Dungeon mapping software?

[AttilaTheGeek]

I'm going to be the more combat-focused half of a new co-GM team running our own campaign, and I was wondering what software people use to make dungeons. Hopefully there's something better than Excel with square cells?

[Windy]

You could always check out the dungeon module for Campaign Cartographer.

http://www.profantasy.com/products/dd3.asp

Catch: you have to buy the base Campaign Cartographer software, and then buy Dungeon Designer. I own CC and it's good, solid software that I have used in multiple campaigns. I'm fine with paying for it, but you might not have the same disposable income.

On the "free" side, there are numerous printable sets of dungeon tiles. I printed pieces from this set as needed and mounted them on foamcore board:

http://www.dungeoneering.net/stone-k...cracked-tiles/

That site has multiple sets if you look around a few of the pages. You can find others via Google pretty easily.

[Frathe]

Don't know if this is the kind of thing you're looking for, but this site lets you enter information and then generates random dungeons for you. I haven't actually tried out anything it's produced; from what I understand you may have to tweak the descriptions.

[Rhynn]

Don't know if this is the kind of thing you're looking for, but this site lets you enter information and then generates random dungeons for you. I haven't actually tried out anything it's produced; from what I understand you may have to tweak the descriptions.

Donjon's generator is AWESOME for cavern maps. Forget the descriptions etc., just get a map from it, choose a visual style you like, and key it yourself. The constructed dungeons are a bit too random, though.

I, too, would love a tip on a program that lets me draw my own crude dungeon maps more easily than freaking Paint. Nothing complicated, just lines on a grid, but something less work-intensive...

[AttilaTheGeek]

Donjon's generator is AWESOME for cavern maps. Forget the descriptions etc., just get a map from it, choose a visual style you like, and key it yourself. The constructed dungeons are a bit too random, though.

I, too, would love a tip on a program that lets me draw my own crude dungeon maps more easily than freaking Paint. Nothing complicated, just lines on a grid, but something less work-intensive...

What do you mean by "a bit too random"?

Edit: Aah. Yeah. I see what you mean.

[HC Rainbow]

I use Donjon for random dungeons that I really dont feel like drawing up, or just use graph paper. I know theres a tool out there that literally just makes blocks so you can build a dungeon with that, I'll look and see if I can find the link again, I tossed it because it was too simple for my taste and was stale.

[Rhynn]

What do you mean by "a bit too random"?

Edit: Aah. Yeah. I see what you mean.

Yeah. Very random, both description and floorplan - they don't look like something someone designed. You can absolutely use them in a pinch, and I do think I may use some of the dungeon maps (re-keyed) for dungeons that have magical or insane (or insane magic) origins... there is a bit of resemblance to the Undermountain maps, for instance, where most levels were not carved out for any sane purpose.

There's zMapper (actually meant for creating maps for MUDs I think?), but I'm not too thrilled with it after getting it - it's a bit clumsy to use (you have to fiddle with settings a lot). I'd love something that just helps me draw rectangles and circles more than Paint does, hopefully snapping them to a grid. HC Rainbow may have been thinking of this one?

[lord of pixies]

anyone know a good Shareable mapping system to use on Play by Posts?

[AttilaTheGeek]

I use a google drive spreadsheet. Set all the squares to 40 by 40 pixels, and then share it so that anyone with the link can edit, no sign-in required. It works great for internet games, but I'm looking for something that'll work better for RL games.

[Frathe]

Hey! Look what my Google-fu has found.

[Jack of Spades]

I use a google drive spreadsheet. Set all the squares to 40 by 40 pixels, and then share it so that anyone with the link can edit, no sign-in required. It works great for internet games, but I'm looking for something that'll work better for RL games.

Is there a reason you can't go the graph paper and pencil route, with a good play-mat and a projector marker?

Yeah. Very random, both description and floorplan - they don't look like something someone designed. You can absolutely use them in a pinch, and I do think I may use some of the dungeon maps (re-keyed) for dungeons that have magical or insane (or insane magic) origins... there is a bit of resemblance to the Undermountain maps, for instance, where most levels were not carved out for any sane purpose.

