diff --git a/rsc/scripts/map_maker.lua b/rsc/scripts/map_maker.lua
index c48f6bf..aec9cdd 100644
--- a/rsc/scripts/map_maker.lua
+++ b/rsc/scripts/map_maker.lua
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ function mapMaker.Sqr(x) return x*x end
 function mapMaker.Dist(x, y, i, j) return math.sqrt(mapMaker.Sqr(x - i) + mapMaker.Sqr(y - j)) end
 
 --tile macros, mapped to the tilesheet "overworld.bmp"
+mapMaker.blank	= 0
 mapMaker.water	= 18 + 3 * 0
 mapMaker.sand	= 18 + 3 * 1
 mapMaker.plains	= 18 + 3 * 2
@@ -61,6 +62,24 @@ function mapMaker.SmoothEdgesSimple(r)
 	end
 end
 
+function mapMaker.PlaceMonsterSpawn(r, x, y, script)
+	--place monster spawns here, highlighted by dirt patches
+
+	--wrong region
+	if  x < Region.GetX(r) or x >= Region.GetX(r) + Region.GetWidth(r) or
+		y < Region.GetY(r) or y >= Region.GetY(r) + Region.GetHeight(r)
+		then
+		return
+	end
+
+	--place a dirt tile, clearing the above layers
+	Region.SetTile(r, x - Region.GetX(r), y - Region.GetY(r), 1, mapMaker.dirt)
+	Region.SetTile(r, x - Region.GetX(r), y - Region.GetY(r), 2, mapMaker.blank)
+	Region.SetTile(r, x - Region.GetX(r), y - Region.GetY(r), 3, mapMaker.blank)
+
+	--TODO: (1) create a monster spawn trigger using the given script
+end
+
 --custom generation systems here
 function mapMaker.DebugIsland(r)
 	--basic distance check for each tile, placing an island around the world origin
@@ -90,6 +109,9 @@ function mapMaker.DebugIsland(r)
 
 	--A generic edge system
 	mapMaker.SmoothEdgesSimple(r)
+
+	--place monster spawns
+	mapMaker.PlaceMonsterSpawn(r, -5, -5, nil)
 end
 
 return mapMaker
\ No newline at end of file