I’m running a one shot called Treaty of the Tiger King for my beginners 5e table at the LGS. I’m using the maps provided with the adventure to inspire this battle map. I use washable markers on a vinyl map grid. Stay tuned for pics from the play table with minis and everything.
This is my first step, laying things out with a light color that will fade into the rest of the drawing. I’ve added more boats than the map provided in the adventure.
This is my second step, adding rough color to big shapes on the map.
My third step is to use a damp towel and blend the colors to remove most, but not all, of my marker lines.
After blending I redrawn the outlines of all the big shapes in a nice dark color.
Now it’s time to begin adding detail. I wasn’t happy with the plain blue water and added some murky seaweed swirls.
Finally I added some more details in black. Bollards on the edge of the boardwalks, ropes, ship bits, barrels and boxes, and a poorly drawn crane near the large boat. Maps are all set for the next game!