Mapping Tools

[meomwt]

Can anyone recommend any good freeware mapping tools for RPG's? I'm looking for something relatively simple to use for working up sections of countryside in a forthcoming campaign I'm planning right now.

Ideally, it needs to be relatively easy to use (for a Klutz like me who kno nuthing) and produce maps with hex/ square grids for determining distance easily. It also needs to be able to display various terrain features (fortresses, groves, hills, etc.)

All suggestions gratefully received.

 

[Ferghis]

Here's some links that you might explore:
http://users.tkk.fi/~vesanto/link.useful/maps/maps.html
http://www.dndresources.com/index.php?autocom=icontent&CODE=02&cat=28&startat=20

There was a hex mapper that put out Greyhawk style tiles real easily, but I can't find it.
There's also a mapping software on this forum, but I think the scale is smaller than you're interested in, and it's squares.

 

[TogaMario]

I'll be adding hex map support for my program within the next week or two. It's a free program, so just keep your eyes peeled for FreeCountry's update announcements.

 

[Ferghis]

I'll be adding hex map support for my program within the next week or two. It's a free program, so just keep your eyes peeled for FreeCountry's update announcements.

I imagine any notion of adding large scale "countryside" tiles is pretty distant on your list of things to do. I would really enjoy that though. Just, you know, saying...

 

[TogaMario]

Define large-scale countryside tiles a little better and you may have it quicker than you think, lol. I'm ad-hoc developing right now, since there are so many things that need to be done and I'm the only one doing them, heh.

 

[trevorscroft]

When you say mapping programs, do you mean programs whose end product is a raster image (like jpg, png, or whatever), or a virtual space to move tokens on a background map ?

 

[meomwt]

When you say mapping programs, do you mean programs whose end product is a raster image (like jpg, png, or whatever), or a virtual space to move tokens on a background map ?

I mean a program which gives you a JPEG or similar output.

 

[naturaltwenty]

AutoRealm is free and can produce what you're looking for:

http://autorealm.sourceforge.net/index.php


Later,

Greg Volz
Natural Twenty Gaming
www.naturaltwenty.com

 

[Nellisir]

There was a hex mapper that put out Greyhawk style tiles real easily, but I can't find it.

This is probably it. It's a really dead simple program, makes nice simple maps.

http://home.paonline.com/zaikoski/ak/TOOLS.HTM#hexmapper