Well, the release of 4e has reawakened both geek urges and forgotten creativity, and it's time to throw together a new campaign and campaign world. It's been ages, though, and I'm wondering: there must be some fantastic software out there now for drawing world maps and the like.
Any recommendations for (preferably free/shareware) PC software for sketching out or drawing world maps, and dungeons? I'm rubbish with Paint.... Or does good 'ole graph paper and paper still remain the best choice?
Cheers
-M.
If you want to use computer resources they have excellent suggestions.
I prefer pen and paper sadly, but GIMP is a good freeware tool for all kinds of drawing. Linky Here
If you can shell out the money Campaign Cartographer is an amazing program. Linky Here
The Cartographer's Guild is a wonderful forum: Linky Here
If you want to use computer resources they have excellent suggestions.
I prefer pen and paper sadly, but GIMP is a good freeware tool for all kinds of drawing. Linky Here
If you can shell out the money Campaign Cartographer is an amazing program. Linky Here
I agree about Campaign Cartographer. I've been using it for 8 years and its got better and better. They dont offer any demos currently but do have a money-back guarantee. The basic program is fairly inexpensive and if you can afford the add-ons they put them in value bundles. The best thing I can say about Profantasy the company that makes CC3 is they are really responsive to their customer base, and have a great user forum. Here is a map I am working on with CC3
I also agree about GIMP for freeware it is amazing but it's more of a retouch program than a drawing program.
All of the complex ones I've found feel too limiting to me, too-I'd prefer something minimalist so the players won't use it as a shorthand for reading my descriptions. It doesn't help that I'm not that great with computer programs, but I'm not really sure what to do at this point, because none of the PCs who are good with this sort of software seem willing to be party mapmaker.
Adding onto this: My game's online. All I want is a grid-like battle mat so my players know where everything is. The problem is, whatever program I find needs some sort of sorcery or a ton of self-imported image files to even start to use.
All of the complex ones I've found feel too limiting to me, too-I'd prefer something minimalist so the players won't use it as a shorthand for reading my descriptions. It doesn't help that I'm not that great with computer programs, but I'm not really sure what to do at this point, because none of the PCs who are good with this sort of software seem willing to be party mapmaker.
I know I sound like a sales person for PF but CC3 has built in templates for battlemats and comes with a ton of built in images, and plenty of stuff made by users is easy to find. The draw back would be; you want minimal and while you can put as little into each map as you like the cost of the program may be more than minimal maps can justify.
http://forum.profantasy.com/comments.php?DiscussionID=97&page=1#Item_13
There are some good examples here though of what can be done both with images you can put online and dioramas for table top use. I love the dioramas add-on.
My questions are:
1) How limited is just the basic program (CC3) without the addons? Can I still put together decent dungeons and cities without also buying the Dungeon or City Designer?
2) How close in can you go with this thing? Can I get in to the tactical level, and design an encounter area, and overlay it with a square grid? I didn't seen any examples of that outside of the Dungeon Designer?
Thanks for your help!
-M.
I've had a look at the Campaign Cartographer 3 website, and the bundled things that you can add-on. I have to admit: it's very tempting, and I almost clicked the purchase button a few times, but the cost is prohibitive....
My questions are:
1) How limited is just the basic program (CC3) without the addons? Can I still put together decent dungeons and cities without also buying the Dungeon or City Designer?
2) How close in can you go with this thing? Can I get in to the tactical level, and design an encounter area, and overlay it with a square grid? I didn't seen any examples of that outside of the Dungeon Designer?
Thanks for your help!
-M.
CC3 by itself is very powerful. You can make dungeons and cities without add=ons. The add-ons give you more content and options for tools specific to the kind of map your making. Because CC3 uses vector object based CAD programing you can zoom down to feet or inches and the resolution will be just as sharp unlike BMP paint programs. It even has template for making Battlemats with 5' grids printed that you can print to scale because again the program under the hood is a CAD program. I'm not sure if basic CC3 contains that template, but even if it doesnt its easy to add an overylay grid of any size, and even in hexs or squares.
If you can afford it the add-ons are great but since you get many of those capabilities in CC3 can buy them later. Its not like you have to buy a whole new program for each.
I know I sound like a sales person for PF....
Yes, yes you do :D
My final question then is: the one bundle, the 'World Maker' one, comes with the CC3, the dungeon+city designer, and the fractal thingie. Are those three add-ons worth it? I am looking to design a few small hamlets and towns, and dungeons, of course--do they make the task significantly easier or better?
Sorry for all the questions. I wish the website gave convincing demos/examples of what the add-ons offered that the core program is missing....
-M.
Hmm... well, I'm feeling quite tempted and convinced now. I mean, some of the examples I've seen look a bit... cartoony, but I also want a way of mapping out a new campaign world using my computer,
If I'm not mistaken the symbols used are the ones used in olden maps, so if could be just a nod to the past.
Sorry for all the questions. I wish the website gave convincing demos/examples of what the add-ons offered that the core program is missing....
Fractal Terrains has a 14 day demo and it is sorta nice. I started to dislike the program because the engine tended to put alot of inland seas on the world and it got annoying.
Still, guess it's time for a little tutorial action. Thanks to the advice/suggestions above; hopefully I'll have a first attempt at a map to post here sometime soon.
CHeers,
-M.