 73 sp, 70 cp + 2 amethyst gems (100 gp each)
7. [176.8 gp]: 91 gp, 50 sp, 80 cp, and a 4 barrels of tea (20 gp each)
   
8. [176.8 gp]: 74 gp, 21 sp, 70 cp + 1 pearl (100 gp)
9. [83.2 gp]: 75 gp, 77 sp, 50 cp
10. [62.4 gp]: 55 gp, 65 sp, 90 cp

(Monster Manual only generated by Asmor's 4E Random Encounter Generator)

Encounter 1: Level 1, 500 xp

10	Giant Rat (DDI)	Level 1 Minion	25	Monster Manual, page 219 (Rat)
2	Goblin Sharpshooter (DDI)	Level 2 Artillery	125	Monster Manual, page 137 (Goblin)

Tips: Entrance to the complex with the goblins in perches, the rats in cages. As soon as possible the goblins tug a rope to open the two cages to release 5 rats each (minor action). The perches are 5 ft up and give the sharpshooters combat advantage and partial cover.
Treasure:Lot #10 and equipment.

Encounter 2:Level 2, 675 xp

4	Skeleton (DDI)	Level 3 Soldier	150	Monster Manual, page 234 (Skeleton)
3	Goblin Cutter (DDI)	Level 1 Minion	25	Monster Manual, page 136 (Goblin)

Tips: Cutter #3, the one with the red hat is in charge of the skeleton's and will hold back as the skeletons charge in, while the other two minons try and hit marked PC's. When missed they will give a little squeel and shift to another target.
Treasure: Lot #9

Encounter 3: Level 2, 625 xp

1	Gravehound (DDI)	Level 3 Brute	150	Monster Manual, page 274 (Zombie)
1	Human Bandit (DDI)	Level 2 Skirmisher	125	Monster Manual, page 162 (Human)
1	Warhorse (DDI)	Level 3 Brute	150	Monster Manual, page 159 (Horse)
2	Goblin Warrior (DDI)	Level 1 Skirmisher	100	Monster Manual, page 137 (Goblin)

Tips:Rover (Gravehound) and her master Berad (Human Bandit) and Trigger (Warhorse) work as a team (they are negotiating with the 2 Goblins for some stolen merchandise). Berad's first action will be to mount Trigger and try and trample as many as possible. The goblins will fight until one of them goes down and then try to flee.
Treasure:Lot #7 With the gold on the Berad, The rest is in the Goblins' possession.

Encounter 4: Level 2, 650

1	Goblin Blackblade (DDI)	Level 1 Lurker	100	Monster Manual, page 136 (Goblin)
9	Goblin Cutter (DDI)	Level 1 Minion	25	Monster Manual, page 136 (Goblin)
1	Shadowhunter Bat (DDI)	Level 3 Lurker	150	Monster Manual, page 27 (Bat)
1	Human Berserker (DDI)	Level 4 Brute	175	Monster Manual, page 163 (Human)

Tips: Mad Bill (human berserker) is wanted by the athorities and is working with the goblins as an "Advisor". He loves nothing more than to wade in and bust heads. The Bat lives here an only attacks bloodied PC's, Though it will swoop around looking for a target. The goblins will work in pairs and attempt to flank targets.

Treasure: Lot #3 on the Berserker. Lot #8

Encounter 5:Level 3, 770 xp

5	Orc Drudge (DDI)	Level 4 Minion	44	Monster Manual, page 203 (Orc)
1	Goblin Hexer (DDI)	Level 3 Controller (Leader)	150	Monster Manual, page 137 (Goblin)
2	Deathrattle Viper (DDI)	Level 5 Brute	200	Monster Manual, page 240 (Snake)

Tips: The orc's are dealing with the Vain the Hexer and his two pets. Vain will lead with Vexing Cloud and try and maitain it until attacked in melee, Following with Stinging Hex on or blindness on . He prefers to blind ranged attackers first, followed by those in combat with the Vipers. The Druges will fight until 3 fall and then break and flee from the dungeon.
Treasure: Lot #6 with the Orc's holding the gems, Vain has all of the coin.

