I am a gamer from the Wayback machine and his is the sort of tool I like. It delivers exactly what it promises… maps that I can drop into any game quickly. Simple dungeons with descriptions left up to my imagination, easy record/statistic sheets associated with the individual maps, a small GM version of the map and a larger table version of the same. I love this. A map always seems a simple enough thing, until you need one, and then it can be a bear. These maps can be used on the fly. The best part may be, that they can easily be re-purposed and used again. The price is pretty sweet too.

In my opinion, this is a good tool to train younger DMs on how to make simple adventures, no matter what system you are running. All you do is write a background, a few memorable rooms, pick a handful of encounters, a couple of major treasures, and presto – a basic dungeon. It’s a Good confidence builder. I think my younger cousins will get a lot of use out of this.

Volume Four of Moleskin Maps by Chubby Monster Games from the hand of Matt Jackson. If you read this blog, on Google+, read nearly any gaming blog Matt's maps are there. His map style looks so simple and eloquent. Like the rest in the series there are 10 maps included with 10 adventure sheets to go with them. These focus on underground maps, one with ruins. All the maps are useful. A quick flip through the book and its easy to come up with ideas on the fly to fill these caverns.

A few weeks back I needed something to get my brain going and I was drawing for crap, so I got one of Matt's maps out, numbered the encounters and soon I was going full tilt on a mini adventure. I don't know about most of you, but for me, the map comes first. It helps me develop the adventure. Sometimes I know what I want ahead of time, but its good practice to use other's maps to exercise your adventure writing skills.

The 4th volume of Moleskin Maps is fertile ground for ideas. And I've praised the utility of the adventure sheets in the past. I like the no nonsense layout. You get your maps and a tool to use with your map. Done and done.

I am now the owner of all four collections of Moleskin Maps, produced by +Matt Jackon at Chubby Monster Games, and I wanted to take this opportunity to provide a short comment regarding them.

Mr. Jackson has provided four excellent sets of what appear to be hand-drawn maps (if I understand correctly, they are inspired by maps that he had originally drawn in his Moleskine, thus the name).

There are 11 maps in volumes I & II, and 10 maps each in volumes III & IV. Most of them are underground caverns, although there are also a campsite (possibly two, depending on your interpretation of the map, a small village and a farm in volume I, as well as some other non-underground locations in the other volumes.

Each volume is a pdf with maps, and a location key sheet for the GM to set up what the map is going to represent.

If you visit Matt's blog, you can find samples of his work, to see if you like what you see.

In addition to a nicely laid out pdf, each volume also has a zip file containing high resolution PNG files, which you can use in your virtual table tops, or print out as needed for your not so virtual tabletops.

The price is very reasonable on these, and I highly recommend them to GM's who need some inspiration for locations.

These collections continue to improve! This volume is marked by recurring use of a cliff as a border, so the caves could be arranged near one another or stacked on top of each other. Also, there is even more experimentation and flexibility with different heights within a single level, adding descriptive interest.

the caves are more complex in some cases, which is a great help in making an interesting adventure site. A mix of worked stone areas and natural cavern areas suggests opportunistic masonry in existing caves, bringing a further element of mystery and wonder as characters move through the dark and find evidence of occupation on a grander scale than they would expect. Hidden tombs and shrines are a real feature in this set.

Sometimes it is the little things that make a difference--like having doorknobs noted on the doors so when the players ask where the hinges are and which way the door opens, you've got a better chance of being consistent with your answer.

Each large map also has a smaller version with some key questions on the back. Filling in key locations, treasures, wandering monsters, and so on can fit on the sheet with the map. It takes some of the intimidation out of stocking a map for a newcomer, and adds a nice twist for those used to working with maps.

Check this package of maps out! They are useful and inspirational.