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Best Map Maker to go with Realm Works?

J

jerrycnh

Member
So I'm using the imminent release of Realm Works as an excuse to take my old game world of twelve years, which has been abused and converted through three systems and mangled by tons of history, and kick it out the window in favor of a new world. And I've decided since the Realm Works money is burning a hole in my pocket and I'm eager to start worldbuilding that I can productively use the time by doing some overland mapmaking. Trouble is, not sure which mapmaker I want to use.

Here's what I know:

I like the idea of a map that I can overlay a grid on, make each grid spot a coordinate, and then make child maps zoomed in on each coordinate to describe features. This would allow me to declare each hex (or square) to constitute one day's journey by foot, 1/3rd day's journey by mount, and give me good pacing regarding how far away any point is from any other point in the game. Hexographer seems great for that, but it has a few minor problems that are making me less satisifed, most significant being that I want something with maybe 10% more detail in it's implementation.

What are you guys using or planning on using?
 
Campaign Cartographer is good, even if it is a little bit expensive.

No idea how it'll work in with Realm Works.
 
Campaign Cartographer

Pricey, but you can create some stunning maps. Plenty of add-ons.

You can create world maps, city maps, dungeon maps, starship maps and more. Also has a support forum.

Hexographer is a Java based app that runs in the browser. It creates Hex based maps. It is free with the option to upgrade.

Dungeonographer is also a Java based app. For creating dungeons and medieval type building. Again, has the option to upgrade.
 
I use Campaign Cartographer almost exclusively. Almost all of my games are via forums these days, so I convert my maps to .jpg or .png for that. I know RW will handle both of those formats.
 
I too use Campaign Cartographer. Also, if you look on you-tube for "joe sweeney mapping" you can find some quick tutorial videos.

Note: I have no affiliation with Campaign Cartographer nor with Joe Sweeney
 
In terms of raw power and capability, Campaign Cartographer is excellent. The caveat to keep in mind is that it's not cheap - far from it - and there is a very steep learning curve involved. So adopting CC means a non-trivial investment of both money and time. If all you want is 10% more than Hexographer/Dungeonographer, you might find that CC is way more than you bargained for.

I miss Dundjinni, which struck a reasonable balance between power and complexity for my tastes. Alas, it's gone the way of the Dodo...

The suggestion above regarding the map-making community on G+ is a great one.
 
I love using Campaign Cartographer myself. Though I really need to sit down and figure out how to use it again.

There is also Astrosythisis for 3D star charts, not that I have used this alot either, but it is possible to create a star chart from an excel file so you could tinker with it and use positioning from real world or which ever made up universe it is in.
 
A while ago I rinsed an insane amount of money on Campaign Cartographer and the majority of the expansions. It is, as others have said, excellent, expensive, and tricky to master. I consider it to be well worth the price I paid, though. The only downside is that you pretty much have to use it to maintain your skills. The end result is truly amazing maps, though.
 
+1 on the power and results you can get with Campaign Cartographer.

+100 on the learning curve. As someone mentioned, regular use is necessary to maintain skills.

Another thing, ProFantasy (company that is behind CC) has some of the best Customer Service I've ever needed to use. No offense Rob and LWD.
 
Fractal Mapper By nbos software is a a decent product as well and has a campaign cartographer side grade option as well.


However if you are strapped for cash you can also try
Autorealm

Or you can do then in Gimp/paintshop pro/paint or photoshop depending on your relative level of comfort
 
weogarth said:
+1 on the power and results you can get with Campaign Cartographer.

+100 on the learning curve. As someone mentioned, regular use is necessary to maintain skills.

Another thing, ProFantasy (company that is behind CC) has some of the best Customer Service I've ever needed to use. No offense Rob and LWD.
Click to expand...

Campaign Cartographer is the software I use. It has the fractal mapping software hard coded in, and it produces some of the best maps I've ever created for campaigns. You can learn a lot from reading the manual that comes with the software, and you can get them to send you the disks by just paying the shipping fee. Their customer service is great, they're friendly and always willing to help. Just be prepared to spend a bit of money on the software, as if you want to world, city and dungeon maps, you'll be spending a pretty penny on the basic suite. My opinion, however, is that the software is worth every penny I've spent though. Been using it for little over a year now and my players absolutely love the maps I create for the campaigns I run with it. You can also get software add-ons which expand what you can do with the software. I had a copy of fractal mapper for years, and it worked ok, but I found that Campaign Cartographer is much better.
 
Mmurphy said:
I too use Campaign Cartographer. Also, if you look on you-tube for "joe sweeney mapping" you can find some quick tutorial videos.
Click to expand...

His mapping and tutorials are the dogs... er, mutts... er, the very best.

He also has a small RPG company, Storyweaver. Among other things they've produced High Space, a space opera game. (Available on Hero Lab as an add-on to Savage Worlds

Mmurphy said:
Note: I have no affiliation with Campaign Cartographer nor with Joe Sweeney
Click to expand...

A likely story... ;):D (Neither am I!) :)
 
Campaign Cartographer is awesome and expensive and requires a lot to learn it.

Photoshop is where it's at. It beats CC hands down in all categories. That means it is MORE awesome, MORE expensive and MORE time consuming, but WOW to those maps.

I tend to use CC for my overland maps and Photoshop for my indoor maps.

Dundjinni was wonderful and I miss it so much. BUT the community is still alive via forums and there are THOUSANDS and THOUSANDS of pieces (33,256 Files in 434 Folders that I have downloaded) that are available for free!

www.dundjinni.com
 
I like the simplicity of Hexographer and Dungeonographer. Campaign Cartographer can create beautiful maps, but after looking at some video tutorials for it (and the price), I decided my time and money were better spent elsewhere. Since I'm not looking to create professional-grade maps, Hexographer and Dungeonographer are adequate.
 
rob said:
In terms of raw power and capability, Campaign Cartographer is excellent. The caveat to keep in mind is that it's not cheap - far from it - and there is a very steep learning curve involved. So adopting CC means a non-trivial investment of both money and time. If all you want is 10% more than Hexographer/Dungeonographer, you might find that CC is way more than you bargained for.

I miss Dundjinni, which struck a reasonable balance between power and complexity for my tastes. Alas, it's gone the way of the Dodo...

The suggestion above regarding the map-making community on G+ is a great one.
Click to expand...

For me, I see it as a "work" expense. I've been working on publishing my own campaign setting for a few years. It is close to completion now so I needed software that was capable of creating professional looking maps. My players will gladly attest the the results from learning CC create great maps. With the right add-ons you can create maps that look as if they were designed for the Lord of the Rings novels. Which isn't a bad thing at all for a table top game. CC has the ability to do hex maps as well. Which is also a great benefit.
 
Oh, I meant to mention Gimp. I have never used it but a lot of people say it is like a free Photoshop.

Also, Photoshop has a subscription service now so you don't have to drop $600 just to get it. I think it is $20 per month and it includes all updates.
 
Yes, Gimp is a free alternative to Photoshop. There's also a "GameMaster's Fantasy Art Kit" available. This is a series of png files from which to construct maps in a tool like Gimp or Photoshop. You can check it out here .

Some of the art, especially the tokens, have been added to some VTT tools already.
 
Unless they already backtracked, a downside to Photoshop is that all of your files will be stored in their cloud, so if you stop paying that monthly fee you won't be able to access them (I'm assuming once you start paying again you'll have access restored, for at least some interval of time).
 
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