Hi,

I'm looking for an overly easy, simplistic map-maker utility. I have tried using Campaign Cartographer 3 by ProFantasy and I cannot for the life of me figure it out. Basically, what I want is so simple; map is automatically the size of a legal-page, the grid is set - no messing with grid sizes, when you draw walls, they snap to the edges of the grid, and I'm looking for a program that does this without looking like stick figure lines, but I'm not expecting pro graphics either. I just need a quick and dirty way to make maps on my computer when I'm out of graph paper.

If anyone knows of such a program, I'd love to hear of it, and if it were freeware, it'd be that much better. Thanks for any replies ahead of time.

Check out Dundjinni. It's a little cheaper and slightly easier to learn than CC.

Dunjinni is very good but given your situation - hands-down Fractal Mapper is the solution you're looking for. Over the years, I've found nothing with its balance of simplicity+robust features. Maps look very good without giving you a headache. I've fully mapped a few kingdoms upon a continent upon a world using it. I've printed and hung up my homebrew maps as large as 4x5 feet on the wall (taped together, but made at very low cost). The software is very intelligent and "knows" what a GM needs. Also, the software has been recently upgraded to version 8, and if you're looking for one holistic solution for your world/continent/country/barony/town/building/dungeon - - Fractal Mapper does it all!

-Obviously I think its awesome. I think you will too.
-Pax

EDIT: P.s. I own and have used CC2, CC3, Dunjinni, plus 1 or 2 others.

Dunjinni is very good but given your situation - hands-down Fractal Mapper is the solution you're looking for.

Linkified

If you already own CC3 (I have just about everything Pro Fantasy has released), I think getting other software is just throwing good money after bad.

It is IMPERATIVE that you go through the multi-part CC3 video tutorials on Youtube, and I often go back to them to refresh my memory. It's a couple of hours well spent and will give you the tools you need to make your own maps.

I am FAR from expert at CC3 but have been able to make simple maps quickly and effectively after the tutorials.

Here are a couple of things I was able to do after going through the tutorials just once:

Simple kingdom

A bit closer

Closer still

A "hand drawn" NPC map for the PCs

Oh... I should have read through the OP's post to the end - if you're looking for free stuff, there is TONS available. Google dungeon map generator or fantasy town generator, I'll stop back if you still can't find stuff.

I used dundjinni before I realized the drawing tools in maptool are actually better for the kind of maps I am drawing. Now I pretty much exclusively draw in maptool, which lets me set one texture for walls, one for floors, and draw in shapes. It handles opacity for water and stuff. Great for one-shot maps that you play in maptool, and they look as good as the things I would make in dundjinni since I am of meager artistic talent anyway. It's tough to believe how efficient it is, considering all the other things Maptool can do.

Now I look back on Dundjinni as a very piggy program that was clumsy to use and poorly implemented on the mac.

just my 2 cents there

Thanks for all the replies guys. I'm at work now, but when I get home, I'll be sure and check some of those programs out. I'll also watch the youtube video tutorials and tell you how that goes.

Whoa! Did I hear you say "out of graph paper" - Never again with this site

pdfpad.com

All kinds of graph paper for you to print out for FREE!!!

Thanks for all the replies guys. I'm at work now, but when I get home, I'll be sure and check some of those programs out. I'll also watch the youtube video tutorials and tell you how that goes.

Any luck? :)

Eran Olivas wrote:

Thanks for all the replies guys. I'm at work now, but when I get home, I'll be sure and check some of those programs out. I'll also watch the youtube video tutorials and tell you how that goes.

Any luck? :)

Yes. Sorry I didn't update. Since I already had the program on my computer, I first tried the youtube videos for Campaign Cartographer 3. That was all I needed. Once I learned the basics, the rest came easy, and the maps look stellar. It's price point is relatively good at $44.95 in comparison to something like Photoshop or professional CAD software. All in all, I'm satisfied with the results of my 10-minutes worth of youtube schooling. I am a little disappointed I didn't try the other software programs mentioned, but didn't see a need once I figured out how to use the program I already had.

Thanks again guys.

Denim N Leather wrote:

Eran Olivas wrote:

Thanks for all the replies guys. I'm at work now, but when I get home, I'll be sure and check some of those programs out. I'll also watch the youtube video tutorials and tell you how that goes.

Any luck? :)

Yes. Sorry I didn't update. Since I already had the program on my computer, I first tried the youtube videos for Campaign Cartographer 3. That was all I needed. Once I learned the basics, the rest came easy, and the maps look stellar. It's price point is relatively good at $44.95 in comparison to something like Photoshop or professional CAD software. All in all, I'm satisfied with the results of my 10-minutes worth of youtube schooling. I am a little disappointed I didn't try the other software programs mentioned, but didn't see a need once I figured out how to use the program I already had.

Thanks again guys.

That's awesome! Now, make sure you post links to some of your creations....

;-)