Lighting Maps - Swallow Your Pride
Lighting on a map is obviously important because it allows the Game Master to see important physical details of the map that also relate to the story of the adventure. Think first, Who are you designing maps for?
Lighting also conveys much more.
It can convey important aspects of mood and tone that help to bolster the setting of a story.
The first person you should always be keeping in mind when you design a dungeon map for adventure publication is that the Game Master is the target audience.
In a movie the lighting design is for the viewing audience or what would be the players in a dungeon adventure. You are not necessarily designing for the players. You can do that also but it should be a secondary design consideration.
Hence, some design aspects need to be left behind.
Swallow your pride on developing a pretty map that looks stunning to the eye and opt for a map that has better lighting so the GM can see everything.
Choose better lighting to see details instead of lighting for esthetics.
Don't forget that when you are designing digital interactive maps using the EAS method you can easily provide your dream version of the map for the viewing audience as an alternative popup that the GM can decide to share with their players.
This gives you the opportunity to provide your true vision of the map with all the mood and tone you like.
Just make the main working maps the GM will rely on reasonably well lit.
Dungeon Alchemist allows the use of invisible spotlights to highlight important information about a room.
Be wary of how sun shadows affect the look of a map. Are the shadows detracting from the overhead view?
You may need to move the sun when capturing an image from different views, say overhead as opposed to a Point-of-view shot.
Design the map you want, then remember that it is a product and may need to be adjusted so that it makes a better sellable and most importantly a better playable product for the GM.
