Map Software

[DjeraktheBloodletter]

I've been creating a campaign world for a while and frankly, I am very tired of hand mapping. I do not have disposable income to go and buy software, so I was wondering if anyone here has an idea for a good free program I can use to simplify my mapping? Programs like ProFantasy's Campaign Cartographer but without the huge price tag would be nice. I just have not been able to find anything decent myself.

 

[lmbarns]

Tiled is what 2d and 2.5d video game developers use for making levels and maps visually. Tiled Map Editor free and very easy to use.

To find assets to use in Tiled you want to search for "sprite sheets" and you'll find many for personal use.

I think what you get by packages like you describe is the content, it takes a lot of time to search the web finding sprite sheets for buildings and stuff, and most of the free stuff out there you can't use commercially, where a package you get the rights to use the stuff in your games.


With Tiled you can define how many tiles wide and high your map is, either square/rectangle or isometric, then fill vast areas with a base terrain and go back through adding details and buildings. Painting objects on with a brush.

 

[DjeraktheBloodletter]

Ah, thanks much. Will give it a try!

 

[Hand of Evil]

You may also want to check out the Cartographer's Guild they have help and tips for different programs, like AutoRealm.

 

[Alan Shutko]

If you want to map via tiles, I remember seeing Tiamat The Tile Mapper online.

Other free software folks use are The Gimp and Inkscape. The Gimp is a paint program similar to photoshop, and Inkscape is a vector package like Illustrator. Both are used at the Cartographer's Guild for people who want more control than a tile program provides.

 

[Daztur]

I've been using the free version of Hexographer | World/Starmap/Wilderness Map Creation Software which works great for hexmaps, very user friendly, there are also town and dungeon programs, but I haven't used those.

 

[Radiating Gnome]

Maptools, which you can download from rptools.net, is a VTT program, but that doesn't mean it can't be used just to create maps. There's a ton of images you can use, etc. I find the interface very powerful and easy to use -- better than many others I've played with.

But a lot depends upon how you're going to use the software-created maps in your game. Are you planning to print? Do you play with a projector?

-rg

 

[nedjer]

If you decide to make your own symbols it's handy to work with drawing software to keep them as scaleable vectors that are easy to combine. re-size and re-use repeatedly.

 

[DjeraktheBloodletter]

Thank you all for your advice. I will play with each and see which suits my needs the most.

RG - Standard printing.

 

[Radiating Gnome]

RG - Standard printing.

Ah, well, I'm not sure how well MapTools will work then.

Our group usually plays with a projector for the maps. When I am not using a projector, I use a wide variety of solutions, but never print -- the idea of burning through so many ink cartridges gives me hives.

-rg