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big teej
2010-06-12, 04:40 PM
Okay, I'm running a buddy of mine in a solo campaign, and I'm using his campaign to build my world (something I've wanted to do since I first DM'd) and I'd like for it to maintain continuity, so essentially what I am doing is starting the world where his campaign started (a temple up in the mountians) and i'm expanding from there as he explores.

however, I have run into a slight problem, which is slowly but surely driving me insane.....:smallfurious:

making a map. all I have to work with is MS paint, and while paint is useful for certain things. map making it is not.


soooooo

IS there a mapmaker program out there that makes maps that can be customized, labeled, and expanded/changed as needed? if so, is it free? where can i find it?
would i be better off having one of my artsy buddies making me a map everytime i need one?

HELP!!!

thanks in advance for the ensuing brilliance

Calmar
2010-06-12, 04:43 PM
The people of the Cartographer's Guild (http://forum.cartographersguild.com/index.php) might be sure able to help you.

But have you tried to simply... draw the map on paper? I'm doing it that way all the time and am quite happy with the outcome.

Hawriel
2010-06-12, 04:51 PM
RP tools has a number of gaming programs for free. The best of witch is maptool. Its primarely used for online P&P style gaming. It's also very easy to use. Drag and drop size as you need. simpling drawing tools. And a grid that has a snap to grid drawing.

The token program is nice to. drop any pic in the token editor size and presto.

You can change maps on the fly or add tokens as needed.

Online is it's primary use however it also works great on networked lab tops.

http://rptools.net/

Oh and if you ever want a dice roller. Crystal ball light kicks ass. Not only can you make your own macros, it has a messenger that can send private messages to players.

http://www.crystalballsoft.com/content/blogcategory/20/48/

big teej
2010-06-12, 08:19 PM
The people of the Cartographer's Guild (http://forum.cartographersguild.com/index.php) might be sure able to help you.

But have you tried to simply... draw the map on paper? I'm doing it that way all the time and am quite happy with the outcome.


I have not, mostly due to my complete inability to draw a straight line, otherwise yes indeed i would be willing to put forth the effort to make my own maps.

and thankyou for the link, my friend actually put me onto that sight... (at least i think it was the same one) an hour or so ago, and i plan to check it out monday. (busy writing a backstory for my ogre ranger at the moment)



RP tools has a number of gaming programs for free. The best of witch is maptool. Its primarely used for online P&P style gaming. It's also very easy to use. Drag and drop size as you need. simpling drawing tools. And a grid that has a snap to grid drawing.

The token program is nice to. drop any pic in the token editor size and presto.

You can change maps on the fly or add tokens as needed.

Online is it's primary use however it also works great on networked lab tops.

http://rptools.net/

Oh and if you ever want a dice roller. Crystal ball light kicks ass. Not only can you make your own macros, it has a messenger that can send private messages to players.

http://www.crystalballsoft.com/content/blogcategory/20/48/

don't use online dice rollers, they hate me.

but i will most certainly look into this site as well, thankyou both.

DonEsteban
2010-06-12, 08:34 PM
Maptool is great for tactical maps, but not for world/traveling maps.

I've heard good things about Autorealm (http://autorealm.sourceforge.net/show.php), though not tried it extensively myself.

If you decide to use a standard drawing tool, try something decent like Gimp (http://www.gimp.org/) or Inkscape (http://www.inkscape.org/) instead of M$ Paint.