D&D General Questions on map making software

[zasgard]

Question about dungeon creating software.

So, I've got a solo project in the works where I'm running myself and sometimes a buddy of mine through a ton of modules. I was initially thinking of using Tabletop simulator but I watched a video last night about Dungeondraft and it looked really good.

Anyone here use it and think this would be a better option than using TTS? I liked how the youtuber grab a map online and after inputting it into dungeondraft he just traced over it to make a really nice map.
I thought I wanted to try a 3d approach, but its a little too laborious for me.
It got me wondering...are there other map/dungeon/location making software that I should also take a peek at or will Dungeondraft scratch that itch?
Appreciate any advice.
Thanks

 

[DND_Reborn]

I have both DungeonDraft and WonderDraft. Love them both and they aren't too hard to learn the basics.

Here is a bandit camp and a tavern I made.

 

[Azzy]

Question about dungeon creating software.

So, I've got a solo project in the works where I'm running myself and sometimes a buddy of mine through a ton of modules. I was initially thinking of using Tabletop simulator but I watched a video last night about Dungeondraft and it looked really good.

Anyone here use it and think this would be a better option than using TTS? I liked how the youtuber grab a map online and after inputting it into dungeondraft he just traced over it to make a really nice map.
I thought I wanted to try a 3d approach, but its a little too laborious for me.
It got me wondering...are there other map/dungeon/location making software that I should also take a peek at or will Dungeondraft scratch that itch?
Appreciate any advice.
Thanks

I used to use TTS, so I understand the work that goes into it.

I'm not sure if the video you watched made it clear that Dungeondraft isn't not a stand-alone VTT (you just make maps with it). o use Dungeondraft maps, you need to use a VTT like Foundry VTT (my preferred), Astral VTT, Roll 20, etc.

That said, Dungeondraft can be used to make some nice looking maps and is fairly easy to use. You can get a bunch of add-ons and assets for Dungeondraft (some free, some not free) to make prettier and/or themed maps. There's also a fairly good-sized community on Reddit that is helpful.

 

[zasgard]

Thank you both!

I JUST watched a video where a youtuber took a screen shot of a map, inputted into Dungeondraft and traced over it to get a nice looking 2d map. This is the least laborious route I'd like to go. I'm not looking to create my own maps, just use the module maps (however, some of them are the old 1E/2E modules so the maps are plain and boring)

 

[DND_Reborn]

If you aren't looking to create your own, other routes are definitely better for you.

 

[zasgard]

If you aren't looking to create your own, other routes are definitely better for you.

Yes, I'm not looking to make my own maps, however, the video I saw had the person import a screen shot into Dungeondraft and simply traced over it to produce a nice quality 2D map.
If you have a better suggestion, I'm ALL ears.
Thanks

 

[DND_Reborn]

Yes, I'm not looking to make my own maps, however, the video I saw had the person import a screen shot into Dungeondraft and simply traced over it to produce a nice quality 2D map.
If you have a better suggestion, I'm ALL ears.
Thanks

Do you have the link to the video? If I can see their process, I'll let you know if I know of anything better.

 

[kenada]

I’ve used a few different programs. To be honest, I always end up falling back to Campaign Cartographer, but it’s hard as hell to learn and use. I wouldn’t recommend it unless one were really dedicated to learning and using it.

For making a quick dungeon, I like Dungeondraft. It’s easy to make something quickly that doesn’t look awful. The maps can also be exported in a format that you can load into VTTs like Foundry, which makes setting up the scenes much easier.

For hex maps, I don’t really like any of the options. Worldographer is really janky on macOS, and the maps it produces are ugly. HexKit is too limited. Tiled is okay if you can find a nice tileset, but you need to do a lot of work to set it up (especially if you want it to randomize placement of terrain types). I don’t like Wonderdraft for making hex maps. It’s lacking in hex-oriented tools.

 

[DND_Reborn]

To be honest, I always end up falling back to Campaign Cartographer, but it’s hard as hell to learn and use. I wouldn’t recommend it unless one were really dedicated to learning and using it.

Oh, yeah, I forgot about CC! I started using it back in 96 when it took a couple minutes to redraw a map, yikes!

Yeah CC now can do great things IME, but the learning curve is very steep.

I don’t like Wonderdraft for making hex maps. It’s lacking in hex-oriented tools.

DungeonDraft is oddly better for hex maps because of the snapping feature, which Wonderdraft lacks. So, if you use WD you don't get uniform asset placement on hex-maps.

 

[Stormonu]

Yeah, I just switched from CC to Dungeondraft & Wonderdraft, and it is a much easier toolset with a lot less of a learning curve.

I also have used Dungeonfog, which is very similar to Dungeondraft, as well as Inkarnate, very similar to both Dungeondraft and Wonderdraft. I have also used Woldographer (back when it was Hexographer), and it's really fun for making B/X style world maps, such as the one I did for Crimson Empire below.