Re: Pathfinder game about world discovery (IC)
In reply to localschor (msg # 8):
For more authentic fog-of-war, don't use a tilemap if your setting has a regular one. Open it up in Photoshop or Gimp, and create a transparent layer on top of it. Fill that layer with some sort of texture, like parchment or smoke. To reveal parts of the map, simply go into that layer and use an eraser tool.
Some erasers have the option of feathering the edges, so that you get a gradual fade instead of a sharp line. This makes the transition look better. To really make it authentic, try to make the eraser's width match the distance the group can see, then simply trace their path.
You can do erasing on the top layer while it is hidden. This way, you can easily trace the eraser over coastlines and roads and other important landmarks, then un-hide the fog layer.