Free and/or inexpensive mapping software?

[Rhun]

Does anyone have any good suggestions on either free or inexpensive mapping software? I run several PbP games, and I generally post maps / battle maps that I've made in Excel. However, the latest version of Excel seems a lot more clunkier for doing this than past versions have been.

So what I'm looking for is something that handles both indoor and outdoor style maps, and that has grid and token capabilities for running combat. I'd prefer not to spend a ton of money.

Does anyone have any suggestions of some software that would handle this sort of thing well?

 

[Hand of Evil]

Some...

DungeonCrafter is a basic tile mapper.

InkScape is a vector based paint program.

AutoRealm is a full featured mapper.

NBOS Fractal Mapper cost 40$ but does a lot and is on the same lines of Campign Cartographer.

And Google Sketchup

You also may want to check out the following site: Cartographers' Guild - The Front Page

 

[renau1g]

[MENTION=29098]Rhun[/MENTION] - I'd suggest talking to IndustryGothica also, he's a poster on cartographer's guild also and his work is pretty great (especially when compared to my own efforts).

 

[Rhun]

Thanks Hand of Evil!

And Ryan, I will ask IG what he recommends. He is actually in one of my PBP games, so he has a vested interest in making sure I have something good!

 

[gamerprinter]

I'm pretty sure IG uses GIMP or Photoshop - I'm a member of the Cartographers' Guild as well, so I know IG, too.

I use Xara Xtreme Pro 4 for all my mapping, but I am pretty sure that I am the only professional fantasy cartographer that uses that app.

Some of the suggestions above have a really steep learning curve, including Profantasy Campaign Cartographer, and really I don't find it to be the best. Most maps created in CC3 look like it was created in CC3. Even those with some skills with layers can improve the look, but not extensively.

Heck even MapTools as a VT can also create moderately decent maps from the VT app itself.

Any drawing program makes for a decent mapping application: CorelDraw, Serif DrawPlus, Xara Xtreme - there are endless choices out there. In my opinion, I would avoid programs that are strictly mapping applications, rather I'd look for an affordable drawing or imaging editing tool, based on which fits your design paradigm better.