Crafting Your DnD Dreams with with AI Generated Maps
Creating immersive and visually captivating adventures is an art form that Dungeon Masters (DMs) continuously strive to master. One powerful tool that has been getting a lot of attention in the DnD community is the use of AI DnD map generators. Whether you're seeking to design intricate dungeons, expansive worlds, or picturesque cities, this article will show you how to make Dungeons and Dragons maps with Midjourney for your live and virtual table top campaigns.
Explore the Art of AI Cartography
Midjourney is one of the most powerful AI image generators going. It lets you quickly create beautiful images with simple text prompts and no technical know-how. This article assumes that you already have a Midjourney account and a basic knowledge of how Midjourney works. If not, start by reading their Quick Start Guide to create your account and get started. Then come back to this article to start conjuring mesmerizing maps with ease.
We've broken down this guide into several sections, each focusing on a different aspect of AI map generation for DnD. From leveraging reference images to creating compelling DnD map prompts, embracing serendipity, and even giving you some effective prompts you can use to get started. We'll cover it all. So, fasten your seatbelts (or your dragon-riding harnesses), and get ready to embark on a journey to level up your map-making skills.
In This Article
Selecting and Using Reference Images
Writing Prompts that Conjure Amazing Maps
Example Prompts and AI-Generated DnD Maps
Using Seed Numbers and Variations
Adding Grids and Fine Tuning
Embracing Serendipity
Other Top DnD Map Making Tools
The Power of Reference Images
Reference images can significantly enhance the accuracy and aesthetics of your maps. They provide a visual anchor for AI DnD map generators like Midjourney. They serve as a source of inspiration, enabling you to convey your vision more effectively. Whether you're striving to recreate the intricate layout of a dungeon, the grandeur of a city, or the expanse of a world, reference images offer a blueprint for your creativity.
To use reference images effectively with Midjourney, start with an image or images that closely resembles the map you want to create. This could be another map from a different source or an architectural rendering of a real building. I find that floor plans for cathedrals, palaces and state buildings make great reference images and they are publicly available with a quick google image search.
How to Add Reference Images to Midjourney
The process of incorporating reference images into Midjourney is straightforward. The tool is designed to integrate these visuals into the map generation process. Here's how to do it:
Begin by collecting your reference images. These could be maps you've found online, architectural drawings, or any visual representation that aligns with your map concept.
Select Midjourney under “Direct Messages” in Discord, then Drag and drop an image into your Discord feed and press enter.
3. In Discord, left-click the image, then right-click on it, and select "Copy Image link."
4. Message the @Midjourney bot in Discord, with a /Imagine prompt. Include the description of the map you are looking to create and paste in the link to your reference image.
Include details like the angle of view (top-down), that it is a floor plan, and use the –ar command to provide an aspect ratio for your image. I like –ar 16:9, but you can use just about any aspect ratio: 8:18, 11:17, 3:2 etc.
For example: https://s.mj.run/_yN2T0gaz0U A top-down view of a dungeons and dragons battle map, an ancient, sprawling temple, medieval architecture, open roof and exposed floor plan. --ar 16:9 Which yielded these images:
Use Multiple Reference Images with the /Blend Command
Midjourney also allows you to blend multiple images together. By beginning your prompt with "/blend" in Midjourney, you can drag and drop up to five images, while providing a prompt that describes the map you're aiming to create. These images can include maps, architectural references, or any visuals that help capture the style you want to achieve.
Promptology: How to Crafting Effective Map Making Prompts
A well-crafted prompt is your key to translating your creative vision into a map that captures the details, style, and context you desire. Here are some tips to get great results:
Simplicity and Clarity: One common misconception is that more detailed or lengthy prompts lead to better results. In reality, simplicity and clarity are often more effective. A concise prompt that includes all the essential details is more likely to yield predictable and consistent results.
Type, Style, Context: Start your prompt by specifying the type of map you want. Is it a top-down flat map, a 3D representation, or an isometric view? Then define the style – full color, sepia tone, or hand-drawn on ancient parchment. Then describe the context and location. For example, you could request a map of "An evil wizard's dungeon" or "A lawful good dragon's lair brimming with treasure and scientific wonders." Using descriptive words like “Evil, sinister, holy, dark, enchanted, can help Midjourney to add style that will make your map stand out.
