What is the best software for making maps?..and DDI
- Thread starter Emirikol
- Start date
Man in the Funny Hat
Hero
Tough question without a good answer. I would say that CC3 is the best of the best, but then it suffers from being expensive, can be difficult to learn, and consuming more time to GET the better results. I have stated in the past that CC is what you use when drawing the maps is in itself a hobby, and in any case the results you get out are quite proportional to the time you can put into them. But then I never use anything else so I can't comment much on other systems.
It does depend on what you want out your mapping software - speed, ease of use, detail and color, practicality, etc. And are you talking about campaign maps, tactical maps for combat, city maps, all the above? Dunjinni may do great tactical maps but I don't know that it can do much if anything for city maps or campaign-scale maps. Have to let a Dundjinni user tell you that.
Really, there's probably no substitute for simply getting hands-on experience with any mapping software you have an interest in to evaluate whether its right for you. That tends to mean that you need to go to one or more larger conventions where the company concerned will be running demonstrations, or find local users who will let you play with it a bit.
I have absolutely NO idea what DDI has in store for mapping, but I wouldn't hold my breath while waiting. If it were going to be some kind of wonderful we'd have actually heard something about it, ahm-a-thinkin.
It does depend on what you want out your mapping software - speed, ease of use, detail and color, practicality, etc. And are you talking about campaign maps, tactical maps for combat, city maps, all the above? Dunjinni may do great tactical maps but I don't know that it can do much if anything for city maps or campaign-scale maps. Have to let a Dundjinni user tell you that.
Really, there's probably no substitute for simply getting hands-on experience with any mapping software you have an interest in to evaluate whether its right for you. That tends to mean that you need to go to one or more larger conventions where the company concerned will be running demonstrations, or find local users who will let you play with it a bit.
I have absolutely NO idea what DDI has in store for mapping, but I wouldn't hold my breath while waiting. If it were going to be some kind of wonderful we'd have actually heard something about it, ahm-a-thinkin.
I use CC2, so I'm a little behind the times, but it makes excellent maps. As the Man in the Funny Hat says, it's got a steep learning curve. I don't have any other CAD experience, and it took me about a month to work through the tutorials and figure out what's going on. It's also fairly pricey, and you need a few add-ons to get the most out of it (Dungeon Designer and the extra Symbol Sets come to mind).
However, IF you buy a couple of the add-ons, and IF you can make your way through the tutorials, you can bang out a really nice looking dungeon in an evening. I game online, and I need good maps. CC2 provides 'em in spades.
My understanding is that the DDI is going to use pregenerated electronic "dungeon tiles" for mapping. I don't think it will have the range of variety and flexibility that CC provides. Further, given that the DDI VTT is going to be 3-D, I'm anticipating that only WotC's special dungeon tiles are going to work with it.
However, IF you buy a couple of the add-ons, and IF you can make your way through the tutorials, you can bang out a really nice looking dungeon in an evening. I game online, and I need good maps. CC2 provides 'em in spades.
My understanding is that the DDI is going to use pregenerated electronic "dungeon tiles" for mapping. I don't think it will have the range of variety and flexibility that CC provides. Further, given that the DDI VTT is going to be 3-D, I'm anticipating that only WotC's special dungeon tiles are going to work with it.
