How to Build a Dungeons & Dragons Map Maker

List the necessary items every Dungeons and Dragons map will need. These should include standard lines for structures, walls and passages as well as the different types of doors, traps and structures found on your maps. Secret and trap doors, pits, false doors and statues should also be in the list.

Open a new document in your drawing software. High-tech drawing software is not necessary because the map-making template can easily be done in a simple paintbrush program. The concepts will be the same for simple and complex software.

Select a rectangle or square shape maker and create the desired shapes in proportional sizes for doors, floor pits and other square or rectangular map items. Use the text tool to type in a name for each shape as well as a description of how you made the shape, written in parentheses, in case you want to recreate the shape without copying it from the template.

Select the straight-line tool and choose the desired width for your walls. Add the wall portions to your door symbols by clicking at one side of the symbol and holding the mouse button down while you drag to the other side of that symbol. Adjust the mouse pointer to make the line straight before releasing the button.

Change the width of the straight line tool for walls and passages. Produce small sections of each as a guide for those map items. Use the text tool to add a label and, if desired, a description in parentheses. For example, the label might be for a wall, but in parentheses you can write (straight line tool, middle width option) so you know which you used to create it.

Choose the circle tool and create circular map items for pillars, statues, traps or other items. Label these as you did the other map items, using the text tool.

Save the template as "DD_Map_Template" or another recognizable file name. Be sure to note the folder in which you save the file so you can find it again later.