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The name really says it all but I'm really looking for a good program that allows me to build and store maps with and allows for the creation of maps of rather large sizes. Right now I have a dungeon I'm working on who's bottom floor is about 2 flip mats wide (thin ways) by 2 long (long ways) and I'm having trouble finding a free program that allows for a space big enough for that size.
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By default it's a fairly small grid (20x20 if I recall correctly), but you can enlarge that in the settings.
When our groups GM with it using the method you're talking about, we'd usually split up the areas and use tabs, loading each next part of the map as it became relevant - and it was actually fun to both GM and play with.
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MapTool.
Map tool is the bane of our gaming group but is the best we have found.
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Map tool is the bane of our gaming group but is the best we have found.
Same here. My problem with it is just how unintuitive it always seems to feel when it comes to actually building something in the program and the lack of a really solid tutorial to walk you through it. It's a shame too since at the moment I would just like to have a program that lets me lay the walls of the structure out.
I will have to check out combat assistant and see how that works.
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Map tool is the bane of our gaming group but is the best we have found.
Surely you're not looking if that's the best you've found - Roll20 is pretty comparable to Maptool (admittedly, I've never been able to figure it out either, though), and I've just posted Combat Assistant two posts above yours!
Of the three, CA wins, Roll20 looks good, and Maptool is the bane of my gaming group.
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Map tool is the bane of our gaming group but is the best we have found.Surely you're not looking if that's the best you've found - Roll20 is pretty comparable to Maptool (admittedly, I've never been able to figure it out either, though), and I've just posted Combat Assistant two posts above yours!
Of the three, CA wins, Roll20 looks good, and Maptool is the bane of my gaming group.
Well I've used Roll20 before and really loved the program the problem is that the maps sizes are too small and can't be adjusted. On the CA front I'm interested but I wish I could get a look at what the program is capable of like maybe some stills of it in action or a video before I just download it.
True, MapTool has a pretty steep learning curve, but I actually found the tutorial videos quite helpful...I even recall one that demonstrates how to lay out walls.
Paint.
One DM I know makes fairly extensive use of Dundjinni. Nice, but you really need a large printer or plotter to make it work or else you have a bunch of 8 1/2 x 11 maps that need to be taped or laminated together, if you are looking to print it out.
A few years back, there was a program called DTiles made by Undermountain Games. It was very cheap, and the best RPG mapping software I'd ever used. Completely intuitive, everything was resizable, sleek, and it was designed so that you could import new objects into its library very easily. Unfortunately I lost the software after a computer upgrade, and the company has since gone out of business. Every once in a while I scour the web for somebody who has the installer still saved somewhere on their computer. That's how much I loved that program. I haven't found its equal since. Tried maptool, twice actually, and couldn't get over the learning curve. I've tried various other programs as well, and even some of the expensive ones like Dundjinni or Campaign Cartographer couldn't replicate the ease of map making that DTiles had. If anybody ever comes across an installer for DTiles please PM me.
A few years back, there was a program called DTiles made by Undermountain Games. It was very cheap, and the best RPG mapping software I'd ever used. Completely intuitive, everything was resizable, sleek, and it was designed so that you could import new objects into its library very easily. Unfortunately I lost the software after a computer upgrade, and the company has since gone out of business. Every once in a while I scour the web for somebody who has the installer still saved somewhere on their computer. That's how much I loved that program. I haven't found its equal since. Tried maptool, twice actually, and couldn't get over the learning curve. I've tried various other programs as well, and even some of the expensive ones like Dundjinni or Campaign Cartographer couldn't replicate the ease of map making that DTiles had. If anybody ever comes across an installer for DTiles please PM me.
Don't just PM. Shout it from the mountaintops. I'd love to give something like that a spin.
Roll20 can be resized, it's in the gear when you are "switching" maps section. It's a bit of a pain, since it's not really intuitive at all.
Outside of Roll20/Maptool, Paint and/or Gimp are the two image manipulators I'd recommend.
Interesting review of DTiles: HERE
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Roll20 can be resized, it's in the gear when you are "switching" maps section. It's a bit of a pain, since it's not really intuitive at all.
Outside of Roll20/Maptool, Paint and/or Gimp are the two image manipulators I'd recommend.
Yeah I just figured that out last night while I was messing around with it again. Now my problem is that I cannot figure out how to erase a line once you've finished it and set it down.
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I've done some pretty impressive dungeon maps with autorealm, the trick is to remember to set your grid size before you start playing.I use Autorealm, but it's not the best for dungeons.
It rocks hard on anything natural, cities, towns, and villages.
Oh, you definitely can...I used to use Dungeoncrafter...had all the tilesets...now that was a good program. So easy...so quick. I wish they'd never given up on it. :(
I'm mindblown that no one has mentioned DungeonPainter. It's a free, web-based map builder created by one of the Fantasy Grounds (free plug for the best Virtual Table Top...in my humble opinion) forum members. Build out a map, add all kinds of stuff, export it as an image file.
Video: Video
Link: Dungeon Painter
Linkified, and holy crap! Dungeon Painter is VERY similar to the functionality and usability of DTiles. This might be my new go to dungeon crafter. Thank you for this link Count Rugen.
My answer is so bizarre, so off-the-wall, so strange, it will boggle all of your minds, and I will require all of you to make a Will Save (DC19)in order to view it and not run higgeldy-piggeldy out of the room:
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My answer is so bizarre, so off-the-wall, so strange, it will boggle all of your minds, and I will require all of you to make a Will Save (DC19)in order to view it and not run higgeldy-piggeldy out of the room:
** spoiler omitted **
Ohhh, you're right. Let me get back into my Edsel and take a lovely Sunday drive to the park to mull that one over while sipping a delicious Moxy.
Visit the software forum at the Cartographers' Guild for every kind of graphics and/or mapping application available. Many of these software tools have tutorials available on the website.
If looking for more robust graphics software for free consider GIMP, and there are many excellent GIMP mapping tutorials at the CG.
Otherwise most free mapping apps are good at some things and not so good at others.
I wouldn't use free mapping software, but then I'm a professional fantasy cartographer and prefer affordable paid for software - like Xara Designer Pro (my application of choice.)
Honestly, unless you know CAD software, it's got a steep learning curve, and this applies to both AutoCAD and Campaign Cartographer 3. Most professional RPG cartographers use GIMP or Photoshop.
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Ohhh, you're right. Let me get back into my Edsel and take a lovely Sunday drive to the park to mull that one over while sipping a delicious Moxy.My answer is so bizarre, so off-the-wall, so strange, it will boggle all of your minds, and I will require all of you to make a Will Save (DC19)in order to view it and not run higgeldy-piggeldy out of the room:
** spoiler omitted **
Harrumph, Sir!
I make maps from scratch using Gimp and the Mapping Object database. When you have a 3 Gig collection of textures, objects, and creatures it is pretty easy to throw a map together in 30min-1hr.
I make maps from scratch using Gimp and the Mapping Object database. When you have a 3 Gig collection of textures, objects, and creatures it is pretty easy to throw a map together in 30min-1hr.
It only takes me about 1 - 3 hours to create most any map, and I create everything (map objects included) from scratch, or from the few existing map objects I've already created - I never use objects or terrain created by somebody else. I also primarily create hand-drawn maps that are digitally finished for color and terrain depth.
Here's a link to the original hand-drawn only map of the City of Kasai, before it was finished for use in Jade Regent #6, as a commission for Paizo. This took 8 hours to do, but then it entailed lots of buildings (over 8500).