Reference Specific Artists, Works and Places: Let Midjourney know where the structure is located. Is it in a cave, a jungle or a desert. Provide it with a style. Is your setting an Arabian adventure or a Renaissance era setting? Let Midjourney know. You can also reference fantasy settings like Conan or Lord of the Rings.
Tell Midjourney What It’s For: Use terms like "Map for Dungeons and Dragons," "D&D map” or “DnD battle map" to provide Midjourney with context about the map's purpose.
Let Midjourney Know What Size to Make Your Map: Midjourney won’t get it right if you tell it to make a tall skinny map or a wide map. Instead you need to use a special command at the end of your prompt to define an aspect ratio. The command is --ar X:X. The Xs are place holders for numbers. I find the best aspect ratios for maps are either Midjourney’s default square images or an aspect ratio of 16:9 which is similar to a HD TV display. By typing --ar 16:9 at the end of your prompt, or any other aspect ratio, you can define the size of your maps.
Avoid Negatives: Midjourney doesn't handle negative prompts well, so avoid telling it what not to do. For example, saying "Don't include doors" might lead to doors in the map. Instead, if you want to exclude something, use the command "--no [What you want to avoid]." For instance, --no doors.
General vs. Specific: While it's tempting to provide specific room layouts and detailed instructions, Midjourney excels when you convey the general purpose of the map and the mood you want to create. Allow Midjourney to create a map and then build your adventure or encounter around it. This approach is often more efficient and productive.
Examples of AI-Generated DnD Maps and Prompts that You Can Use
Let's delve into a selection of real maps I’ve created and the prompts I used. These examples illustrate the versatility and beauty of maps that Midjourney can craft for your DnD adventures, spanning single encounter maps, multi-level structures and city maps.
For each map below, I’ve provided the original prompt and the final image. Keep in mind that a lot of regenerations and variations typically go into getting the exact image you are looking for.
1. DnD Forest Map
Prompt: A top down view of a dungeons and dragons map of a hilltop in a jungle. There are trees, plants and boulders. Hand drawn pencil sketch. Sepia tone.
When creating DnD forest maps, be sure to specify the type of forest: jungle, coniferous, or whatever. You can also use references from literature like “Mirkwood.” This helps Midjourney to understand what types of vegetation to use and the general style to use.
My DnD forest battle map called for a sheer cliff that the players would need to climb.Below you can see the original image and the final retouched map that I used in my campaign. I used Photoshop’s content-aware fill tool to customize and retouch my map.
2. DnD Castle Map
Prompt: https://s.mj.run/Y2FaciT44BQ this map as a hand drawn pencil sketch of a square matrix of floor tiles, dungeons and dragons fantasy mat. Top down view. --ar 16:9
The link is to a drawing for the floor plan for the Louvre. Using an existing building as a reference is a great way to create consistent, multi-level DnD castle maps or mansion maps. By using Midjourney as my castle map generator, I was able to create multiple variations of the same basic floor plan, which worked as different levels of the castle. The doors, stairs and numbers were added in Photoshop.
3. DnD Temple Map
Prompt: A top down fantasy map of an Altar chamber. Monotone, sepia color scheme. There is a large wooden altar in the center of the room, divans and other furniture for sitting. The walls are carved with Aztec sculptures and tapestries. There are various other tables, candelabras and furnishings in the room. Dungeons and Dragons fantasy map. Hand drawn.
I prompted Midjourney to create monotone, hand drawn temple maps. What I got was quite different, but in many ways better than what I was asking for. This is why it’s important to embrace serendipity when Midjourney gives you something unexpected.
4. DnD Town Maps
Prompt: A top-down map of a vast city in the Eastern Byzantine style. The city is on a wide bay and a river cuts through it. There is a palace and many temples and towers throughout. The city has an outer wall.
For DnD town and city maps, it’s helpful to reference both geological and architectural styles. A city in a wide plain or on a bay. A Byzantine city, medieval European hamlet or Roman outpost.
Working with Seed Numbers and Variations
While the creative journey with Midjourney begins with crafting effective prompts, it doesn't end there. This section will introduce you to advanced techniques for refining your AI DnD map designs. We'll explore the use of seed numbers, the “Vary” commands, and the importance of creating multiple map variations to find the perfect fit for your DnD adventures.
