Using OpenOffice.org Draw To Create Gaming Maps

[tilt]

Hi ubuntu fan - nice little tutorial ... if you want more than 5 images, you just make a second post - then you can have 5 more... and so forth
and have some rep for your nice work with my mace of nice repping +4

[UbuntuFan]

I decided to create two different kinds of maps. I wanted to be able to make both hexagonal and square maps. Since I only have a simple color printer that can only print on Letter size paper, I opted to make the size of my basic terrain shapes one inch square. I did this by using the “Basic Shapes” found in the toolbar at the bottom of the Draw program. After drawing the basic shape on the canvas I set the properties of the shape. This can be done by selecting the shape and then do one of the following: a) Press the F4 key, b) right click on the shape and select “Position and Size...”, c) using the menus choose Format > Position and Size. Make sure the “Keep ratio” is unchecked, then change the width and height of the shape to one. Since the terrain tiles have to remain the same size, in the Protected section I checked “Size”. This way I will not accidentally change the dimensions of a terrain shape while building maps.


Position and Size Dialog for Shapes

Combine map shapes to create the design you are looking for. When you are satisfied with your shape, select all of the shapes that make up your custom shape, then right click on any one of the selected shapes and select "Group" from the popup menu. All of the individual shapes of your new shape will now behave as a single shape. If you ever need to edit a shape that is combined into a group, simply right click on it and select "Enter Group". You will then be able to edit the individual shapes that make up the group.

Note: Groups can be nested within other groups.

Below are samples of my early attempts at custom shapes. (Compass Rose, Buildings, Terrain Tiles)

[UbuntuFan]

After creating shapes that I plan to reuse, I create a gallery to store them for later. Begin by opening the gallery by clicking on Tools > Gallery. In the gallery pane the “New Theme...” button lets you create a new theme that will appear in the scrolling list. Then you can add shapes to the theme by making sure it is selected on the left, then drag the shape from the canvas into the gallery space on the right.



The dragging is a little tricky. It is accomplished by clicking and holding the left mouse button on the shape until the cursor changes appearance. Then it will allow you to drag the shape into the gallery pane.

Note: Since galleries are listed in alphabetical order, I found it helpful to start all of my map galleries with "Map" so they would be listed together.

For my purposes I created the following galleries:

Maps Buildings - contains shapes resembling different roofs.
Maps Cities - contains the silhouette city icons for world/area maps.
Maps Compass - contains compass roses.
Maps Furniture - contains top down views of furniture.
Maps Legends - contains bordered legends in which I display the map name, etc.
Maps Plants - contains top down views of plants similar to those found in landscaping software.
Maps Terrain - contains hexagonal and square terrain shapes for all types of maps (area, indoor, dungeons, caves, etc).