{"id":20670,"date":"2020-05-12T07:00:32","date_gmt":"2020-05-12T12:00:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.d20radio.com\/main\/?p=20670"},"modified":"2020-05-12T14:05:44","modified_gmt":"2020-05-12T19:05:44","slug":"thats-how-i-roll-online-gaming-tools-part-ii-mapmaking-products","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.d20radio.com\/main\/thats-how-i-roll-online-gaming-tools-part-ii-mapmaking-products\/","title":{"rendered":"That\u2019s How I Roll \u2013 Online Gaming Tools, Part II: Mapmaking Products"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n
\n

This week, I\u2019m bringing you another installment of my \u201cOnline Gaming Tools\u201d series as we tackle mapmaking products. Maps have been a mainstay of tabletop RPGs since the hobby began, and have remained so even for online games. Of course, there\u2019s always the option of buying pre-made maps or commissioning your own, but those solutions are often unrealistic for both the time and money constraints many gamers face. Before we dive into our discussion of the mapmaking products, let\u2019s take a look at the criteria I used to make my selections:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. \n
    Must already be available to the public (nothing solely in beta or Kickstarter)<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
  2. \n
    Must have (RPG) map-specific functions (no general-purpose tools like Photoshop or GIMP)<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
  3. \n
    Must be a product with which I have hands-on experience.<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    I didn\u2019t want to review any options that weren\u2019t publicly available, because I wanted readers to be able to start mapping with any and all of these options right away. I purposefully skipped general-purpose tools, since they often require a bit more of a learning curve and\/or money in order to be used for mapmaking applications. There\u2019s no reason you can\u2019t use those tools if you wanted however \u2013 just ask GamerNation\u2019s own cartographer extraordinaire Chris West! Finally, I wanted to make sure that all of the products I talked about were ones with which I have personal experience. All the writing in this article is based on my informed evaluations and opinions of the software, not a copy-pasted paragraph from their website descriptions. However, I should also note that all screenshots and example maps are not my own, but were collected from product websites and other sources (click images for sources).<\/p>\n

    With that understanding, let\u2019s jump right in.<\/p>\n

    \n

    AutoREALM<\/a><\/h1>\n

    \"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

    Cost\/Plans:<\/strong> Free ($0)
    \nMajor Features:<\/strong> AutoCAD-style tools
    \nPros:<\/strong> Completely free and open source, Lots of tutorials and free resources
    \nCons:<\/strong> Outdated interface, Bit of a learning curve, Not a lot of built-in art options
    \nBest For:<\/strong> Gamers on a budget, Gamers with a DIY attitude, Engineers<\/p>\n

    First up on the list is AutoREALM. This mapmaking software has been around for a while, and no doubt its longevity\/popularity is in no small part due to the fact that it\u2019s one of if not the<\/em> only completely free options out there.\u00a0 Taking its cues from AutoCAD, AutoREALM uses vector-style drawing to create lines, shapes, and design patterns with ease. One of my favorite functions is the fractal line\/polygon tools, which allow you to create lines and shapes with realistic bending or ragged edges, perfect for designing features like coastlines and rivers. The interface looks like something out of Windows 95, but I guess that\u2019s the price you (don\u2019t) pay for free, open-source software.<\/p>\n

    It takes a bit of experimenting and\/or tutorial-watching to gain a full understanding and appreciation for all the various tools and functions that AutoREALM puts at your disposal. Thankfully, there are plenty of online tutorials and videos out there to help you hit the ground running. Additionally, there aren\u2019t a lot of built-in art options in AutoREALM, so you\u2019ll either have to import ones you find or purchase from the web, or draw your own. Once again, the user-base comes to the rescue with lots of free resources you can use; everything is just a web search away!<\/p>\n

    Overall, while this isn\u2019t the most attractive piece of software, it definitely gets the job done \u2013 and it\u2019s certainly hard to argue with the price-point. There\u2019s really no reason not to pick up AutoREALM, even if it doesn\u2019t end up being your primary mapmaking tool.<\/p>\n

    \n

    \"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

    [embedyt] https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=3RqZpFrBq88[\/embedyt]<\/div>\n
    \n
    \n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
    \n
    \n
    \n

    Campaign Cartographer 3+<\/a><\/h1>\n

    \"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

    Cost\/Plans:<\/strong> 50% Off Sale (One-Time Purchase of $22.45 as of 5\/6\/20), Standard (One-Time Purchase of $44.95)
    \nMajor Features:<\/strong> Vector-style drawing tools, Artwork stamps, Terrain brushes
    \nPros:<\/strong> Popular, Feature-packed, Lots of built-in artwork
    \nCons:<\/strong> Outdated interface, bit of a learning curve
    \nBest For:<\/strong> Gamers who want classic-looking maps and lots of built-in features and artwork<\/p>\n

    Campaign Cartographer 3+ (CC3+) is definitely the three-hundred pound gorilla in the room. It\u2019s one of the oldest and most popular programs out there. In many ways, CC3+ is similar to AutoREALM: it uses CAD-style vector-drawing, and its interface is outdated compared to some of the newer programs out there. Unlike AutoREALM, however, it has a lot of built-in artwork and terrain brushes \u2013 I guess you get what you pay for. The default style maps tend to remind me of classic fantasy RPG maps (except in color). There is a bit of a learning curve, but CC3+ seems to be aware of this and so bombards you with tutorials and links every time you open the program.<\/p>\n

    While I enjoyed the enhanced features and prettier maps of CC3+ compared to AutoREALM, CC3+ just hasn\u2019t seemed to age well; there are other map programs out there that are easier to use and result in prettier maps on average. The one advantage CC3+ has over the competition is its companion programs \u2013 if you want extra tools to build cities, dungeons, fractal worlds, or solar systems, ProFantasy Software (the parent company of CC3+) has something for you. Also, the program is currently 50% off (as of 5\/12\/20), so if CC3+ appeals to you then now is the time to buy it!<\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/a><\/p>\n