So what's the best computer program to make your own RPG maps? Ideally, one that doesn't actually cost money...

RPGPundit

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Whatever free scanning software comes with your scanner. Hand-drawn maps are still king.
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Honestly, besides Hexmapper, I've never gotten good enough with any mapping software to make a map that looks better than my hand-drawn ones.

Woof, a tough order there.

If you're willing to go the Bit-torrent route, it's all free-but assuming you're much more honest than that, and me (Before I paid Dundjinni) there are a lot of equally, and in my opinion mediocre, options:

First a list from this site, which seems to cover several of the pay programs.

The Decent

Dungeons Unlimited-free maps made in Dundjini, I know not perfect-but hey it's free!

The Random Dungeon generator-ugly, but free.

Dungeon Mapper

Gozzy's Random Dungeon Generator-like the one above, only apparently Gozzy made it.


The Ugly

Map Maker-technically free for thirty days, then it asks for the cash.

Tavern Maker-it makes just that, Taverns.

RPG Assistant I couldn't make this one work, but I hear it's okay.

I never tried this one

As you can see I checked a few things out before buying Dundjinni, and these are just the ones I remembered to bookmark.

And while I agree with the demonic doggie, I have to say some of my best maps came from Microsoft paint.

http://www.inkscape.org/

plus

http://www.gimp.org/

I use CorelDRAW to draw my maps. Inkscape has nearly all the tools I use. Plus it has advantages of how it handles alpha fills (transparent colors).

Gimp is more difficult than Photoshop but just as powerful and it is free. With those two you are able to do any type of map.

Dedicated fantasy mapping programs trade ease of use for flexibility.

The biggest secret to using a vector drawing package is layering. Organizing your maps into effective layers makes the job a heck of lot easer. The map I posted has the following layers from top to bottom

Key
Settlement
Road
Terrain
Hex Numbers
Hexes
Vegetation

The tool you will be using the most in Inkscape is the Bezier draw tool. It goes like this

Click
Click and pull
Click and pull
Click and pull
....
If you want to close up the path then you click on the first point you created to close it. Afterwards you can fill it.

The Click and pull curves the line and allow you to draw the intricate coastlines and the twisting roads.




Enjoy
Rob Conley

AutoREALM is the best I've found.  I'd go so far as to say it's better than any of the commercial mapmakers I've tried.

My only annoyance with it at the moment is just that it lacks one single feature: numbered hex grids.  Otherwise, it's all good.

I really like Hexmapper, but aside from that, for me, its usually MS Paint or freehand.  the only other map program I've really grokked was Fractal Mapper, which was totally worth it, cost-wise for me (that's what I did my last big homebrew map on), but that's a pay program.  So, basically, I'm of no damned use.

Something like this...Photoshop and a WACOM tablet


This...Fractal Terrain Pro and PS...


And this would be CC3 and PS....


Bill

I have no idea what any of those things are, Bill.. care to explain the terms you're using?

That goes for everyone else, as well.

BTW, I'm thinking more for terrain maps, though dungeon maps are certainly a plus, too.

RPGPundit

AutoREALM:  http://autorealm.sourceforge.net/index.php

Inkscape and gimp are very cool.

Trouble I have with Inkscape though is multiple pages. I want to draw a large map that prints on multiple pages of output. If someone groked that I'd be grateful if they shared.

I use Dia quite a lot. but it doesn't support printing of the grid or hex, nor can it fill with it. And using a font hex or grid is craps with Dia because it assumes you want a double spaced text field.... I've been looking at Dia source to add a fill to objects that can have hexes or grids in them.

Eventually I ended up using AutoRealm... which is a little flakey. I mean I have never lost any drawings in AutoRealm, it just seems to be the hard way to draw. Oh, it currently is windows only.

Quote from: RPGPunditI have no idea what any of those things are, Bill.. care to explain the terms you're using?

That goes for everyone else, as well.

BTW, I'm thinking more for terrain maps, though dungeon maps are certainly a plus, too.

RPGPundit

Adobe Photoshop is a graphic design package put out by Adobe. It is expensive but does everything and then some. It is not a mapping program so much as a way to manipulate maps. Runs about $650 new but you can get an older version off e-bay for much less.

Campaign Cartographer 2 or 3 is a modified CAD program set up to do dungeons, city maps, overland maps and the like. It has a formidable learning curve and requires a sizable investment in time and money. The neat thing is you can buy what you need and ignore the rest. I have the full package and have been using it for years. CC3 is 44.95 with the add ons running about 39.95.

Fractal Terrains Pro is a fractal world generator useful (imo) for sci-fi campaigns or if you will be making a lot of worlds. it runs about 39.95 from Profantasy also.

Bill

Quote from: estarI use CorelDRAW to draw my maps. Inkscape has nearly all the tools I use. Plus it has advantages of how it handles alpha fills (transparent colors).

The biggest secret to using a vector drawing package is layering. Organizing your maps into effective layers makes the job a heck of lot easer. The map I posted has the following layers from top to bottom

Key
Settlement
Road
Terrain
Hex Numbers
Hexes
Vegetation
....

We use CorelDraw, as well, with basically the same layering pattern.  One key is to make a huge amount of template items and place them around on the outside of the actual map space.  Copy, size, twist, pick two and meld them, you get a lot of variety from just a few basics.

Of course, it does cost money.

Quote from: ReimdallWe use CorelDraw, as well, with basically the same layering pattern.  One key is to make a huge amount of template items and place them around on the outside of the actual map space.  Copy, size, twist, pick two and meld them, you get a lot of variety from just a few basics.

Of course, it does cost money.

I use symbols myself for 22" x 17' maps the sheer number requires me keep memory space down.

Pundy, what you're looking for doesn't exist. I know because I'm looking for it all the time.

Gimp et al. is for people who are willing to invest a LOT of time into learning the ropes of the program. Do you want just to drive the car, or tune up the engine? If the latter, get Gimp.

CC3 is far too expensive, its CAD origin makes it totally unintuitive for regular users (every button does the opposite of what you think it does), and the results look extremely mediocre... unless, see above, you're willing to spend hours and hours exploring its potential by trial & error, reading manuals and mapping forums, surfing the web, whatever.

AutoRealm looks like ass.

In a way, HexMapper is by far the best of the lot. It's a primitive hex-by-hex program that's best for large-scale overland maps a la that huge Greyhawk map back in the day. Old-schoolesque visuals, any given map will take you like 15 minutes or less.