SITE UNDER RENOVATION (23/02/2026)
Specializing in Meanders RPG Battlemaps: Interlocking Digital Geography across 3000 beautifully crafted tactical encounter maps in dozens of genres with full catalogues of tokens and add-ons for consistent, flexible, unified play.
LAST UPDATE 23/02/2026
GTW Products are also available from Fantasy Grounds, Roll20, DrivethruRPG and Steam
Meanders RPG Battlemaps use a novel repeating 10-path mini-system that allows maps to mix and match with one another for endless diversity in the Meanderverse.
Once a separated system of isolated maps, tokens and add-ons, GTW has begun moving into fully integrated Zero-Prep GM Kits with ready-to-run experiences.
BIO of KRIS MCDERMOTT ( aka THE MAPHATTER )
I am a 46-year-old Melbourne-based artist with a background in freelance graphic design, creative writing, and illustration, and the sole creator behind GTW.
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I grew up in a remote part of New Zealand, where I developed a deep appreciation for nature and a strong sense of ingenuity. As a child playing RPGs such as HeroQuest and Dungeons & Dragons, I often relied on scraps of paper with hand-drawn spells, monsters, and items instead of expensive miniatures or elaborate props. That necessity sparked creativity — and a lifelong love of immersive world-building.
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Raised on Alice in Wonderland, The Phantom Tollbooth, The Lord of the Rings, Fighting Fantasy, Pick-a-Path, Enid Blyton’s The Faraway Tree, and similar works, I became fascinated early on with richly detailed imaginary worlds. I would spend months crafting expansive settings filled with characters, shops, monsters, landscapes, and deadly traps.
Artistically, I have explored and drawn inspiration from a wide range of influences, including Lovecraft, Giger, Dalí, Tolkien, and Escher. Alongside this creative path ran a lifelong devotion to fantasy tabletop RPGs, board games, and later computer and console RPGs — particularly titles such as Skyrim, Baldur’s Gate, and God of War.
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I work primarily in digital mediums, with GIMP serving as a powerful tool for assembling intricate and detailed compositions. I am currently building what I call “The Meanderverse” — a modular battlemap system that includes almost 3,000 interlocking maps.
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Although I began my professional RPG journey in 2015, I have spent over three decades studying subjects including the occult, ritual magic, alchemy, archaeology, psychology, sociology, social engineering, Hermetic philosophy, and theosophy. I later pursued a five-year degree in Counter-Terrorism. This unusual fusion of esoteric and geopolitical study has informed much of my writing and creative output, where themes of symbolism, power, myth, and structure frequently intersect.
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If you’d like to say hello, suggest new themes or products, or report any issues with the site, please feel free to reach out via the contact section.
Thank you sincerely for supporting my work.
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Kind regards,
Kris
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