Mapping Software???

[Number 9]

Can anybody recommend some decent RPG mapping software? I'm looking for something to make outdoor area maps, floorplans for keeps and buildings, villages and so forth. Some folks here have posted some really beautiful work. I've seen some good stuff at Cartographer's Guild as well.

Oh yes - recommended software must be fairly easy to use. I don't want to have to take a semester's worth of college classes just to learn how to make stick men with it.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Hand of Evil]

All software will put out what you put in and each user is different and needs, so I tell everyone to try all demos to find the one best for you. Now:

A good all-around program is NBOS Fractal Mapper: http://nbos.com/products/mapper/mapper.htm

Then you have the best Profantasy's Campaign Cartographer: http://profantasy.com/

A very good free one: AutoRealms - http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/AutoREALM/

Other:

InkWell (see Hex and Dungeon): http://inkwellideas.com/

Don't know if alive still but Dundjinni: http://www.dundjinni.com/

Tile Mapper: http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/dnd/20061121t

Any Vector based image program - GIMP comes to mind.

And there are others....Hope this helps.

 

[Hand of Evil]

oh...Map a Monday thread here...

http://www.enworld.org/forum/miscel...y-project-2012-novembers-geomorphs-added.html

 

[Number 9]

Thanks for the info! I think Dundjinni may have tanked. There's no activity there for the last 6 months or so, plus I tried ordering their software with no results.

Agreed that what effort goes in makes the end result. I just don't want to have to spend hours fighting the program interface, as opposed to doing actual design work.

I'll give the sites a look (and demos a try). If I make anything interesting, I'll post it for you folks to look at.

Again, thanks!

 

[gamerprinter]

Your best bet is to visit the Cartographers' Guild forums, a site dedicated to fictional maps (mostly RPG maps), with most of the industry pro cartographers and software designers as members.

Here's a link to my Maps thread here at EN World, to see the kind of maps I create!

Most mappers there seem to prefer GIMP (image editor like Photoshop, and not easy to use, and not a map program per se), while many use Campaign Cartographer 3, NBOS Fractal Mapper, Dundjinni and many other software (I use Xara Designer Pro, for example). Visit the Finished Maps and Cartographer's Choice forums to view maps and look for a style you like (threads usually include what software was used to design them). Once you find software creating the kind of maps you want, go to the Software forum to find where to get it.

Once you have your software, go to the Tutorials forum where there are hundreds of tutorials for varying software and varying map types to get what you need. Don't worry about fighting the interface, these tutorials will make it easy and obvious for you.

Once you start designing your maps, post it as a work-in-progress in the WIP forums to get expert advice, tips and critiques.

Many mappers show up as total newbs and in 6 months or less become experts creating works of art in mapping - it happens all the time.

It's worth a visit for anyone interested in game maps.

 

[GhostBear]

In a pinch, I like to use Tiled. It is about as simple as they come - you provide images that contain tiles, then Tiled gives you a grid. Stick your tiles onto the grid, voila! Supports layers if you need them.

The end result is generally not the most gorgeous thing in the world (but it does depend on the quality of the tiles you have), but it's quick and doesn't have a large learning curve.

I've used Campaign Cartographer before, and I prefer that for mapping out regions / continents / worlds, but for maps that are going to be used once then tossed I generally don't bother. CC3 can produce nice results, but it has a significant learning curve (the manual is awful, thankfully there are some decent tutorial videos on YouTube) and it takes more time.

 

[Number 9]

Thanks for the advice, folks. It's greatly appreciated. I decided to go with ProFantasy's Campaign Cartographer (and assorted add-ons). True, the learning curve is pretty steep, but I like the results it gives. The manual IS crappy. The YouTube tutorial videos are very helpful, though.

 

[Hand of Evil]

Thanks for the advice, folks. It's greatly appreciated. I decided to go with ProFantasy's Campaign Cartographer (and assorted add-ons). True, the learning curve is pretty steep, but I like the results it gives. The manual IS crappy. The YouTube tutorial videos are very helpful, though.

Get on their web site, If you have ANY question they will help you. Some of the best customer support I have ever known.

 

[Nytmare]

There IS a legitimate learning curve, but I would strongly recommend using either Photoshop or Gimp and just playing off of other people's tutorials till you get your feet under you.

 

[DramaScape]

You can use the Dunjinni forum items in any paint program, its a good way to make maps