(hex-based) mapping tools?

[Tulon]

I agree about Hexmapper. That's the one program I would prefer using, if I am unable to find a better one.

I just tried out "Hex World Creator" as well, which I really like. Nice tiles, options for entering information about hexes and cities, etc...
However, that one crashed on XP

 

[MarauderX]

I've been using AutoCAD for everything now, though Hexmapper is good enough for the job.

 

[Silvanos]

http://www.dundjinni.com/products/

Its not out yet, but it looks neat.

D

 

[Tulon]

I agree with that, truly... but A) it's not released yet, B) it's not with hexes (as far as I could see) and most important C) it cost's $40 minimum (the payment yet alone would be difficult, I think, since I'm outside the US and do not own a credit card - plus I did not had in mind spending any money) ...

What I'm currently looking for is something like "Hex World Creator", but which works stable with Windows XP. :\

 

[SubMensa]

Here's a pretty good one that I found quite a while ago. I think it may have even been linked to from ENWorld now that I think about it. Best of all, It's free and you can customise your own tiles.

Arr-Kelaan Software's HexMapper

 

[Plane Sailing]

At the bottom of this page you can find "Wilderness Mapper", a tool written by Bruce Gulke. He doesn't support it any more, but it is really neat for crafting simple hex-based maps.

Cheers

 

[trancejeremy]

Which version of Hex World Creator are you using? A different version (if you can find one) might work better.

Anyhoo, the types of hexes in Fields of Blood are: Aquatic, Desert, Forest, Hill, Marsh, Mountain, Plains, and Underground.

 

[Tulon]

Thanks, PlaneS - that tool really is not bad. It won't let me define the size of the map, as well as it's graphics don't look as neat as the ones from "Hex World Creator", but however it provides a nice interface to work with. I think I will prefer that one before "HexMapper".

@Trance: Well, it's v0.50b - I'll be looking around for a newer version, but have not found one yet. (sadly, a lot of websites who provide downloads or links to such mappers are already dead)
However, thanks for the hint, I wouldn't have looked for newer versions prior to this.
(and also thanks for the listing of hex-field types in "Blood" )

[edit]
Okay, there's definetively a v0.90b out, if not even 0.93 ... but I have failed to find a working download so far. Even the creator's website seems to be dead. :/

[edit2]
Well, been happy too early. I've found a working download, installed it and ... yet the same problem. Crashes as soon as I try to fill the map with water.
Best of all, I think v0.93 is the one I already had, since there aren't any differences, and in the readme it still says 0.50b which is why I thought the version I already had could be outdated...
oh well :|

 

[trancejeremy]

Hmmm. Maybe v.93 is just buggy?

After actually spending time making a map with it, when I went to save it, it freaked out, and my computer locked up.

It is a shame, as it's really nice.

 

[Tulon]

It is a shame ...

The program also breaks down after just an amount of time, even if you do nothing. It's like every time you add a hex to the map, the tool gets a bit more unstable, until it crashes completely. Like a lottery, somehow.

However, it is more or less possible to work with it, if you save your map regulary after every few hexes you edited. Although you need quite a bit of nerves when the program crashes 10+ times and you have to restart it and always continue with your last save.

I have found nothing better yet, though. Graphics and options are worth the trouble, at least in my opinion. :/