By Carter Hall
Map making is one of my favorite parts of scenario design, but it can also be the most challenging!
Here I will demonstrate my process not only for creating maps, but determining the scope of a scenario and how you do not need a ton of artistry to make serviceable scenario maps.
This advice is useful for SNAFU, but the same methodology could be applied to many games!
To start, you need to have a scenario in mind in order to create a map (duh). I have been working on a France 1940 scenario book for SNAFU. I like to start by identifying engagements that are the appropriate size for my game, about 1-3 companies per side.
With this scenario, I began by reading about the Battle of Bulson. This is an underrepresented, yet super interesting period of WW2! Wikipedia has for some battles these super handy maps including NATO symbols for units. This helps me to quickly identify a battle in the size/scope appropriate for SNAFU.
After zooming in the Bulson map, I identified this interesting engagement. 8th Company, 2nd Bttn of the 1st Panzer Division is in for a head on collision with a French counterattack near Connage.
On the surface, this looks like a perfect scenario for SNAFU. After more research, I found out more information about the specific engagement, the outcome, etc. Based on the research, the French armor kept outpacing its infantry support, resulting in a disjointed attack being beaten back by a hodge podge force of outnumbered German defenders. A perfect SNAFU scenario!
Now I go to Google Maps and try to get a better feel for the terrain. Thankfully, it looks like Connage has had little development since WW2.
I select the measurement tool in Google Maps and identify what my table space should be. In SNAFU 1” = 25m, so I know basically every 1,000 ft is 1 ft of actual table space in my game.
The historical account and the map tell me the French had to advance their armor up a pretty narrow corridor. I decide I’d like to make my map to reflect this, so I choose a 4,000ft by 2,000ft section of the map and drop it into my art program of choice, Procreate on the iPad. I start by drawing in the roads that I want to include on the table.
Next, I start to block in the major terrain features I want to include. The stream, the hedgelines and woods, and the buildings. I usually just clump 2-3 buildings into one to keep the table simple and the terrain needed minimal. This doesn’t have to be perfect.
Lastly, I add in the background and some light texture and the direction of North for reference when discussing deployment in the scenario.
And there you have it! A scenario map for a game of SNAFU. This scenario is dubbed “Carnage in Connage” and will feature in my upcoming France 1940 scenario book! The scenario book will even include paper minis for those out there who don’t have 1940 armies.
Check out my instagram https://www.instagram.com/carterhallwayart/ where I’ve posted a timelapse of the map drawing.
I also have done sketch maps in the past. That is how I did all the maps for the SNAFU rulebook. You can easily create a map highlighting terrain features and the like using paper and pencil! See the example below.
