How to make maps on a computer? - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

How to make maps on a computer?

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
akiyama
Aug 13, 2007 5:41:36 Hi, this is my first post here, although I've been lurking for some time. I used to DM AD&D in the '80s and '90s, and sometimes used the Known World campaign setting. I haven't played RPGs for a while, but I still appreciate the published Mystara products (and the "amateur" stuff that has been produced since then).

Anyway, I was thinking of maybe putting some stuff on the internet. The problem is, I am a bit of a luddite when it comes to computers. I'd like to know how I could go about making maps (dungeons, towns, hex maps) on a computer. Is it very difficult? Would I need specialist software?
#2
arghis
Aug 13, 2007 20:45:55 It really depends on what you want to do. Here for instance i had easily (though it was a bit longer than expected) redraw a commerce map based on a Gazeeter map to try extending the thing => http://arghis.free.fr/d&d/serpent-peninsula.htm

There shall be programs to generate floor plans, or something similar, and perhaps for small areas.
There's also program for building hex based maps, like there's often in mystara. i don't remember the name.

After, best and easiest thing is to take some existing map and redraw it the way you want. Sketch the outline with transparent paper (don't know the name in english), scan it, you have a good basis and it's quicker to do than drawing with a mouse ...

You want to use then Photoshop, or a good image editing tool.

After that, there's SIG (tools for professional geographs), but they're complicated and not gamer friendly.

One solution would be to use a game engine, but it's a pain in the ass to get the datas out of the game ... and of course, you're limited by the game limitations which often obliges you to find tricky solution, when possible. In the next exemple, i spent a lot of times to build icebergs for instance (it was also for a game mod) or to represent the various towns ... and the overall result is nice but ...

look there to have an idea (be patient while it load) of a potential result
http://arghis.free.fr/d&d/mystara-worldmap.htm
though it look good, as soon as you want to add details, you're blocked. in this case it was Civ3, i'l ltry investigating again Civ4 soon, but i fear it's not better for our purpose.

If only classical game editors could understand that there's a (small) market for open video tools ...
#3
akiyama
Aug 15, 2007 18:51:18
There's also program for building hex based maps, like there's often in mystara. i don't remember the name.

Would that be called HexMapper? I found this (free) program yesterday. The hexes look "Mystaraish" and by flipping between Hexmapper and MS Paint I seem to able to create a decent map.

Your Civ3 Mystara map looks great, by the way!
#4
arghis
Aug 16, 2007 6:37:11 Hexmapper, possible ... i already heard that name.

I'm not sure you shall use MS Paint, it's very limited at best :-). Depends on what you need of course. A good program is Paint shop pro from Jasc. Plenty of possibility, well known, not expensive if you plan to buy it, and rather easy to use (of course if you have no experience in image editing, it will be a bit difficult at the beginning, but you can stick to basic function, and explores step by step; at the end you'll have a better result)
#5
havard
Aug 16, 2007 8:40:49 Hexmapper is relatively easy to use. I havent come to perfecting it though. I know Thorf used Adobe Illustrator to compose most of his maps once he had the hexes done. For my maps I have often used Photoshop.

It depends what kind of maps you want to make. With hexes or not?

Havard
#6
agathokles
Aug 21, 2007 11:17:47
Hexmapper, possible ... i already heard that name.

I'm not sure you shall use MS Paint, it's very limited at best :-). Depends on what you need of course. A good program is Paint shop pro from Jasc. Plenty of possibility, well known, not expensive if you plan to buy it, and rather easy to use (of course if you have no experience in image editing, it will be a bit difficult at the beginning, but you can stick to basic function, and explores step by step; at the end you'll have a better result)

I use Hexmapper for the hex-based part, and GIMP for details and lettering.
It's functional enough for my (limited, admittedly) needs and skill, and it's a low cost solution (Hexmapper is apparently in a permanent, freeware beta version, while GIMP is free software).

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 akiyama Aug 13, 2007 5:41:36	Hi, this is my first post here, although I've been lurking for some time. I used to DM AD&D in the '80s and '90s, and sometimes used the Known World campaign setting. I haven't played RPGs for a while, but I still appreciate the published Mystara products (and the "amateur" stuff that has been produced since then). Anyway, I was thinking of maybe putting some stuff on the internet. The problem is, I am a bit of a luddite when it comes to computers. I'd like to know how I could go about making maps (dungeons, towns, hex maps) on a computer. Is it very difficult? Would I need specialist software?
#2 arghis Aug 13, 2007 20:45:55	It really depends on what you want to do. Here for instance i had easily (though it was a bit longer than expected) redraw a commerce map based on a Gazeeter map to try extending the thing => http://arghis.free.fr/d&d/serpent-peninsula.htm There shall be programs to generate floor plans, or something similar, and perhaps for small areas. There's also program for building hex based maps, like there's often in mystara. i don't remember the name. After, best and easiest thing is to take some existing map and redraw it the way you want. Sketch the outline with transparent paper (don't know the name in english), scan it, you have a good basis and it's quicker to do than drawing with a mouse ... You want to use then Photoshop, or a good image editing tool. After that, there's SIG (tools for professional geographs), but they're complicated and not gamer friendly. One solution would be to use a game engine, but it's a pain in the ass to get the datas out of the game ... and of course, you're limited by the game limitations which often obliges you to find tricky solution, when possible. In the next exemple, i spent a lot of times to build icebergs for instance (it was also for a game mod) or to represent the various towns ... and the overall result is nice but ... look there to have an idea (be patient while it load) of a potential result http://arghis.free.fr/d&d/mystara-worldmap.htm though it look good, as soon as you want to add details, you're blocked. in this case it was Civ3, i'l ltry investigating again Civ4 soon, but i fear it's not better for our purpose. If only classical game editors could understand that there's a (small) market for open video tools ...
#3 akiyama Aug 15, 2007 18:51:18	There's also program for building hex based maps, like there's often in mystara. i don't remember the name. Would that be called HexMapper? I found this (free) program yesterday. The hexes look "Mystaraish" and by flipping between Hexmapper and MS Paint I seem to able to create a decent map. Your Civ3 Mystara map looks great, by the way!
#4 arghis Aug 16, 2007 6:37:11	Hexmapper, possible ... i already heard that name. I'm not sure you shall use MS Paint, it's very limited at best :-). Depends on what you need of course. A good program is Paint shop pro from Jasc. Plenty of possibility, well known, not expensive if you plan to buy it, and rather easy to use (of course if you have no experience in image editing, it will be a bit difficult at the beginning, but you can stick to basic function, and explores step by step; at the end you'll have a better result)
#5 havard Aug 16, 2007 8:40:49	Hexmapper is relatively easy to use. I havent come to perfecting it though. I know Thorf used Adobe Illustrator to compose most of his maps once he had the hexes done. For my maps I have often used Photoshop. It depends what kind of maps you want to make. With hexes or not? Havard
#6 agathokles Aug 21, 2007 11:17:47	Hexmapper, possible ... i already heard that name. I'm not sure you shall use MS Paint, it's very limited at best :-). Depends on what you need of course. A good program is Paint shop pro from Jasc. Plenty of possibility, well known, not expensive if you plan to buy it, and rather easy to use (of course if you have no experience in image editing, it will be a bit difficult at the beginning, but you can stick to basic function, and explores step by step; at the end you'll have a better result) I use Hexmapper for the hex-based part, and GIMP for details and lettering. It's functional enough for my (limited, admittedly) needs and skill, and it's a low cost solution (Hexmapper is apparently in a permanent, freeware beta version, while GIMP is free software).