Despite what the cover mistakenly says, this product doesn’t provide a “massive seven story wizard’s tower map.” Oops. Instead, it’s a monastery-like complex; the maps depict both exterior and interior views. Putting the whole thing together requires 52 tiles (each tile is square, 7" to a side). The artwork is very well done. The product includes JPGs for virtual tabletop use, but it could also have used a key.

Originally posted at http://diehardgamefan.com/2012/03/02/tabletop-review-one-dollar-dungeon-paladins-secluded-citadel-map-pack/

Usually when you purchase an electronic map pack, you get a few tiles or a set room that you get to use one way. If you are lucky, you can mix and match a couple pieces to come up with new rooms, but generally you either get a single large room or building, or you get some smaller generic pieces that work together to make a larger map. If you want to use the components in a manner other than the prescribed offering, you’ll have to a lot of work tweaking the maps using some software or just get creative.

Sometimes something as simple as choosing to not have grid lines or printing the map to black and white instead of color is just too much work. It is frustrating because you know that the publisher had all these graphics laid out in commercial software, and with just a few mouse clicks, they could have provided you with exactly what you wanted.

D20 Cartographer seems to “get it” when it comes to providing map sets. They provide a single map, in this case a Paladin’s Citadel, in multiple formats and styles for only $1. For that dollar you get:

A set of “easy print” PDFs

Black & White with grid Black & White without a grid Color with a grid Color without a grid A set of .JPG files

Black & White with grid Black & White without a grid Color with a grid Color without a grid A set of virtual table-top files

100 dpi .JPG files of each floor, with items removed 25 .PNG file objects for use with any maps MapTools .RPMAP file with objects embedded and vision blocking set up The Paladin’s Citadel is a large 150′ x 100′ fortification that is part shrine and part barracks. The citadel is three stories tall, with a smaller second floor and an “intimate” third floor private room. The Citadel is fully furnished if you use the higher resolution printable maps and is unfurnished if you use the files designed for virtual table tops. The one specific MapTools file is already furnished and ready to occupy.

The only issue I could find with this particular map set is that every graphic of the exterior of the Citadel is set on what appears to be a desert background. When using a single building, I’d like to be able to place it on the background of my choosing, especially when using MapTools. Since the focus is on the Citadel itself, having the building presented without the background terrain would let me more easily use it with my existing maps. If I had a larger area map I could resize the .JPG file to set my Citadel where I wanted it and then pull out the more detailed version when the players moved to that building. It is a minor issue, and only relevant because D20 Cartographer did such an otherwise thorough job in providing everything a GM might want to use this map pack.

Normally for $1 I’d expect to get a full color map of the Citadel and that would be it. With all of these files, I can print up the map on my printer at home if I need it quick and cheap, full color at the print shop for quality, or use it in my MapTools game. With the extra .JPG and .PNG files I can re-purpose parts of the Citadel in other maps.

Dollar for dollar, the Paladin’s Citadel from D20 Cartographer is one of the best RPG supplements I’ve ever purchased. I can heartily recommend the entire One Dollar Dungeon line.

I dig this map. It has a nice Persian feel with some diversity to the locale. There is an external courtyard, a receiving room and interior rooms, and underground cellars. The dual levels makes the map a bit more interesting and I really enjoy the aesthetics. This is a perfect map for a noble's mansion, a monastery in the wilds, or even a small PC stronghold. Plenty of options, Maptools files, etc., so get this. It's one dollar for cripe's sake.

This is an incredible product for $1. If you use MapTool, you should buy this product just to see how to put together awesome MapTool effects like lighting, vision blocking, and automatic teleporting from one map to another when the characters use stairs. Other online users will have no problem importing the maps and objects into their VTT of choice.

The product also includes plenty of goodness for the face-to-face gamer including full maps in both color and toner saving black-and-white. The 110 page pdf contains the full tile set if you want to assemble the dungeon as your characters explore. The product comes complete with a set of standing doors as well.

If you're honestly hesitating over spending a buck for this, or any of the other One Dollar Dungeon map packs, please let me put your doubts to rest. It will be a dollar well spent!

Beautifully constructed, easy to use and with many options for printing, including color, black and white, with or without a grid, you can easily place these maps into your campaign. Your players will love them, you'll enjoy not having to work out the next encounter's map, and you can print them at home with ease using the pre-sliced PDF files. A bit of scotch tape and you're good to go.

Another great option with these maps - they include Virtual Table Top systems files, so you can use these maps online with a variety of products.

When I say this is a beautiful map, I mean it. The colors and design really stand out. While labelled the paladin's Secluded Citadel, you could just as easily use this map as the Desert Manor House, or however you see fit. With four stories worth of rooms, there's plenty to explore.

Yet again another Home Run hit out of the ballpark! The color palette for the citadel is fitting for a desert environ or a scrub wasteland with very little vegetation. Some of the walls though do not line up properly as far as the rock formation and the front roof to the main entrance seems to float. The choices for the VTT MapTools map are very good and the FoW is excellent. Very fast drawing the FoW and adheres to the wall outlines. The only thing I would have done differently on the VTT map is add light sources for the light fixtures, although this can be tricky as you would need to go as generic as possible to fit with all of the different frameworks out there. Great job and I expect to see more from this company!!