Map Attack #2 & Secret Doors

 

Here is the second level of the dungeon map. This time I just drew it with pencil while watch The Blacklist. Then went back over everything with Microns. The walls 05, the stairs and doors 01 and the stippling and debris 005. 

Secret Doors

In the western half of the dungeon are a series of secret doors that are poorly hidden. Done on purpose. I avoid writing in the traditional S through a door to show a secret door. I try to draw the wall as 'samey' with a hint of a possible door there. Or what I've done in the past is leave a small gap between the wall and the room/corridor behind it. I do this because most of the people I know play on-line and use the maps on VTT. Having a big S in the wall is too big of a hint. Not much secretness there. And then they have to figure out how to open the secret door.

That said the GM needs to have some good skill with the masking in the VTT to hide the corridor walls beyond the wall. That's why I like drawing a gap between the door and wall. It allows the GM to unveil a section of the map without looking suspicious. I know I look for that when I'm a player. 

Map #3 I'm hoping to have out by next weekend. I'm thinking for level three there will be a split. Two completely different sections. One section of level three is access by this level and the other part can be accessed by coming up from level 4. 

Map Attack, First of 2026

My first map attack of 2026. I primarily focus on smaller maps for shorter adventures. This one is a multi-level one. The second level is in the works. I used a random table to determine the dungeon corridors and rooms and I have a die or two that also randomizes the dungeon creation. 

I don't have an idea for this map yet. I tend to draw maps in batches. I'll put on a movie/TV show and draw. Zen out. I do this when my brain is fogged and tired. I can at least draw some lines. 

For this map I used a random double stone pattern for dungeon walls. I did not shadow the stones like I do with the single stone technique. I thought the shadowing cluttered the look of the map. And then for the stippling I did a fire-like pattern flaring from the stones. I like the effect. 

Instruments used were 0.5 Uni Kurutoga mechanical pencil to do the initial drawing. Then Microns, 05 for the stones a water border, 01 for the details within the map such as doors, stairs and pillars, and lastly the 005 for the stippling and water current. 

Back to level two. I'll share it here when I'm done.

More Reading in 2026

I need to feed my brain more. I used to eat up books like Cookie Monster ate...cookies. I've gotten out of the habit. My reading time has been replaced with social media crap, texts about how the world ought to be, opinions (oh god, the never ending opinions), dog videos (damn it I like them), artists doing their thing (to me they are like magicians, they scribble on the paper or canvas, I have no idea what its supposed to be and then out of the chaos a cool picture of Jimmie Hendrix appears) and idiots hurting themselves (yeah, I like those videos also). Death scroll is the term I've heard over the past couple of months. Accompanied by brain rot. Yep. Yep. Those terms are accurate.

To help myself, is to put more effort into reading books. Not just gaming books. Get back into the novels both classics and contemporary. Indulge into non-fiction books. I've got lots of them waiting for my attention. I used to love reading music biographies and I can't tell you the last time I did that. 

I decided for 2026 I will put the effort into reading. I don't make resolutions. I remember when people would ask "What's your New Years resolution?" I'd answer with my snide answer, "When I had hair my resolution was to never making another resolution and I've been keeping it ever since." One of my favorite tactics, giving an answer without answering. I missed my calling in politics I guess. Bree-Yark!

More books. More books. More books. I have to retrain my brain to focus for long periods of time because that is gone. It's there. Somewhere. I just need to retrain it. Sit. Be quiet. Focus. Read. Do it after dinner. Do it in between things. Do it while waiting. I am so used to be on other people's time I've forgotten how to read a few pages while waiting for a doctor. Sitting in the parking lot. At night, before bed. That last one is dangerous, I've thumped myself a few times. 

Reader Tip: If you read before bed, make it a paperback. You're welcome.

Part of the reading thing is to keep track of it. This blog will reflect on what I'm reading. I have no idea what shape that will come in. I want it to be more than a tally board of how many I read. I don't expect it'll be many because it'll take me longer to get through books these days. But want to look back a year from now and check my progress. And then set an improvement goal. 

To all those reading this thank you. I hope you next year is full of good stuff. While I know it won't be without its shitty points, but I hope you are armed with the ability to get through it or have someone to help you through it. 

Good New Year to you. To improving yourself. Making yourself better for those close around you. To improve those skills so when someone needs your help you are able to do it with grace and dignity.