Any Good Dungeon Mappers Out There?

[gamerprinter]

Ah, I run Gamer Printshop, so you can bet all my maps are printed at full scale without taping anything together. Not the cheapest solution, but I'm not VTT kind of guy, I need to hold mini's and maps in my hand, not look at a monitor to play a game. Needless to say, I don't play games online or with a consul system (Playstation, etc.)

The largest map I've printed for my games was 42" x 12 feet for an extensive dungeon and cavern complex. We had access to a big table for that game, so the size worked.

GP

 

[Alan Shutko]

I'd be very worried about Dundjinni, since their store and forums have been down for about a month as a result of a "server migration". Their art packs looked interesting to me since you can use them with any program, I think.

I personally like to use a vector graphics program for maps. Being able to move objects around easily makes things a lot easier. I use Illustrator which is certainly expensive, but there's a free vector art program called Inkscape that a lot of people like for mapping, and there are some good tutorials on using it at the Cartographers Guild.

 

[gamerprinter]

I prefer vector mapping myself...

While you can make some really cool maps with Photoshop or GIMP (or similar raster applications), I prefer to use a vector app to create my maps. However to many my maps don't look like vector maps - and that's a goal of mine, when I create them. Also I'm a pro fantasy cartographer, I get commissions from many small RPG publishers, but have done work for Dog House Rules, Iron Crown Enterprises, Mongoose Publishing, Conflict RPG as well.

I don't know if its out yet, but I created 289 photorealistic-ish map symbols for Profantasy (makers of Campaign Cartographer map app) for SS3 Modern Symbol Set.

Here's a link to my portfolio here at ENWorld in the Art Gallery board:http://www.enworld.org/forum/art-ga...inting/257465-gamerprinters-map-emporeum.html

I have many styles that I create as well (all using Xara Xtreme Pro as my application of choice). Some maps look 'photorealistic', but the primary style of mine that seems more sought after is my hand-drawn hybrid digital map. That is all the linework is hand-drawn and scanned. But I place '3D'ish elements, bevels, drop shadows, all coloring, etc. beneath the hand-drawn work.

Between commissions, contests, and personal maps, I probably create 100 maps a year. Lately, however, much of my time has gone into development of classes and settings, as I have moved on from just a cartographer, to being a third party publisher. I enjoy all such creative endeavors.

Heck, its an advantage for me as a 3pp. Most publishers can only afford 3 or fewer maps as maps are one of your more expensive content for commissions for publication. My first adventure features 10 maps, because it ain't nothin' for me to create them - and I can standout against the competition.

GP

 

[TheAuldGrump]

Dundjinni, while a good program especially for encounter scale map (it can't really create regional maps and what not, only close in maps), its continued support is 'up in the air'. The main company is no longer developing it. So if you get it, get it now, and if you don't it might not exist. While I am sure it will still be available even after the company is done with it, you won't be able to get support for it.

Its sad too, because Dundjinni is one of your better stamping encounter scale mapping apps - like Dungeoncrafter only far better quality.

GP

DunDjinni, perhaps unfairly, picked up an iffy reputation in its early days, in part because the Java did not run all that well on some machines, and in part because of a previous gaming software fiasco.

Some of the images created for DunDjinni, even just shortly after those teething pains, are very, very nice indeed. Not my favorite mapping program (I use CC3) - but it is very easy to see why it is the favorite for a bunch of other folks.

The Auld Grump

 

[gamerprinter]

Just so know, I own Dundjinni, Campaign Cartographer 3, City Designer, and NBOS Fractal Mapper - though I've tried them all, none of them meet my needs. I am very fast at what I do, and all those programs are too slow for me. (I mainly have those programs so I can open customer files in their native formats, though I prefer graphics formats: PNG, TIF, BMP, PSD, PDF or JPG to native files - for printing purposes.)

After doing an initial search for the 'right' mapping app for my uses, I discovered that the program I use everyday at my day business (Xara Xtreme Pro) suited my tasks better than anything else. I know the program inside and out and it can keep up with my design pace. I use raster apps (Photoshop or GIMP) to enhance some elements, but do most of my work in Xara.

There's really only a handful of us Xara mappers, though I'm probably the first.

 

[Ebonyr]

I've Autorealm for a long time. It's not supported anymore.