Encounter 6:Level 3, 700 xp

1	Rage Drake (DDI)	Level 5 Brute	200	Monster Manual, page 92 (Drake)
1	Goblin Warrior (DDI)	Level 1 Skirmisher	100	Monster Manual, page 137 (Goblin)
2	Boneshard Skeleton (DDI)	Level 5 Brute	200	Monster Manual, page 235 (Skeleton)

Tips: Vinny the Goblin is desperately afraid of the Spot the Drake and will put himself as far from it as possible. Vinny will shoot and run as much as possible. The Drake Charges the Largest PC and will try to gnaw on them. The skeletons are tomb guardians and will attack only humans.
Treasure: Lot #4

Encounter 7:Level 3, 775

1	Gelatinous Cube (DDI)	Level 5 Elite Brute	400	Monster Manual, page 202 (Ooze)
3	Goblin Sharpshooter (DDI)	Level 2 Artillery	125	Monster Manual, page 137 (Goblin)

Tips: The goblins have broken into a sewer system and have "tamed" the Gelatinous cube. The floor is ruble covered and mostly difficult terrain. Large piles of Dirt provide cover. The Goblins will try and lure the PC's within the Cube's reach.
Treasure: #1 in the Cube.

Encounter 8:Level 5, 1050 xp

1	Goblin Underboss (DDI)	Level 4 Elite Controller (Leader)	350	Monster Manual, page 138 (Goblin)
3	Rotwing Zombie (DDI)	Level 4 Skirmisher	175	Monster Manual, page 274 (Zombie)
1	Specter (DDI)	Level 4 Lurker	175	Monster Manual, page 244 (Specter)

Tips: Ido the Underboss thinks he is in charge and will have the zombies swoop to the attack while he targets the PC's sporting Holly symbols. The specter will go invisible and manuver to make best use of it's spectral barrage power. It will then move out of combat, go invisible and manuver for another attack. Ido will use Superior Goblin Taticts to allow the Zombies to come closer to his target.
Treasure:Lot #2 & #5

Major Quest: Level 2, 625 xp.

Asmor's Instant Dungeon

Taking a dose of my own medicine I will now create a dungeon in 45 min using Asmor to help me build encounters and select treasure lots.

So starting with the Treasure lots:

1. [Level 5 Magic Item]: Bloodthread Armor +1 (Player's Handbook, page 227 (Magic Armor))
2. [Level 4 Magic Item]: Bloodcut Armor +1 (Player's Handbook, page 227 (Magic Armor))
3. [Level 3 Magic Item]: Eladrin Armor +1 (Player's Handbook, page 230 (Magic Armor))
4. [Level 2 Magic Item]: Resounding Weapon +1 (Player's Handbook, page 236 (Magic Weapons))
5. [201.6 gp]: 198 gp, 27 sp, 90 cp
6. [180 gp]: 75 gp, 47 sp, 30 cp + 1 peridot (100 gp)
7. [122.4 gp]: 17 gp, 45 sp, 90 cp + 1 moonstone (100 gp)
8. [122.4 gp]: 120 gp, 19 sp, 50 cp
9. [57.6 gp]: 51 gp, 57 sp, 90 cp
10. [43.2 gp]: 34 gp, 84 sp, 80 cp

Now to pick encounters: (I am limiting the sources to just the monster manual for simplicity).

Encounter 1: level 1, 375 xp

2	Elf Archer	Level 2 Artillery	125	Monster Manual, page 106 (Elf)
1	Human Bandit	Level 2 Skirmisher	125	Monster Manual, page 162 (Human)

Note: The bandit is playing a delaying tatict, trying to keep the PC's off the archers, so he will flee from the Melee opponents and close with ranged attackers when ever possible. The terrain should be filled with obsticals that provide cover, the archers should be located behind concealment and spread out.
Treasure: Lot #10.

