Fractal Mapper, Best Mapping Solution So Far

I see the "mapping software" threads pop up every once in a while, so I figured I'd add my experience to the mix.

I'm currently working on The Book Of War, a d20 Mass Combat/Realm Management solution from Eden Studios. Playtesting ground to a halt because the Realm Management test files had no 'example' realm. So I started looking around for an easy way to make a nice map for the playtesters.

These were my requirements; I needed a program that would quickly and easily let me lay a hex grid over a colored background and start adding names and symbols to the grid.

I ran into several problems with many different solutions. I should detail them all here, but I tried so many different solutions, I can't remember which ones presented which problems. Often, it was difficult for me to say "the map is 1000 miles across, each hex is 24 miles. Sometimes I couldn't add text, HexMapper didn't let me draw boarders.

I tried Autorealm, HexMapper, and Campaign Cartographer 2 Pro. In fact, I bought CC2Pro, DD2, and CD2. CC2 Pro *is* very powerful, and I don't regret the $150 I spent on it and its add ons. I'm sure someday I'll sit down and spend a week and figure it all out.

However, I spent about 20 minutes playing with the free trial for Fractal Mapper and then dropped the $34 for it and am very happy. So far, it's the best solution. It was very easy for me to make a dun-colored background over a blank map of the right size (measured in miles) then drop a hex grid of the right scale on top of it, then start adding text, symbols, and boarders. It's easy to move these around and resize them, though I haven't figured out how to make text that curves with a line or change text color. I believe both of these are possible.

It's easy, fast, and above-all, intuitive. It's still a cad-like program, and really does feel like a really simple version of CC2 Pro, but that's all I wanted really. My playtesters should have a nice looking map this weekend.

Agreed. This is a great program.

Hmm...
Does Fractal Mapper make random maps (based on fractels)?

My current favorite would be Fractal Terrains for making quick detailed Maps. Just enter your preffered settings, make a test rendering, when you have found your perfect Map, just render it in pieces and at insanely high resolutions. Load the part you like in Photoshop and add a couple of layers for text and symbols (also borders etc.), if you want a hex grid you just add a layer with a Hex grid.

Cergorach said:

Hmm...
Does Fractal Mapper make random maps (based on fractels)?

My current favorite would be Fractal Terrains for making quick detailed Maps. Just enter your preffered settings, make a test rendering, when you have found your perfect Map, just render it in pieces and at insanely high resolutions. Load the part you like in Photoshop and add a couple of layers for text and symbols (also borders etc.), if you want a hex grid you just add a layer with a Hex grid.

Click to expand...

Yes it does, you can view them in 2D or 3D...I will post a couple examples to show you what I mean....

Here it is showing the 3D view...I just selected New Random Terrain and it asked me what size and that was it....you can export this into many differant formats including VRML. I could import this into FM and add anything I wanted symbols... text.. rivers etc

here is 2D with contours

and here is the Globe view that you can have rotate on an axis and things like that

Kewl! Looks excellent, anyboddy have both apps and maybe give a comparison? Pros and Cons...

FM6

Something that no one has yet mentioned and I've found extremely useful is the scripting ability of FM6.

Using the API that comes with the mapper it is possible to write scripts to randomly generate certain aspects of maps and to attach notes to those items.

For example I have a script that generates a random village based on the population and lists the business that are there.

The jpg (which hopefully has been attached) shows an example output from this script. The river, road and bridge were entered manually first.

Great stuff!

I too invested a gazillion dollars in all the Campaign Cartographer stuff, and quickly realized that I just don't have the patience to learn how to use it quickly, its like learning to use all the ins and outs of photoshop.

I just downloaded the Fractal Mapper demo. Good stuff! Very quick and easy. I think I might have to get it.