TFT Map Maker

[Shadekeep]

Whew, you all are giving me a lot to work on, but it's good stuff and hopefully will improve the tool for everyone. I'll address the latest items here.

Originally Posted by CON_Troll

Request: Is it possible to get custom levels of zoom rather than just the stepped ones?

Yes, I've added several additional zoom levels now. They aren't strict double/half steps now, but more graduated.

Originally Posted by Anaraxes

Perhaps an ambitious feature, but I found myself wishing for a line drawn with the partial-hex options (like Flat Half or Point Half).

My frustration with that is what led me to add the Skip Line, but yes, I think I can actually implement a Smart Line that will use the current Component to alternate the hexes for you.

One change I've made to the Line function now is that it locks to pure horizontal/vertical/diagonal lines. This should bypass the wonky angled line rendering of previous versions.

Originally Posted by Anaraxes

A related observation: the new rotate/flip tools for the partial hexes save a lot of menu space. But you can't see their effect -- in fact, they apparently do nothing -- until you move the cursor back over the hex map proper. Perhaps the cursor should keep its partial-hex shape even over the menus, so you could see it rotate around as you click those buttons?

I can't easily retain the hex shape on the cursor outside of drawing canvas, but I've added a Preview next to the Rotate/Flip tools, so that you can see what the current drawing brush looks like.

Originally Posted by larsdangly

I'm not sure where you are headed next with this project, but if you pm me the relevant contact info I would be happy to send you a set of hex-based icons I developed for creating TFT maps of various scales, from tactical (1.5 m per hex) to regional (multiple km per hex).

Very kind of you to offer! However, everything on the canvas is a polygon draw, not a bitmap, so I am creating simple polygon symbology to use with the maps. I will be trying to reference the mapping standards in creating those, but they will be simpler than what one can do with pixels or pen-and-ink. The plus side is that they will scale cleanly, at least.

Originally Posted by larsdangly

I don't think it is 'fixable', so this is just a sort of loose end of the whole hex/megahex system.

Yes, it looks like it will be a challenge applying drawings consistently across these kind of transformations. That's why I'm focusing on one-hex scale mapping at the moment. It's the most fine-grained, and thus gives me a working baseline.

Originally Posted by WhiskeyVictor

EDIT: Being able to make Traveller (8-column, 10-row) star charts with this would augment its utility for other gamers. Only a few symbols would be required (arid world, water world, gas giant, naval base, etc.)

Shouldn't be a problem to implement that down the line. I do plan to get the ability to specify the grid size in there fairly soon.

Originally Posted by Steve Jackson

Shadekeep - I'd like to give you an advance look at an actual TFT labyrinth map. Your app looks like it's only a few short steps from being able to generate maps that look just like ours, and those steps could go faster if you knew what ours looked like. Contact info? sj@sjgames.com

Sounds good, email sent.

Please check out the latest changes and see what you think. I slightly rearranged the tools again, moving Rectangle/Area to the fore and then grouping the Line tools after. The Preview tool is not meant to be clickable, it just displays the current painting brush. I am working on the Load Map and Smart Line functionality next.