Yeah, another "which one do I get" (if any) threads.
Here's what I'm looking for:
A program that can enable me to create smaller-scale overland maps for my Pathfinder campaign. Basically, I'm looking to take my campaign area and "zoom in" to Kingmaker-style 12-mile hexes.
Dungeon/City mapping is a distant secondary concern but not something I'd dismiss. Most cities in the campaign area have Pazio-generated maps I can use. Dungeons/buildings are easy enough to hash out on graph paper in a pinch.
Years back, I used Campaign Cartographer 2 & Pro. While I liked the power of the program and the end result, I felt like I was a wannabe game cartographer. It's years & kids later and I just don't have that kind of time to dedicate to individual maps anymore.
I need a tool for producing usable maps, but as a time saver to hand-drawing or CC2 Pro.
There seem to be several candidates, but the galleries/tutorials all talk about the program's power & results -- with little to truly distinguish one from the other. Here's the list I've compiled:
Campaign Cartographer 3 - Appears to still be the reigning champ based on the sheer number of products & add-ons available. Also still the reigning champ in terms of $$$ one can commit. I'm also not convinced that the learning curve is that much shallower than previous versions.
Dundjinni - damn pretty building/dungeon maps. Seems to be less focused on overland mapping. Also seems irrelevant as it appears the site is in flux and it's currently impossible to order the software. Is this program even an option anymore?
Autorealm - samples certainly aren't all that pretty but looks like it might do the job.
Hexmapper - seems to fall somewhere between Autorealm & CC3 in terms of finished product. I get an old-school D&D Gazetteer vibe from them that I kind of like.
So, for example, if I wanted to create a zoomed-in map of the Varisian coast between Sandpoint & Magnimar to get my 12-mile hexes and don't want to spend more time mapping than I do on other GM-related activities (developing adventures, NPCs, etc.) what's my best bet?
Here's what I'm looking for:
A program that can enable me to create smaller-scale overland maps for my Pathfinder campaign. Basically, I'm looking to take my campaign area and "zoom in" to Kingmaker-style 12-mile hexes.
Dungeon/City mapping is a distant secondary concern but not something I'd dismiss. Most cities in the campaign area have Pazio-generated maps I can use. Dungeons/buildings are easy enough to hash out on graph paper in a pinch.
Years back, I used Campaign Cartographer 2 & Pro. While I liked the power of the program and the end result, I felt like I was a wannabe game cartographer. It's years & kids later and I just don't have that kind of time to dedicate to individual maps anymore.
I need a tool for producing usable maps, but as a time saver to hand-drawing or CC2 Pro.
There seem to be several candidates, but the galleries/tutorials all talk about the program's power & results -- with little to truly distinguish one from the other. Here's the list I've compiled:
Campaign Cartographer 3 - Appears to still be the reigning champ based on the sheer number of products & add-ons available. Also still the reigning champ in terms of $$$ one can commit. I'm also not convinced that the learning curve is that much shallower than previous versions.
Dundjinni - damn pretty building/dungeon maps. Seems to be less focused on overland mapping. Also seems irrelevant as it appears the site is in flux and it's currently impossible to order the software. Is this program even an option anymore?
Autorealm - samples certainly aren't all that pretty but looks like it might do the job.
Hexmapper - seems to fall somewhere between Autorealm & CC3 in terms of finished product. I get an old-school D&D Gazetteer vibe from them that I kind of like.
So, for example, if I wanted to create a zoomed-in map of the Varisian coast between Sandpoint & Magnimar to get my 12-mile hexes and don't want to spend more time mapping than I do on other GM-related activities (developing adventures, NPCs, etc.) what's my best bet?
