Hey again guys...
Just want to say something about what program to use...
I personally use the Maptools with my crew, with some great resources both freely and cheaply available to download and use to build your maps you can create anything from module to even hand made maps quite easily depending on how you want to go about it.
Many Mapsets for building the dungeons are easy to find and download for free where you can build maps quickly with drop and play styled map pieces or with a little time and patience you can create fantastic looking caves or dungeons. My only complaint is that sometimes you just can't find that exact looking tile peice which fits your chosen storyline, like a damn medieval farmplot for large farms for your players to fight on... FFS that is my only want right now...
Many of the character and monster tokens are easy to find too, add in things like Monster Manual img files and you can make some epic looking things with some nice pics for your players to use to fully visualize the monstrosity approaching them. Nothing says Owlbear more then a large token of one and a kick arse looking pic to go along with it. One of the best Token maker is that of Devin Night (prob wrong spelling or even combination) who makes fantastic topdown character/monster tokens to enjoy and use, most are actually free but you can get more from his website if you google him and there is a ton more with only a 5USD pricetag for around 15-25 tokens each pack all hand drawn and everything (Well worth the investment if I say myself)...
Heres and example of a Dungeon from the DM's view. Just hand built then and now and prob took me like, 20mins if anything of fiddling and finding the right items...
Zoomed Out -
Zoomed In -
As you can see I have built a simple little level. 4 Adventurers, Cleric, Warrior, Rogue and Wizard, have come down to this level, found themselves face to face with two Skeletal Warriors, but behind the Brazier near the stairs is a hidden door (which I don't think really matches and wouldn't use that tile to actually present to the players). Behind the Door is a passage to Treasure
After they clear that first room of the skeles they will find Zombies in the next room...
After they clear them, if anyone would stick their head down the well, they would discover the Squid Monster waiting, for the players view though, the Squid isn't visible until revealed with a simple switch of "Layer"...
Thinking about how hard it is to see the Zombies with this tileset, I would prob put a special "Halo" on the tokens so they are a lot more easier for the players to see...
Heres what the players would see when the server and map is set up right...