DM_Andy
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Help Shape Future Map Releases - A Weather Poll
🕑 Added 2025-11-30 20:30:13 +0000 UTC
Hi friends! As we start to wrap up 2025 and head into the new year, I am constantly thinking about ways to be more efficient with the work that I do.
Many of you have probably noticed that the asset quality on my maps has increased with just about every release. That is due in part to the incredible work I commission each month from a number of talented artists creating hand-drawn art to help bring my asset vision to life, so I can create the map designs I want.
The downside of this is that higher quality equals a larger image size. My last few map releases have had their file sizes well over 1 GB, and I'm trying to think of ways to reduce this.
My key thought is weather. I currently apply various weather overlays in Photoshop, then save the map file with the weather baked in (Such as fog, rain, etc). This means that for a single color mood, I will need to save multiple files. As an example:
A "Gloom" color mood map would be saved without weather, with fog, with rain, and then again for the grid overlay. That would be six images saved (eight if I do a lights & no-lights version) for each layer. Some maps have multiple floors or layers to them, so even a 2-story building would have 3 levels (1st floor, 2nd floor, and roof), and each would get the same treatment, creating a lot of map files.
So I had a thought: What if instead of baking in the weather, I just provided you with a .png transparent image that fits each level you can apply in your VTTs? Then this also got me thinking, how many folks even use the maps with weather on them as static images vs. using more immersive tools that many VTTs provide (Like Foundry weather mods).
So this survey is really two parts, and it's Multiple Choice.
First, I want to understand who is using each weather overlay on my maps (or not using them) so I have an idea of how popular they are.
Second, I'd like to know how you'd feel about my proposed change to make sure it will work for your game setup.
To summarize my proposed change
I would no longer provide baked-in weather overlays to the map image
I would provide a .png file for each layer of the weather (such as rain, sun rays, fog, snow, etc) as applicable to that map.
If the map has interior/exterior locations, I would provide tailored weather files to match. For instance, I would cut out the interior sections for the rain.png file so it would overlay over the interior location without rain showing up inside.
For my Foundry modules, I would look to apply the weather overlay on top of the image when you select a weather mood (this will take some development, but we feel it can be done). This will also help with the Levels modules to make sure the weather is on top of the other transparent cut-outs, like roofs and buildings.
I feel going this route will greatly improve my map workflow efficiency, but I did not want to do this if it would be detrimental to the quality you expect in my map releases. If I go this route, I think the benefits would be:
Fewer map files total, which means it's easier for you to find what you need
Smaller .zip files make for a faster download and would help ensure I can upload to Foundry Premium (they have a 1gb limit)
Matching .png weather overlays makes them easy to upload to your chosen VTT
Foundry weather would go over building/roof cut-outs for modules such as Levels (instead of being baked onto the background image)
And for me personally, it would give me back some time to focus on map creation rather than map file processing, as it would significantly reduce my workflow.
I do try to limit my polls because I respect your time and try not to bug you with lots of engagement, but your participation would greatly help me make this decision moving forward.
Thank you all so much!
Cheers,
DM Andy
Comments
Bryan Harrison
I think having a separate .png overlay would help for my own file management as well. I love all the options you provide, but sometimes it's a bit overwhelming to decide which one is right for the game. It also uses a lot of space if every possible iteration is saved. So having the base file with a set of transparencies would be much more flexible.
Ben Barrey
I only use the clear maps and I use foundry vtt weather effects and dynamic day/night in my CoS campaigns. I’d gladly forego the weather maps to give you an easier time to create more maps. The only exception to this is snow/rain maps, but just for the snowy ground cover, like puddles, etc. are useful but the weather layer I add later. Thanks for all your work!
Ivan Maras
Andy I am so glad you’re asking, as I often had similar thoughts when downloading your beautiful maps. Here are my takes: - Clean, gridless day maps without weather effects are best, as I can easily add weather and nighttime in Foundry. - Daytime Fairytale and Gloom are the only maps I use, as I find them fitting my Curse of Strahd game the best. - No light versions are very welcome, as sometimes, lit versions seem out of place during day time - A fog option is nice to have but not a must as animated fog can be added in Foundry - One clean day grid file is welcome (even if it remains unused or is just low res), just to see visually how you intended the grid to be To put it short: I actually mostly just use Day, Gridless, Gloom, Lights on (lights off version is helpful half of the time). Everything else is added in Foundry. If I might add another feedback: I’d much appreciate even the dark fairytale and gloom maps to be a bit brighter (Bluewater Inn!!!) as they can be easily darkened in Foundry but not brightened without also brightening the light sources, which looks very ugly. Thank you so much!
Fynflood
Rarely do i select a map that has weather, as Foundry does a great job at doing that for me. I do enjoy the various colorways tho, but almost always stick to gloom (they're always beautiful). Totally off topic, but the one struggle I do run into is map size and orientation - I use a 4k TV with a touchscreen for the minis, and often times I can't get the map to fill the screen due to it's DPI. Not an issue with online play, but in person it's cumbersome. Just tossing that into the wind :D
Jon
I use the clearest maps (usually plain old sunlight). If I need weather, I just use Gambits FXMaster module or the baked in stuff in Foundry. You could add an overlay as an option but personally, I wouldn't use them.
Jeremiah Johnson
Weather overlays would be great, because it would make it simple to change weather conditions on the fly for my VTT game. As a small side note, as a Roll20 user who is just getting to know the foreground element, I'd love to see more maps that utilize that and have a separate foreground layer.
Tyberius
While I sometime use different colour variations in my games I have to admit I usually try and avoid the ones with any weather effects on them. This is primarily due to Foundry now days having so many options around weather/ambient effects that it's very easy for anyone to just add their own. I'd be happy to any strong environmental changes on maps such as snow, lava or anything else like that here and there around the map but I think most people would be happy with just the .png files of weather effects. Loving your maps as always Andy!
Ako22
Colour variations are great to help set the mood but weather and fog isn't needed. On Foundry the token appear over the weather which is less useful to me. A png would be perfect as it can be set as a layer above the tokens when I want a simple non-animated solution. Like many of the others, I use Foundry’s built in weather and fog system but this does tax my players with lower end computers.
Yevhen Stolitnii
I don't need any effects that I can add in VTT animated.
Richard Stahl
I do have other mods that I use that provide weather when needed, so I actually prefer maps that don't have it baked in, so I can customize based on story.