The "Cavernous" layout does a decent job of looking somewhat natural, as long as you don't know anything about geology (or are willing to ignore what you do know, like me)

Of course, drop any descriptions and just use the maps. It just suggested wandering rats who are looking for eldritch power.

[Rhynn]

Of course, drop any descriptions and just use the maps. It just suggested wandering rats who are looking for eldritch power.

Hey, now, that sort of random-table-insanity can be spun into awesome things.

What kind of rats would be looking for eldritch power? Why are they looking for it? Where do they come from!?

[TypoNinja]

Did some looking around recently for trying to map a custom stronghold, came up with two nice free options.

http://www.yeoldemapmaker.com/ is pure awesome in my opinion, its only drawback is limited map size. Great for generating the map an individual battle might take place on, not good for the whole dungeon. I'd cheerfully pay for a version that had uncapped map size.

My final choice for free software was Tiled http://www.mapeditor.org/ You need to give it image inputs to generate the tiles from but those are easy enough to scare up with a quick google image search.

The controls/interface on it could be better in my opinion, but its got two big things going for it, its free, and the map size is unlimited. Or at least big enough that exceeding it would defy sanity.

[Rhynn]

Those both look great to me! I specifically want the old black-and-white (or blue-and-white), straight lines, square grid, etc. look and feel for my maps. (And hexes for wilderness, which is why I have Hexographer). Gonna familiarize myself with both Ye Olde Map Maker and Tiled Map Editor today.

Also, old school maps means 10-foot squares, so I can fit more on a small map...

[evildmguy]

Besides ProFantasy's mapping program, CC3, as was mentioned, there is also nbos' fractal mapper. It doesn't have the power of CC3 but it also doesn't have the learning curve. You can make some good dungeon maps pretty quickly.

But, again, this depends on your disposable income available.

edg

[darkelf]

What kind of rats would be looking for eldritch power? Why are they looking for it? Where do they come from!?

the rats of NIMH!

[darkelf]

I'm going to be the more combat-focused half of a new co-GM team running our own campaign, and I was wondering what software people use to make dungeons. Hopefully there's something better than Excel with square cells?

for designing dungeons, i'll either use pen and paper or http://www.dungeonographer.com/ (free and pro versions available)

[AttilaTheGeek]

I think I'm going to use YeOldeMapMaker, at least until I need something bigger, because it's just so easy. I can have an idea, make it up, toss it back and forth with the other co-GM, and have it printed out and ready to play in the time it would take me to familiarize myself with a more powerful program.

[Rhynn]

for designing dungeons, i'll either use pen and paper or http://www.dungeonographer.com/ (free and pro versions available)

How did I not know about Dungeonographer?! I already love Hexographer. This is perfect - practically all I wanted/needed was snap-to-grid lines and some icons (like doors and secret doors).

[TypoNinja]

I think I'm going to use YeOldeMapMaker, at least until I need something bigger, because it's just so easy.

I know, so many mapping tools introduce so many features that are unneeded, complex interfaces, or completely unintuitive. Just gimme a grid, and gimme walls that will snap to the grid!

If they ever release a premium version that uncaps map size I'm gonna be all over that.

[AttilaTheGeek]

If they ever release a premium version that uncaps map size I'm gonna be all over that.

Or unlimited objects that snap to a grid. I'd pay for that.

[Othesemo]

I've found donjon to be most useful for basic dungeon crawls, but I doubt that any (free) software will give you something as good as a dungeon you made yourself.

[Rhynn]

I've found donjon to be most useful for basic dungeon crawls, but I doubt that any (free) software will give you something as good as a dungeon you made yourself.

You realize that Donjon is the only generator mentioned here, right? All of the rest are programs for drawing maps...

[Othesemo]

You realize that Donjon is the only generator mentioned here, right? All of the rest are programs for drawing maps...

Ah, whoops. Sorry.