Map Making programs - Page 2

deltapax · 12-07-2006, 12:02 PM

Since this is a thread about map-making programs, I'll ask here-
I've been looking for a program that will do modern urban maps (I'm GMing a game set in the last city on earth) but most of the programs I find online seem to have a fantasy orientation. Trying to do a citymap in Adobe Illustrator is taking forever, and I don't want to use a real citymap from GoogleEarth. I'm hoping to be able to do both an overall city map, building interior maps, and perhaps a map of the region. Can anyone recommend a good program for that?

HeroPenguin · 12-07-2006, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deltapax

Since this is a thread about map-making programs, I'll ask here-
I've been looking for a program that will do modern urban maps (I'm GMing a game set in the last city on earth) but most of the programs I find online seem to have a fantasy orientation. Trying to do a citymap in Adobe Illustrator is taking forever, and I don't want to use a real citymap from GoogleEarth. I'm hoping to be able to do both an overall city map, building interior maps, and perhaps a map of the region. Can anyone recommend a good program for that?

Someone suggested Dundjinni (sp) earlier in the thread for modern campaigns. I don't have familiarity with it myself, but I'd suggest starting there.

Of course, there's always the alternate choice of using a plastic hexmap and dry-erase markers. I saw it done to great effect once and I'm fairly keen to doing something like that myself. Cheap As Free!

Ludo, if you're still around/if you wander into the thread, how's your friend's map program working out? any chance of showing us a preview or it being madea vailable to the wider public?

Naryt · 12-12-2006, 02:57 PM

Dundjinni does a great job (with the right art) see:
http://www.dundjinni.com/forums/foru...?TID=7984&PN=1
http://www.dundjinni.com/forums/foru...?TID=7627&PN=1
http://www.dundjinni.com/forums/foru...?TID=7634&PN=4

Bringa · 12-17-2006, 01:01 PM

Ludo, any links?

Ewan · 12-18-2006, 12:31 AM

I am just about to buy in over the Christmas holidays but you might want to check out HeavyMetal Map. Though it is desined for BattleTech you could probably use it for a modern setting.

http://www.heavymetalpro.com/HMMap_Features.htm

RalofTyr · 03-01-2007, 01:41 PM

I use RTS video game editors for my maps, then just take screenshots. Most look as good or better than Dundjinni. Here are a few I use.

Caeser 3
Pharoah and Zeus
Celtic Kings: Punic Wars (Great maps)
Tsar demo (It's free. You can't save your maps, but you can take a screen shot of them). Hedgimount games has good editors with a lot of detail in them.
Outlive and Starcraft
Neverwinter Nights
Stronghold, Age of Kings/Star Wars (good scenery, limited choices of buildings though)
Soldiers of Anarchy
In general, anything produced in Germany will have a good editor with it.

The primary reason I am posting here is I have a question about Autorealm. How can I add new symbols to it?

For mapping, I usually use NBOS Fractal Mapper. It's really easy to create your own symbols and in fact, you can use other symbols. All you need is a small .bmp with a mono-color background. You can also add stuff from other games and make maps of your own.

Ludo · 03-31-2007, 05:42 AM

If anyone wants to have a try on GOTA (the software I wrote about), just ask, I'll send it to you by e-mail.

(Sorry that I was out for a while, I just created my own business and it took my days and nights).

heruca · 01-17-2018, 01:20 PM

Sorry for the thread necromancy.

I've collected lots of links to map-making software here (scroll down just a bit).

My own offering, MapForge is easy to learn/use, has both Mac and Windows versions, and produces gorgeous output (high-resolution for print, or low-res for use in virtual tabletop software such as Roll20, Fantasy Grounds, etc.).

You can use it for free (without a license) if you only need low-resolution output.

edk926 · 01-17-2018, 10:15 PM

A couple of the links on your list aren't working.

heruca · 01-17-2018, 10:18 PM

Sorry, it needs updating, badly. I added many of those links up to a decade ago, and have only revisited them occasionally. URLs change all the time as websites are reinvented/reimplemented. Some may well have disappeared forever.

