Change the Layout with custom tiles

[Anderas]

Hi,
I have a question:
Does anybody of you change the basic layout of the HQ Board by putting overlay tiles on it?

The question is not if you use overlay tiles or not - My question is, do you use them to change the general layout of the rooms?
For example, you could use a 3x4 overlay tile to transform the two very small 3x2 rooms into one 3x4 room. You place it the moment the players open the door. Vice versa you could use a tile to divide the big center room into two small rooms. You could have a corridor where it doesn't belong.

That way the players do not necessarily know the quest map layout before; and the big Room for the Boss Monster could be anywhere on the board.

It is kind of a compromise between an all-tile-based game (interesting layouts but slow to start a game) and a all-board based game (fast to start, but always the same general layout)

[Goblin-King]

I never do that. In my opinion placement of doors and fallen rocks + unused rooms/corridors is enough to make the map interesting.

And you know... the boss doesn't HAVE to be in the middle room

[knightkrawler]

Hi,
I have a question:
Does anybody of you change the basic layout of the HQ Board by putting overlay tiles on it?

The question is not if you use overlay tiles or not - My question is, do you use them to change the general layout of the rooms?
For example, you could use a 3x4 overlay tile to transform the two very small 3x2 rooms into one 3x4 room. You place it the moment the players open the door. Vice versa you could use a tile to divide the big center room into two small rooms. You could have a corridor where it doesn't belong.

That way the players do not necessarily know the quest map layout before; and the big Room for the Boss Monster could be anywhere on the board.

It is kind of a compromise between an all-tile-based game (interesting layouts but slow to start a game) and a all-board based game (fast to start, but always the same general layout)

I'll do that when I'm set and everything is printed.
Frankly, it's so natural to plan on doing that that I don't even understand the need for the question.
Official quests did it in AtOH and others (for example the connecting of the two tiny rooms into one in a quest I can't remember right now), so why wouldn't you customize the layout when designing quests and printing tiles anyway?
I gladly refer to Big Bene's Prison Corner and Tavern tiles (which can be found here) and the AtOH overlays.

[slev]

Some such placements are more natural than others but I have done this on odd occasion.

[Anderas]

There is no need for a question - just curiouseness. I expect far more people than just Goblin King to answer his way. Also, it is quite surprising if you see how many people do their own graphical Board Layouts - and then, stick with the general HQ Room arrangement.

And here is the proof that it is never useless to ask if you have a question:

I gladly refer to Big Bene's Prison Corner and Tavern tiles (which can be found here) and the AtOH overlays.

The prison corner and tavern tiles had been unknown to me. See, ask and you'll see. Thanks a lot!.

[knightkrawler]

A question is of course never useless.
I expressed myself awkwardly trying to put stress on how naturally it comes to me to change the board layout when I see fit and have the resources.

[Goblin-King]

Also, it is quite surprising if you see how many people do their own graphical Board Layouts - and then, stick with the general HQ Room arrangement.

I would assume this was to be able to use their custom boards with existing quest.
Also HeroScribe is basically the only way to really make maps today - and as far as I know it only uses the basic HQ map.

[Anderas]

There is a way to add other tiles and maps, but i did not succeed - each time i try, HeroScribe does not start anymore.

[whitebeard]

You can also make larger rooms by leaving a connecting door open. Not quite the same thing, but when my double door shows up from the Twisting Catacombs KS, the open version will make a convincing archway between two areas of the same room without the obvious movement bottleneck of the single door.

Until you fix the issue that is preventing you from placing the custom tile in HeroScribe, you could work around the issue by simply calling it out with a Letter "A - these two rooms should be replaced by room overlay XXXX"

[Rook]

Using tiles to 'break' barriers down makes total sense to me, but I'm a relative 'newbie' again so take my opinion for what its worth.

Having only just started peeling through the treasure trove of resources here I can say there are more than a few tiles and pieces I will be making use of! Some simply add extra flavour to existing spot, like Ragnar's cell, but others can open up whole new avenues.

Might be worth simply digging and see what inspires you. If it gets your hobby gene working, it likely will for your players as well!