|
I used to use the Campaign Mappeing software from the old Core Rules 2.0 box. However, I couldn't get that program to run properly on my new, Windows Vista bestowed computer. I've also used Power Point to create city maps, as can be seen on the World Project website (http://www.dmtools.org/world/index.php/Home, then the Geography page, the Shandura page, and then Shanduran Cities for those interested). Of course, I've also used good old pencil, paper, marker, and crayon!
I've thought about buying the lastest version of Campaign Cartographer from Pro Fanstasy, but don't think I'd get enough use out of it to justify the money spent.
So, what programs do you use? Inquiring Aberzombies want to know.
|
So, what programs do you use? Inquiring Aberzombies want to know.
JASC Paint Shop Pro. It took me a long time to figure it out, but once I did, I realized that this is really a great utility for nowhere near the price of Adobe.
I generally swipe the images from Dungeon's PDFs, scale them and print them. If I'm making custom maps, I start with the blank graph paper background I downloaded from WotC and paint over top of it with a low opacity paintbrush. The program has nice textures that come stock that you can use to flood fill areas, and it also allows you to clip small sections of textures from any image and use that as the fill instead.
It has full support for layers as well, but I haven't mastered the use of layers enough to make that function useful. Yet.
I hand draw all of my maps, if I want them to look realy good I hand draw them, scan them and then use photoshop on them.
I draw by hand with pencil on graph paper. If it's really important, I draw a "base," rather vague map, scan it, and then add a layer of detail, scan it, and so on. If I screw up, I print out one of the scanned back-ups and just redraw the part I erred on. The only problem is that each scan cuts a small bit of the margin off. Sexi Golem said he was going to look into campaign mapping software the last time I saw him and then tell me how it was, but I have yet to hear from the little gnome.
I hand draw new maps, or mangle existing maps with MS Paint. I've used AutoCAD to create a sewer system for a local town in a Shadowrun campaign, but that was just because it was a tool I'm already too familiar with.
|
|
I hand draw new maps, or mangle existing maps with MS Paint. I've used AutoCAD to create a sewer system for a local town in a Shadowrun campaign, but that was just because it was a tool I'm already too familiar with.
I've used AutoCAD in the past, but only once or twice. I also fooled around with Microsoft Visio. Both of those are useful for dungeons and buildings, but not so much for cities and overland maps.
Photoshop. Nothing else comes close.
When time is short, pencil, watercolor, then ink pen (in that order) do the trick.
|
|
There are 2 free programs available that have most of the features of Photoshop and other graphics programs: GIMP and PAINT.NET
I have used Paint and like it for altering things that I make in DUNJINNI although the maps in Dundjinni are beautiful to begin with.
Dundjinni is a very simple program to learn and I love it for whipping up quick little battlemaps. It will print your maps in whatever scale you want by clicking a tab. You can print a smaller map for DM reference and full sized battlemaps for gaming on.
I also have messed with a few other things so I will link 'em for you...
Maptool
WOTC's Random Dungeon Generator
hope it helps...
FH
Director of Narrative
|
Thanks for the links Fakey!
I'm in the good ol' pencil and graph paper camp. Those are MY maps and have all kinds of little notations on them for traps with their DCs and effects, placement of critters for battles, general game notes. The players get maps pre-drawn on these huge sheets of 1" grid paper I get from a friend with access to a plotter at work.
The only reason I don't do anything digitally when it comes to mapping is that I have never found a program that I am happy with. I hope some of these suggestions pan out.
Daigle, here's an example of a map I made with Dundjinni.
I suppose that you could overlay a grid on it and print it out in parts to tape together a battlemap?
Dundjinni has the option to export the map with or without a battlemap grid. I chose to turn it off when I exported it. :)
|
|
I suppose that you could overlay a grid on it and print it out in parts to tape together a battlemap?Dundjinni has the option to export the map with or without a battlemap grid. I chose to turn it off when I exported it. :)
you can also make the grid whatever color you want and as bold or opaque as you want. Also does hex-grids. I have a few that I posted over at Dunjinni a while back. If I find them I will post links.
FH
I've put up a page on my website with advice on RPG mapmaking. While I briefly discuss some of the programs available, I tried to keep the advice fairly program-independent.
http://melkot.com/mechanics/map-guide.html
Denis, aka "Maldin"
=====================================
Maldin's Greyhawk http://melkot.com
Loads of edition-independent Greyhawk goodness... maps, magic, mysteries, mechanics, and more!
|
|
Daigle, here's an example of a map I made with Dundjinni.
I followed the link to the Dunjinni website. The maps were impressive, but I didn't see and large scale overland map examples. How is the program with those?
|
|
Daigle, here's an example of a map I made with Dundjinni.I followed the link to the Dunjinni website. The maps were impressive, but I didn't see and large scale overland map examples. How is the program with those?
That is a drawback with Dundjinni. Unless you pick up a pack of user created stuff (free in the forums)there isn't much large scale map support. HOWEVER....There are some pretty impressive user created artwork and textures that would make a beautiful overland map, you just need to find them and download from the forums.
|
I mostly use hand-drawn maps, but that's because I'm mighty lazy.
When I feel that there's the need, I use Dundjinni for dungeons, building interiors, and small scale maps (glades, hillsides, portions of a town/city, etc) thanks to the boatload of free stuff that's available on the Fluid site/forums.
For larger scale maps, Campaign Cartographer is really good, although it takes some time to master.
A couple of times I used SketchUp (a free and easy to use CAD software) to model 3D buildings or complex tridimensional maps, rendered them as sketches - errr... - and printed as handouts to show the players a clear picture of the scene.