Help Shape Future Map Releases - A Weather Poll

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