12-07-2006, 12:02 PM	#11
deltapax Join Date: Dec 2006	Re: Map Making programs Since this is a thread about map-making programs, I'll ask here- I've been looking for a program that will do modern urban maps (I'm GMing a game set in the last city on earth) but most of the programs I find online seem to have a fantasy orientation. Trying to do a citymap in Adobe Illustrator is taking forever, and I don't want to use a real citymap from GoogleEarth. I'm hoping to be able to do both an overall city map, building interior maps, and perhaps a map of the region. Can anyone recommend a good program for that?

12-12-2006, 02:57 PM	#13
Naryt Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Utah, USA	Re: Map Making programs Dundjinni does a great job (with the right art) see: http://www.dundjinni.com/forums/foru...?TID=7984&PN=1 http://www.dundjinni.com/forums/foru...?TID=7627&PN=1 http://www.dundjinni.com/forums/foru...?TID=7634&PN=4 __________________ Innkeeper at the Darkwood Inn Better role playing than dragon slaying!

12-17-2006, 01:01 PM	#14
Bringa Join Date: Jul 2006	Re: Map Making programs Ludo, any links?

12-18-2006, 12:31 AM	#15
Ewan Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Hamilton, UK	Re: Map Making programs I am just about to buy in over the Christmas holidays but you might want to check out HeavyMetal Map. Though it is desined for BattleTech you could probably use it for a modern setting. http://www.heavymetalpro.com/HMMap_Features.htm

03-01-2007, 01:41 PM	#16
RalofTyr Join Date: Mar 2007	Re: Map Making programs I use RTS video game editors for my maps, then just take screenshots. Most look as good or better than Dundjinni. Here are a few I use. Caeser 3 Pharoah and Zeus Celtic Kings: Punic Wars (Great maps) Tsar demo (It's free. You can't save your maps, but you can take a screen shot of them). Hedgimount games has good editors with a lot of detail in them. Outlive and Starcraft Neverwinter Nights Stronghold, Age of Kings/Star Wars (good scenery, limited choices of buildings though) Soldiers of Anarchy In general, anything produced in Germany will have a good editor with it. The primary reason I am posting here is I have a question about Autorealm. How can I add new symbols to it? For mapping, I usually use NBOS Fractal Mapper. It's really easy to create your own symbols and in fact, you can use other symbols. All you need is a small .bmp with a mono-color background. You can also add stuff from other games and make maps of your own.

03-31-2007, 05:42 AM	#17
Ludo Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: France!	Re: Map Making programs If anyone wants to have a try on GOTA (the software I wrote about), just ask, I'll send it to you by e-mail. (Sorry that I was out for a while, I just created my own business and it took my days and nights). __________________ Ludo - One of the 87% of Dangerous Sane Frogs

01-17-2018, 01:20 PM	#18
heruca Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina	Re: Map Making programs Sorry for the thread necromancy. I've collected lots of links to map-making software here (scroll down just a bit). My own offering, MapForge is easy to learn/use, has both Mac and Windows versions, and produces gorgeous output (high-resolution for print, or low-res for use in virtual tabletop software such as Roll20, Fantasy Grounds, etc.). You can use it for free (without a license) if you only need low-resolution output. __________________ MapForge battlemap creation software for RPGs Battlegrounds: RPG Edition is virtual tabletop software that allows you to play any RPG online or offline. It's very easy to use and feature-rich.

01-17-2018, 10:15 PM	#19
edk926 Join Date: Jan 2017	Re: Map Making programs A couple of the links on your list aren't working.

01-17-2018, 10:18 PM	#20
heruca Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina	Re: Map Making programs Sorry, it needs updating, badly. I added many of those links up to a decade ago, and have only revisited them occasionally. URLs change all the time as websites are reinvented/reimplemented. Some may well have disappeared forever. __________________ MapForge battlemap creation software for RPGs Battlegrounds: RPG Edition is virtual tabletop software that allows you to play any RPG online or offline. It's very easy to use and feature-rich.