Saving and Reusing Map Styles with Seed Numbers
Once you've generated a map that aligns with your vision and campaign, you can save its style for future use. Here's how it works:
Share the map with yourself in Discord by clicking the three dots in the upper right of the image and selecting the envelope icon. This will send the map to your Discord feed, complete with a unique seed number.
To apply the same styling to future maps, you can use the command "--seed" followed by the seed number (e.g., "--seed 1234567"). It's like casting a spell that ensures your future maps bear the same aesthetic and style, creating visual consistency.
Refining Maps with Vary (Strong), Vary (Subtle) and Vary (Region)
Midjourney offers you the power to fine-tune your maps using the "Vary (Region)" and "Vary (Strong/Subtle)" commands. These commands are available once you upscale an image by pressing “U1, 2, 3 or 4.” They allow you to make changes and adjustments to your map to suit your campaign's needs.
"Vary (Region)": This command lets you make targeted changes to specific regions of your maps. You can write entirely new prompts that will only be applied to the regions you select. For instance, if your map includes a mysterious forest, but you want to add a clearing, you can select a region and create a new prompt describing the clearing you would like to add.
"Vary (Strong)" and "Vary (Subtle)": If you've generated a map with a certain theme, using "Vary (Strong)" can create bigger deviations from the original, while “Vary (Subtle) can create options with small change. I like to try using both.
Creating multiple variations is akin to spinning the wheel of fortune, except you're the one in control. Midjourney is a bit like a lottery; different prompts and settings can lead to diverse outcomes. It's a treasure trove of creative possibilities.
To find the best map for your DnD adventures, consider generating multiple variations of your original prompt. Then use the "Variations" button and the "Regenerate" button to explore different maps.
Adding Grids and Fine Tuning Your AI DnD Maps
Creating a great map for your DnD adventures is an art form, and often it's best to build your masterpiece in stages.
While Midjourney and other AI DnD map generators can add grids and hexes to your maps, they may sometimes be inconsistent or not align perfectly with your map's layout. To save time and effort, it's more efficient to create your map without a grid and then use a transparent PNG image of a grid to overlay onto your Midjourney map once it's complete.
Overlaying a grid later offers several advantages:
Consistency: Transparent grids ensure that your map's grid lines are perfectly aligned and evenly spaced, providing a clear and consistent reference for gameplay.
Flexibility: You can choose the type of grid that suits your campaign, whether it's square or hexagonal, and adjust its size to fit your map.
Retouching and Adding Final Details
While Midjourney is a powerful tool for map generation, there may be instances where you want to add final details, labels, or annotations to your maps. These details could include symbols for monsters, traps, encounters, or personalized touches that make the map uniquely yours.
For fine-tuning your maps, consider using software like Photoshop or a free alternative like GIMP.
GIMP is one of the best-known and most robust alternatives to Photoshop. You can download a free, full-featured version for both Mac and PC.
Embracing Serendipity
AI DnD map generation takes patience and flexibility. While you might have a specific vision in mind, there are times when Midjourney may produce something unexpected, and that's perfectly fine. Serendipity often leads to remarkable creations that can inspire exciting twists in your DnD adventures.
Other Paid DnD Map Makers
While the focus of this article is on DnD map making with Midjourney, The team at Dungeon Matters has used quite a few other DnD Map Generators too. For those who want more control over their map-making, here are some of our other top picks.
Azgaar's Fantasy Map Generator: An advanced tool for world-building that takes into account terrain interactions. Explore Azgaar's Fantasy Map Generator
DungeonFog: A user-friendly tool for creating detailed battle maps. Explore DungeonFog
Wonderdraft: Designed for world-building, this tool helps you craft stunning world and regional maps. Discover Wonderdraft
Inkarnate: Offers a paid version for creating impressive world maps and regional maps. Visit Inkarnate
Dungeon Painter Studio: A paid software on Steam for creating complex dungeon maps and battle grids. Find Dungeon Painter Studio
These paid DnD map makers and generators offer alternatives to AI image generators for your map-making needs.
Embark on Your Map-Making Odyssey with AI Magic
Thanks for journeying with us through the realm of AI map generation with Midjourney. I hope we’ve kindled the flames of inspiration for your next adventure. Share your own AI DnD map maker tips and creations in the comments.
May your maps be ever inspiring, your campaigns ever captivating, and your adventures boundless.
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