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Dysart
2015-01-30, 06:20 PM
I'm currently building my own campaign (not for the first time) and I am for once wanting to make it an indepth one with maps and appropriate print outs.

My problem is that I don't have an artistic bone in my body and usually have to rely on stolen/borrowed images from existing maps or hand outs.

Does anyone have any tools, websites or applications they use for building maps for online games like roll20 and the like? Or even for their in person games.

The game is being written for Pathfinder, but I'd be able to adapt it from any similar DnD/Medieval like setting.

Totema
2015-01-31, 05:52 AM
For tactical maps, drawing them in GIMP is pretty simple. Set up a grid (with whatever parameters work for you) and just use the ink tool over it. If you want to get a little fancier, put up multiple layers for the walls and floor and fill them with patterns.

For geographic maps you can also use GIMP but it's a fair bit more complicated. There's a ton of good tutorials on Cartographers' Guild that can help. I really recommend that site for anything about drawing maps.

Altair_the_Vexed
2015-01-31, 12:48 PM
http://the-science-mom.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/graph-paper-and-pencil.jpg

Frozen_Feet
2015-01-31, 01:11 PM
What Altair said.

I've tried everything from HexMapper to AutoRealm to copying and pasting ready-made map symbols in MS Paint, and I still always return to using pen and paper. I don't think that will change unless I get a good keyboard-controlled industrial CAD program or a drawing tablet.

If you absolutely need your maps digitized and don't have scanner, you can photograph them after drawing. In this day and age, your phone probably has good enough camera to do it.

You don't need much artistic skill to make a map. The purpose of a map is not to look good, it's to convey information, and if you're the GM, the only who needs to be able to read it is you. Players can bloody well draw their own maps. If you put "D&D map symbols" into a Google image search, you will get several keys which have been user tested for, oh, about 30 years by now, and which are easy to draw by hand even if you've never done it before.

In case you're just lazy and just wanting to use for a quick adventure, this tool (http://donjon.bin.sh/d20/dungeon/index.cgi) can make you a simple grid-map dungeon.

Togath
2015-02-01, 04:50 AM
RPG maker is also surprisingly good for maps.
It can be expensive if bought at full price, but it often has sales.

some examples(which I used recently);
http://i.imgur.com/nybiQaB.png

http://i.imgur.com/066jm4I.png

http://i.imgur.com/tQ7Fk3F.png

http://i.imgur.com/3qZ3O11.png

http://i.imgur.com/vUBDUQK.png

http://i.imgur.com/cKSBGcS.png

all of them just with the basic tiles, rather than any custom ones.:smallsmile:

TheOldCrow
2015-02-01, 11:04 AM
Hexographer seems good for outdoor hex-based maps. It has a free version which I've been trying to figure out. It seems pretty simple, and you can change the background color of the terrain hexes, which is great because I prefer B&W maps for looks and ink conservation when printing stuff out.

INoKnowNames
2015-02-01, 12:31 PM
Posting to say Holy Hell, RPG Maker looks awesome. Consider me sold.... as soon as another Steam Sale starts. ;)

Togath
2015-02-01, 03:42 PM
It's also available at a discount on humble bundle oddly often.

Dysart
2015-02-01, 05:05 PM
RPG maker is also surprisingly good for maps.
It can be expensive if bought at full price, but it often has sales.

some examples(which I used recently);
http://i.imgur.com/nybiQaB.png

http://i.imgur.com/066jm4I.png

http://i.imgur.com/tQ7Fk3F.png

http://i.imgur.com/3qZ3O11.png

http://i.imgur.com/vUBDUQK.png

http://i.imgur.com/cKSBGcS.png

all of them just with the basic tiles, rather than any custom ones.:smallsmile:


Wow those are awesome, good plan I'll keep an eye out for it!

Togath
2015-02-01, 05:40 PM
I'm not sure if you can directly port the maps, as I usually just take a screenshot and crop down the image to just the map.
If you're willing to build maps in 20x20(or whatever size your screen can show all at once) chunks it's good though.

Calen
2015-02-01, 05:58 PM
If you are going to be playing in Roll20 you can frequently build battle maps from the free resources in their library.

As for world maps you can usually get away with some shakily drawn lines to represent the landmasses and some dots for cities.