Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 nightwolf629 Aug 10, 2009 13:13:59	I trying to create a map of a large city for my 4e game. The problem is, my drawing skills are lacking quite a bit. I have been looking for a program that could help me put a city together, then print it out for my party to enjoy. The best I have come up with is something like photoshop... but i was hoping I could find something that would involve a lot less work on my end. Plus, I really don't think photoshop will help my drawing ability. Also, I am not looking for a online tabletop, or a random city generator. I am looking for something that will help me take the city map I already have in my head, and put it down on paper. Does anyone know anything that can help me with that?
#2 dalzig Aug 10, 2009 15:15:00	Campaign Cartographer's City Designer 3 is pretty much what you're looking for. It runs for US$40. That will get you all sorts of pre-made symbols that you can throw together with Photoshop. Don't know of anything else, though.
#3 lokiare Aug 16, 2009 17:12:51	Buy the original neverwinter nights get all the updates and expansions, then pop open the map editor in there. Once you get done, go full screen and hit alt-print screen. Pull open you favorite art editor (i.e. photoshop or painst shop pro) and paste it as a new image. Very nice 3D artwork. With the right camera angle you can get a top down look so it is very nice.
#4 modern_iconoclast Aug 18, 2009 8:08:29	I have seen very good renditions made with Google Apps. See Fallcrest: http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/cldetails?mid=c1ffd7cde2d2139461497a98710709d See Loudwater: http://www.enworld.org/forum/art-gallery-cartography-miniatures-painting/254750-d-d-4th-edition-forgotten-realms-loudwater-3d-map.html Try it out :D
#5 eredo Sep 18, 2009 12:51:43	Wow, I really need to check this program out! I'm Dming a campaign based in a city soon and I could really do with a nice 3d render of the setting! How simple is the program to use? Is it sort of at a beginners level?
#6 Mock Sep 18, 2009 15:08:00	Campaign Cartographer's City Designer 3 is pretty much what you're looking for. It runs for US$40. That will get you all sorts of pre-made symbols that you can throw together with Photoshop. Don't know of anything else, though. Google Sketchup is pretty easy to use, although if you want to do something like those Fallcrest maps, it gets complex really fast. City Designer 3 is not a standalone product, IIRC, but a plugin to Campaign Cartographer 3 - it'll run about $70-80 for both; if you want Dungeon Designer 3 it's another $30 or so. They appear to be worth it (I just bought CC3 and DD3 the other day), but they are not for beginners - I am bewildered by them thus far.
#7 GlimFolkor1234 Sep 18, 2009 19:59:12	Yes, the Campaign Cartographer programs are fully capable of building a city map (and much, much more), but they have a CAD program pedigree and are not easy to use.  They definitely reward time spent learning them, but the learning curve is steep. Dundjinni is a pretty good map program, but it's a bit better suited for building encounter space rather than maps on the scale of a city.  You can build a city in Dundjinni, but I find it better suited for buildings or dungeons...things on that kind of scale.  On the plus side, DJ is very easy to learn, and has an active and helpful community on its site.
#8 lokiare Sep 19, 2009 16:50:22	I just discovered ViewingDale in another thread. Very nice mapping tool, pretty cheap too (no licensing or monthly fees).
#9 chieftaintwilight Mar 12, 2011 20:08:47	huh... I got lucky again. I'm in the same boat, dude, scrambling to make a map of Rekkenmark for an adventure in my Campaign, and I'm surely gonna need even more maps of cities soon too. so far, I am digging these answers. I hope they serve you well. there was this thing by Adobe that Wizards uses alot too, that's what I was realy looking for when I found this.