24 May 2025

First Impressions - Dungeon Scrawl (simple VTT dungeon mapper)

A Dungeon Scrawl mini-dungeon drawn in the style of Dyson Logos.

I was preparing my next Traveller campaign on the Roll20 VTT and got sidetracked into Roll20's Dungeon Scrawl product. The map above is the output of perhaps 20 minutes messing around and I have to say that I'm impressed with the flexibility in the system. I was using the free version of the tool which includes the ability to export PNG, import your own images and .ds files and even create isometric maps. You can create an unlimited number of maps. There are multiple styles; above is one very similar to Dyson Logos house style, the one below in the TSR blueprint style.

A second Dungeon Scrawl test - this time using the old school TSR blueprint style from the early D&D modules.

The 'Pro' version costs $5 a month and adds the ability to export in PDF, add lighting and permission to use the output commercially. 

As it stands, this is a fantastic tool for creating maps. If I was running VTT a dungeon-based campaign then it would be really useful. Certainly, it would allow for live mapping with one of the VTTs that allows screen sharing, but also simple preparation of maps. It would have definitely helped when I ran OSE some time back!

Worth a look. It won't replace Dungeondraft or Campaign Cartographer's Dungeon Designer but in its own niche it's pretty impressive.

Edit - just noticed you can now easily use Dungeon Scrawl live in Roll20 too. 


24 May 2025

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