dungeon crafting software

[lexoanvil]

Hi everyone im looking for some software that will let me make a dungeon layout on my computer and also has the function to print out said maps ( not for battle mats just for my own reference i use a dry erase grid mat) i will use it mostly for 4th edition so software that keeps that in mind would be preferable.
thank you in advance for any recommendations.

 

[Gothmog]

Campaign Cartographer 3 and the Dungeon Cartographer software is great for this. I've been using it for about two years, and I can design custom dungeon and overland maps in no time. You can also print out battlemat scale prints of your dungeon to game on, although that can be ink intensive. Check out their site. Its a little pricy, but well worth it.

ProFantasy Software - map making for fantasy, modern and sci-fi games and for historical cartographers

 

[Kzach]

I've toyed around with CC a few times, over a few versions but every time I do, I get overwhelmed by the complexity of it. Have they made it more user friendly yet or are there any good, easy to follow tutorials?

An alternative is Dundjinni. It's not great, but it does the job and it's a lot easier to learn.

 

[lexoanvil]

these all seem good but are you aware of a product like these for free?

 

[Ydars]

How about Dungeon Crafter 1, 2 or 3? It is pretty basic but it will do what you need I think, and importantly, it is free!

see here for v 3 Free Software Downloads

 

[Henrix]

You can also do very nice maps in ordinary image editing programs.
GIMP is a free and very good image editor.

You can also use it to cut up existing maps and pasting them together as you want them. (You should not distribute such maps without the original artist's permission, though. But for personal use it's fair.)

 

[jcayer]

I tried several packages, including campaign cartographer. In the end, I settled on Dundjinni. It was just easier for me to "get". You can download a free demo from their site. It doesn't include all the art and save/print are disabled. But you would at least learn if you liked it.
http://www.dundjinni.com/

It has made a huge difference at the table. The players are more aware of what I am trying to convey. Map design takes only slightly longer for me than drawing, and I can drop a whole bunch of details on the map real easily(that I would not have drawn). On top of that, at game time, I don't have to stop and draw the map on the white board. The other day I put some cages and obvious traps and the players really enjoyed avoiding the traps and pushing a monster into the cage.

 

[zenram]

Gimp or Dungeon Crafter are your best options, as they are free and you can get nice results.

 

[Lord Xtheth]

I have a semi-off topic but related question:

Is there a map making program out there that gives you permission to distribute the maps you make?

OR is it assumed with some map makers that the maps are yours, even though the images you're using may not be?

 

[TheAuldGrump]

I am still a big fan of Dungeon Crafter 1 and 2 - the link also connects to a bunch of tiles that folks created for the program, including some of mine own.

I tend to start in DC 2, which was never finished, and put in doors using DC 1. They remain my most frequently used mapping programs for doing quick floorplans. Here is a non system specific adventure McNugget that I created using DC1 and 2.

I can also say that Campaign Cartographer 3 is freakin' awesome.

The Auld Grump