What can I use for making PbP battle grids?

[Gamerlord]

So, I like doing PbP, but I have trouble doing D&D ones because they require battlegrids, which I cannot figure out how to make for PbP use?

Any programs that could help?

[Ryuuk]

Probably not the best answer, but using photoshop's layers to move all the creatures on a round by round basis might makes things easier.

[Gamerlord]

Probably not the best answer, but using photoshop's layers to move all the creatures on a round by round basis might makes things easier.

I am unsure where my copy of photoshop is.

[Reynard]

Inkscape is a free vector-based graphics program. I've used it's commercial inspiration, Ai, and it works fine for maps.

[Gamerlord]

Inkscape is a free vector-based graphics program. I've used it's commercial inspiration, Ai, and it works fine for maps.

I would prefer something free.

[AugustusGloop]

I would prefer something free.

imho, http://www.rptools.net/ maptools is the be all and end all of free map tools.

It has a learning curve, but the fact that it's so versatile, and has realtime online capabilities means it can't be beaten.

[DonEsteban]

Yeah, maptool is great. Check the tutorials and make sure to add some art packs to your library. Much more convenient (though less powerful, ultimately) than standard drawing tools like GIMP or InkScape.

[mcl01]

Ye olde map maker is what I use currently. It's very simplistic, but if you want to make something quickly, albeit only a simple outline, it's very good. I haven't gotten the save features to work though. I simply screenshot the map, save it into paint, and use paint (or your preferred image-editing software) to add stuff like text and other things. It works decently well for me.

[Reynard]

I would prefer something free.

Heh, Heh. Heh.

Inkscape is a free vector-based graphics program. I've used it's commercial inspiration, Ai, and it works fine for maps.

[Gamerlord]

Heh, Heh. Heh.

Ah, I though you meant Ai, I am having trouble figuring out inkscape.

[Kaulesh]

If you're playing on GitP and you don't care for looks, you could make a table.
Example

If you've got some sort of spreadsheet program (such as OpenOffice.org Calc, since you specified free), you could use it.
Example

[Lysander]

What about a shared google docs spreadsheet, which each cell counting as a five foot square?

[Pink]

If you've got some sort of spreadsheet program (such as OpenOffice.org Calc, since you specified free), you could use it.
Example

+1

I've always used this in my games.

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