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System requirements? Mac Compatible? Need that kind of info, thanks.
From the NBOS website:
* Intel Pentium® IV class PC or faster with 512 meg ram.
* 150 meg free hard disk space
* Microsoft Windows® XP or Windows Vista®. Fractal Mapper v8.0 may also run on other earlier versions of Windows (such as Windows 2000, Windows 98, etc.), but only XP and Vista are officially supported and tested.
* Internet connection and software registration required to access the NBOS Online Exchange map sharing area. NBOS Online Exchange does not provide internet access.
It would be helpful to have the "Pathfinder Chronicles: City Map Folio" in Fractal Mapper format. The maps found in the Pathfinder Chronicles look similar to those created with Fractal Mapper, is that how Pathfinder maps are made? With Fractal Mapper?
I'm not a Paizo rep, but I imagine that would be difficult to do due to copyright reasons. People could edit the maps and try to resell or redistribute them as their own.
So if one were to buy a cartography program now; between this, dundjinni and Campaign Cartographer 3, which one would you recommend ?
About 10 years ago, I used an older version of Fractal Mapper and while it was good, I was not fully pleased with the results I got. I felt my options were limited and didn't like the image quality.
The version of Campaign Cartographer I used AT THAT TIME I was ultimately happier with the amount of options I had, but it was harder to use. Comparing Fractical Mapper 2000 to CC2, I liked CC2 better.
I currently use Campaign Cartographer 3. I am very happy with it, but it still has a steep learning curve: it uses a CAD based engine -- if you know what you're doing, you could actually build a full, to-scale, contemporary city map if you wanted (let alone rebuild Rivendell); if you don't know what you're doing the amount of options, the varied way you can do things, the way sheets and layers work, etc. Gets very overwhelming very quickly. A few tutorials get you going well, however, and you learn to focus on what you need to do at the time. Ultimately, the only thing I don't like about CC3 is that it has a "smart symbol" and "smart snapping" system which is most "stupid." You're supposed to be able to set symbols to snap quickly to the grid in a way that makes sense to the map set up, and in my experience, it consistently flips symbols around the wrong way and connects them to the wrong gridline. Fortunately this feature can be turned off.
I can also say that CC3 has exceptional customer support and a very helpful community behind it.
Never used Dundjinni; my favorite aspect of CC3 is its Dungeon Designer add-on, which I tried before I heard of Dundjinni, and have never felt a need to branch out.
I would like to see what the current version of Fractal Mapper does with overland area design to be able to compare it to the current version of CC3.
Ultimately, it depends on what you want to do. CC3 of the three programs probably has the most versatility, but also the steepest learning curve/frustration factor.
So if one were to buy a cartography program now; between this, dundjinni and Campaign Cartographer 3, which one would you recommend ?About 10 years ago, I used an older version of Fractal Mapper and while it was good, I was not fully pleased with the results I got. I felt my options were limited and didn't like the image quality.
The version of Campaign Cartographer I used AT THAT TIME I was ultimately happier with the amount of options I had, but it was harder to use. Comparing Fractical Mapper 2000 to CC2, I liked CC2 better.
I currently use Campaign Cartographer 3. I am very happy with it, but it still has a steep learning curve: it uses a CAD based engine -- if you know what you're doing, you could actually build a full, to-scale, contemporary city map if you wanted (let alone rebuild Rivendell); if you don't know what you're doing the amount of options, the varied way you can do things, the way sheets and layers work, etc. Gets very overwhelming very quickly. A few tutorials get you going well, however, and you learn to focus on what you need to do at the time. Ultimately, the only thing I don't like about CC3 is that it has a "smart symbol" and "smart snapping" system which is most "stupid." You're supposed to be able to set symbols to snap quickly to the grid in a way that makes sense to the map set up, and in my experience, it consistently flips symbols around the wrong way and connects them to the wrong gridline. Fortunately this feature can be turned off.
I can also say that CC3 has exceptional customer support and a very helpful community behind it.
Never used Dundjinni; my favorite aspect of CC3 is its Dungeon Designer add-on, which I tried before I heard of Dundjinni, and have never felt a need to branch out.
I would like to see what the current version of Fractal Mapper does with overland area design to be able to compare it to the current version of CC3.
Ultimately, it depends on what you want to do. CC3 of the three programs probably has the...
Thank you. Well I want to have versatility but what I really need to do at the moment is make my world map as the players keep asking about it and my version so far is from my GM notebook.(I am better with drawing than with programs but...I don't have the time to paint it at the moment)
I am not familiar with Cad but I have used cc2 and I found it of moderate difficulty.If I invest time and practice can I get to dragon/paizo map detail?
I have been searching all over the net trying to find a program that can help me do my maps. Between real life and gaming I don't have alot of time to dedicate to learning how to make a program that work for me.
My personal advise, based on the statement above is: Work with hand-drawn maps. Generally you will be able to make them more quickly (for large areas that do not need tactical-level detail) and the results will be more satisfying.
That said, I do not want to discourage you from trying mapping software. However, mapping is a very complex subject.
Mapping programs with the versatility to handle anything you can throw at it are very time consuming to learn for anything by the most basic things (landform shapes, roads, and city locations). It is possible to make very pretty maps (as though they come from a Paizo product) with these types of software, but only after investing a lot of time learning to use them.
Mapping programs that are easy to pick up and use are not usually very versatile. Dundjinni used to be, essentially, an electronic 'Dungeon Tiles'. The maps may be visually appealing, but they only fit together in certain ways.
Which mapping program you decide to use ultimately depends on what you want out of the tool. Do you want quick, easy, pretty maps? Maybe Dundjinni is for you.
There are other products out there, as well, worth exploring. Play with Demos if they're available, and see what kind of results you can achieve in 5 mintues, 15 minutes, and 30 minutes. That will help you decide.
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Since this is a thread on the Fractal Mapper product listing: please, try it and see what you think. I've never used it, but I know people that love it and claim very good results with it. I also know people that hate it for various reasons. It's just like anything.