Map Crafter

[TheAuldGrump]

Sorry, none of the examples thrill me. (And I am a big computer mapping enthusiast.) They all look like something from a video game, and not like useable maps. More of a 3D tile map look. The mountains in particular just look wrong to me The whole thing looks unnatural.

The top down 2D perspective might be a better example for useful maps, here you can barely see it as the 3D version is placed over it. A larger land mass rather than scattered islands might also help. The smaller islands may exagerate the cartoony nature of the map.

What I look for in a mapper is something that produces useful maps not maps that are pretty but not useful.

I use Fractal Mapper, have played with Campaign Cartographer, and use Dungeon Crafter on a regular basis as well. They all create maps that work well for my needs. I have also used Terragen for fractal 3D terrain, which looked much more natural than what you are demonstrating.

Please do not take this as an attack, I love mapping programs, but yours is not one that I would use as currently shown.

The Auld Grump

 

[devilish]

I use Fractal Mapper, have played with Campaign Cartographer, and use Dungeon Crafter on a regular basis as well. They all create maps that work well for my needs. I have also used Terragen for fractal 3D terrain, which looked much more natural than what you are demonstrating.

The Auld Grump

Not to derail too much, but do you use Terragen to create the terrain
as it exists in your campaign world? Or just what a mountainous
region would/could look like?
If it does match your campaign world, how do you do it?

 

[GameMaker04]

@TheAuldGrump

While you are a shinning example that Map Crafter may not be for everyone. it can stretch to a broad audeince in its style, wich is intentionally more exagerated.. warcraftish if you will. The audienc that has bought it are very happy with it, and sales on MC are the best weve had in the first 2 days of sales.

There are many programs that are aimed at the photorealistic. Mapcrafter is not one of them. However it can acheive those kind of results if they want to go that route.

Map Crafter can use any texture you want as a brush for painting terrains
so if you want to use photorealiztic brushes, you can. heightmaps can
also be imported.

The first pak drop down icons / models in Map Crafter were designed to be exagerated and more on the toon side of the realm. However more paks are being developed by our artists to complement differnt styles of mapping. Icon and model paks can be added easily and soon there will be a large selection of paks to choose from and add as you like.

 

[shadowlight]

Scale would be a concern but then it is with so many other mappers too...

Which is why I always stick with Photoshop...

 

[shadowlight]

Let me address the scale.

Objects can be scaled when placed in the 2d editor..

...

at the moment Map Crafter is overworld only. Dungeons should be in the next update.. they will be handled with a new set of textures to paint the ground with, and dungeon model peices you can snap together to form your custom dungeon, and misc models to match the theme

Interesting... I could find a use for something like that in one of my games. I agree that a trial would be helpful.

So can you import geometry from other 3D programs?

 

[GameMaker04]

Yes, you can import 3D MODELS made in other programs. Accepted formats are .B3D .3DS and .X

 

[TheAuldGrump]

Not to derail too much, but do you use Terragen to create the terrain
as it exists in your campaign world? Or just what a mountainous
region would/could look like?
If it does match your campaign world, how do you do it?

I cheat - I use Terragen to create a smallish area that will work for a given area, in particular mountains. For islands I use Terragen, take a look at the top down perspective of the chosen islan, then use fractal mapper to create an aproximation on my 1 inch = 1mile map.

And yeah, I have never been a fan of cartoony maps GameMaker04, but I do think that I was overly harsh in my wording. (It was accurate to my opinion, but I didn't need to be mean about it.) I will edit the post to be a bit nicer. I was grouchy because I am having computer problems, and well, I was hoping that I would like the mapping program, so there was also some disappointment.

The Auld Grump

 

[shadowlight]

Yes, you can import 3D MODELS made in other programs. Accepted formats are .B3D .3DS and .X

ooooooooooooooooooo.... the plot thickens!