I updated Tiamat today. The changes are relatively small for the UI, but I had a few backend issues to address as well. I added auto save and a "select tile after placement" options. Both are managed through a settings windows.

The "select tile after placement" option is straightforward. The auto save feature will save your currently opened map periodically to a map called AUTO SAVE.

I wanted to make an adjustable tile palette size, but it proved to problematic for a number of reasons. So I moving on to other items and will revisit it later (i.e. multi tile selection).

Tiamat was updated again today (I'm going to start numbering these updates, and this is the 10th since alpha). This update deals mostly on tile selection.

First, I changed the default action when you select a tile on the map and then click on the map from copying it to moving the selected tile.

Also, rather than having a right click context menu for rotating tiles, I create a transparent toolbar with 4 icons that overlay the tile. There's a right and left rotate icons as well as cut and copy icons. This allows you to cut/copy tiles to the clipboard and then click on the map to paste that tile (repeatably if you want to c/p more then one).

I'm working on allowing you to select more than one tile and c/p them.

I updated Tiamat. Other than some minor stuff most people won't notice, the two big items are:

Bigger Tile Palette: Now the tile palette is 2 rows instead of 1. I will make this adjustable soon so you can have as many rows as you want.

Fill Tiles: I created a selection of FREE tiles you can use to fill open spaces that are smaller than a traditional tile size (6x6). Depending on the tile, they will be 1x1, 2x2, 3x3, and 4x4 sized tiles that can be used for filling.

I created 2 new Tiamat Video Tutorials, both related to managing your tiles purchased from outside of Tiamat (most likely rpgnow).

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Tiamat Beta has launched. You can now export maps (miniature and adventure scale). It remains in beta until I get the user interface perfected. I've gotten a ton of great requests and I'll implementing those as fast as I can. Over the next few days and weeks I'll be posting some more video tutorials.

e-Adventure Tile Mapper users should have $10 on their account. If you don't, let me know and I'll fix it. You can add more to your account using the rpgobjects.com store (paypal checkout) and rpgnow.com. I'll be adding Amazon and Google checkout options to our storefront soon.

If you purchased SkeletonKey Tiles from RPGNow.com, make sure they are added to your library so you don't get charged for them. That will be my first video.

I pushed a fairly big update to Tiamat today. 95% of what I want done for Beta is complete. If you login to Tiamat, many of the changes won't be initially apparent or accessible. Many features are disabled (basically anything that would cost money). Those elements will be enabled when I officially go into Beta with the next update (which should come soon).

But don't fret, there are still some new things to do. Other than bug fixes and UI tweaks, you can now export a Thumbnail Map. A Thumbnail map is a small map (10 dps) at a low resolution (72 dpi) for use on websites. These types of maps can be exported for FREE. Paid maps (adventure or miniature scale) will be exported in the same way.

So play with the new update and let me know what you think. Beta coming as soon as I finish up a few technical and non technical issues.

With the Tiamat Beta on the horizon, Skeletonkey Games has been working on some post-apocalyptic tile sets (due to prodding from me). Here's a sneak peak at one set, currently tilted Apocalypse Road:

Tile Image Copright SkeletonKey Games

It arrived early and probably not at the most convenient time, but my new server has arrived. Now to get it built in between changing diapers. Once I do, the ability to export maps should come shortly after that. ...Read more

It's been a few weeks since the Tiamat alpha, and I wanted to give an update on my progress towards beta. The good news is that I've finished the exporting of miniature scale maps. The bad news is that my shamefully underpowered server can't handle large scale maps. I've been meaning to get a new server for sometime, but I've been utterly amazed how well my current server has handled things. If I gave out the specs, I think most engineers would laugh.

But now is the time, and I've ordered a new server with the ram and processing power to handle manipulating of large image files. That will unfortunately delay the beta a little bit as I wait for the server and then build it. But in the mean time I will get more things done on the development side.

If you are a tester who has been playing with Tiamat and giving me some good feedback, feel free to request a miniature scale map. I'm willing to generate a few free maps from time to time for people who are helping me debug and refine things.

I put up the Tiamat Alpha for people who already own the e-Adventure Tile Mapper. You need to be logged in before going to the site. Keep in mind this is just an Alpha version, which means not all the features are implemented. And it's important to note that you can't export maps yet. You can just make them.

Click here to load the Tiamat Alpha.

One thing people are going to want to do is make sure they have all the tiles they own in their library. If you don't see a tile or set in your library, there's a form for submitting a request to get them added.