Mapping programs, Do you use them?

[Vascant]

When all this started a few decades ago, graph paper and pen. Then I switched to CC2 somewhere along the way. Now I use Adobe PS heavily as of a few years ago, seen Chris West's maps and was marveled by the amount of personality he could give them. I do eagerly wait to see what ProFantasy comes up with the next version for CC, I have seen the screen shots and they were pretty nice.

As for NPCs, I created NPC Designer for a reason..

Char Gens: None, have yet to find one I like..

 

[IronWolf]

I will occasionally use Dundjinni for maps. The learning curve was relatively low, but in some regards I can see why some folks think it is a bit limiting. It does well for dungeon style layouts and some outdoor maps. It is not as versatile for world building though. It could be though that I am missing or overlooking some feature.

When funds permit someday I would like to take a serious look at the CC2 products.

 

[Eternalknight]

Been using the same old version of CC2 for years. As an earlier poster stated, I tried CC2 for a while but got frustrated. I then tried several of the other programs listed (AutoRealm, Fractal Mapper, DungeonCrafter) and then went back to CC2. After actuallt doing the tutorials, I will never go back to any other prgram.

 

[danbuter]

I have CC2 Pro, and use it occasionally. I also use Wilderness Mapper, a hex-based map program free on the web (just google for it). Not as nice, but it does the job.

 

[TheAuldGrump]

I use several.

Dungeon Crafter (Simple, but very nice for interiors of buildings.)

Fractal Mapper (More than before, The Fool over to Ancient Awakenings created a nifty set of tools for making towns with this program. )

Auto Realm (Mostly for the rosettes.)

Izandwo/MapX/DewMap (a project that kept having its name changed...)

All for different things.

The Auld Grump

 

[Psimancer]

I find Dunjinni quite limiting in the short while I used it for...

It begins and ends with Adobe Photoshop...

Likewise (on both counts). I found that when I was using Dundjinni, I spent all my time in Photoshop making the objects I needed. Now I just cut out the middleman (read: program) and just do it all in Photoshop; infinately more customisable. The last map I made I had the grid down to 3 inches map scale (but then again, I am a pedantic SOB)...

 

[Tolen Mar]

I've been using dundjinni myself, because it lets you whip up a good encounter map in short order (and lets face it, time is not on my side). In short order, I can have a decent encounter map done and uploaded to my webspace for my online game.

However, it does have too many limits. No matter what scale you want, it still comes out on an 8.5 by 11 page. I end up taking the maps, exporting them as Jpegs, then tweaking them with Photoshop.

If I could figure out CC2, I think I would go back to it. Maybe its time to dig it up...

 

[WilliamAndersen]

Okay i have been DMing for a few years now and like most people i started out doing it by hand. I have just recently started looking for online aids and computer program aids to make DM prep easier and i have found a ton of mapping programs online. Now i am not really a computer pro or anything and some of them have turned out to be far more trouble then they are worth.

So my question is this.... Do other DM's out there use computer programs for maps, NPC's etc? And if so what programs do you all reccommend and why?

Hi there,

I do use map programs for games (especially a military game I have been running as we were playtesting our upcoming game Combat!--a military game using Action!) The mapping program is rather convenient as it allowed me to provide the players with an "intelligence report" that did not have all the details of what they would find when they got to the target. I would put a date on the map to show how current it was... the less current, the less reliable. I think it added a neat dimension to the games.

I used to use Auto Realm... it is very intuitive and free. I can certainly recommend it for its utility.

I recently switched to Fractal Mapper (from NBOS Software). I tried the CC series, but I am just not smart enough to figure it out it seems... Fractal Mapper is intuitive like Auto Realm, but also offers quite a bit of the power of CC. The company also offers a lot of support for it, and the yahoogroup for users of the program are *very helpful*.

So, I would recommend either Auto Realm or FM.

William
ComStar
Publishers of content for d20, Action!, Fudge and soon the Hero System
http://www.comstar-media.com

 

[Altalazar]

This thread has convinced me - I'm getting the whole CC2 pack as soon as I know I have time to learn it all (likely after my exam this week but before I get seriously into the Bar exam studying I have to do - so probably December).

I have a homebrew world map I put together over 15 years ago, by hand, on a huge sheet of hex paper (and I mean HUGE - it is about the size of a regular fold out map you'd see for a city today). I colored it in with colored pencil and it took a very long time to do. I hope to scan it in and use that as the starting point for CC2. I've wanted to digitize it for a long time, just to be able to make it more readable and flexible. Doing detailed maps of the various cities will be nice too - I've done some of them, by hand, but those took a long time to do.

Oh, if only I had more time each day.

 

[boredgremlin]

I know what you mean. I am gonna get into CC2 as well. God only knows how long it will be till i have time to actually master it though.