Encounter 2: Level 1, 500 xp

4

Goblin Sharpshooter

Level 2 Artillery

125

Monster Manual, page 137 (Goblin)

Note: the goblins should be equal distance from the group at start but in opposite corners.
Treasure: Lot #9

Encounter 3: Level 1, 525 xp

3	Kruthik Young	Level 2 Brute	125	Monster Manual, page 170 (Kruthik)
1	Pseudodragon	Level 3 Lurker	150	Monster Manual, page 91 (Drake)

Note: Intererior encounter with high celings, the Kruthik Young conduct a straight up attack against the nearest opponent, while the pseudodragon does flyby attacks on ranged attackers and spell casters.
Treasure: Lot #4

Encounter 4: Level 1, 524 xp

4	Kobold Slinger	Level 1 Artillery	100	Monster Manual, page 168 (Kobold)
4	Kruthik Hatchling	Level 2 Minion	31	Monster Manual, page 170 (Kruthik)

Note: The hungry hatchlings disperse through the party as quicly as possible, The slingers, in two groups of two, evade melee combat as long as possible, trying to pin the party down with special shots (one glue, 2 fire each).
Treasure: none.

Encounter 5: Level 2, 600 xp

2	Guard Drake	Level 2 Brute	125	Monster Manual, page 90 (Drake)
1	Gnome Arcanist	Level 3 Controller (Leader)	150	Monster Manual, page 134 (Gnome)
2	Fire Beetle	Level 1 Brute	100	Monster Manual, page 30 (Beetle)

Note: Interior encounter; The PC's will first see the Gnome Arcanist, and when they are close enough will fire off his illusinary terrain (standard action), followed by a Fey Step to move into position while the brutes attack. From there she will unleash scintalting bolts(standard) at the melee combatants, and Startling Gamor (minor) to pack in straglers, or keep PC's away from her. The fire beetles will lead with their fire spray and when ever it recharges.
Treasure: Lot #3 and lot #8

Encounter 6: Level 2, 675 xp

3	Ettercap Fang Guard	Level 4 Skirmisher	175	Monster Manual, page 107 (Ettercap)
1	Imp	Level 3 Lurker	150	Monster Manual, page 63 (Devil)

Note: The Ettercaps' will try to entagle then bite, or strike while the imp (supervisor to the gnome in Encounter 5), will on alternating rounds vanish (standard)/fly (move) or Bite (standard)/Fly (move) to keep its wereabouts unknown.

Treasure: None

Encounter 7: Level 4, 850 xp

4	Doppelganger Sneak	Level 3 Skirmisher	150	Monster Manual, page 71 (Doppelganger)
1	Shadar-kai Gloomblade	Level 6 Lurker	250	Monster Manual, page 230 (Shadar-Kai)

Note: Initaly the doppelgangers will appear as helpless individuals to try and draw the party in, at which point they will initate the attack. Otherwise they will work in pairs to attempt to flank a single PC so that they get extra damage. The gloomblade will use its Veil of Shadows and Gloom strike to try and blind melee combatants until bloodied, then it will make use single use of it's shadow jaunt power to try and flank with a doppelganger on a bloodied target.
Treasure: The gloomblade wields Lot #1, with lot #7 and #6 on their persons.

Encounter 8: Level 2, 657 xp

3	Phantom Warrior	Level 4 Soldier	175	Monster Manual, page 116 (Ghost)
1	Hobgoblin Warcaster	Level 3 Controller (Leader)	150	Monster Manual, page 140 (Goblin)

Note: The phantom warriors will attempt to disperse amonst the PC to maximize their Phantom Tatics ability. Mean while the Hobgoblin warcaster will close with the artillery and use Force Lure to keep melee combatants packed in with the Phantom Warriors or Force Pulse to knock them down (as he is able to), other wise he will bludgeon ranged attackers with excessive glee (leading with Shockstaff).
Treasure: Lot #6 and Lot #5.

Major Quest: Level 1, 500 xp and Treasure Lot #2.

This gives us a total of 5,206 xp's.

It took just over 2 hours to do including formating.

Now to create the actual adventure...