In 2018, I started drawing maps for a friend's campaigns. I didn't always have the bandwidth to play, but making maps kept me connected and gave me a creative outlet. It didn't take long to realize how slow the process was—and how much time I didn't have. There had to be a more efficient way to produce something usable.
I teamed up with my close friend Anthony, an experienced developer, and together we built the first version of "Owlbear." After years of evenings and weekends spent designing, writing, and developing, the project eventually grew into what's now TileForge.
Today, I'm the one maintaining and evolving the tool. It's still a side project—updated periodically, shaped around whatever hours I can spare—and I plan to keep it going as I explore other projects that interest me. The goal has always been simple: offer a free, web-based map builder for anyone who wants to create but can't justify the cost of existing solutions.
TileForge isn't finished, and probably won't ever be in the traditional sense. But hundreds of people use it every day, and it's rewarding to know it fills a gap for so many GMs and creators.
If you enjoy the tool and want to support continued development, consider becoming a patron. Even modest support spread across many users helps keep the project moving.
—JL