Dungeons map designer tool

[Madeiner]

Hi there.

I am i need to create a dungeon map for an adventure i'm designing.
Previously, i used Smartdraw to do this, but it took a long time to create even simple maps.
Now i am to design a bigger underground complex (a fallout vault) and i'm in need of something that is fast and easy to use.
I will put the map in maptool as we play using a client pc instead of a battlemap.
I'd like something with icons (like smartdraw), so that players can immediately see what is a in a room by looking at the map.

I was thinking of Dungeon designer, but i tried Campaign cartographer before, and i found it hard to understand and with extremely bad interface and usability.
I'd like something easier and faster to use and learn. I don't care if i have to pay for it.

Anyone got tips?

(Oh and, in case anyone knows about premade topdown maps of fallout vaults usable in PnP, i'd like to have a link!)

 

[Mark CMG]

You might take a look at -

Inkwell Ideas Dungeonographer

 

[Treebore]

Yep, Dungeonographer has been my fav for a couple of years now.

 

[Madeiner]

Thanks for the reply.

I already tried that tool before (i didnt' mention it because i didn't remember the name).
However i found it really slow and awkward to use, so i discarded it :\
The map "coloring" part was really bad. I got a few walls wrong with that tool, and changing the walls around took a lot of effort.

 

[Mark CMG]

Have you checked out this? -

NBOS Software Home Page

 

[Alan Shutko]

A great place to look for mapping tips, including software recommendations, tutorials, and more is the Cartographer's Guild. There are a bunch of people using different tools out there.

Sadly, Dundjinni has died, since many folks really liked that program.

 

[Treebore]

Thanks for the reply.

I already tried that tool before (i didnt' mention it because i didn't remember the name).
However i found it really slow and awkward to use, so i discarded it :
The map "coloring" part was really bad. I got a few walls wrong with that tool, and changing the walls around took a lot of effort.

Maybe its because I have grown so familiar with the program, but how recently did you try it? The programmer does pretty frequent updates so if you last tried it months ago he may have fixed the issues you have had. I have never found it slow, except probably when I was first figuring out how to use it. I rarely use the coloring because I prefer plain and as simple as possible maps, so can't really say anything about that feature.

 

[Madeiner]

Maybe its because I have grown so familiar with the program, but how recently did you try it? The programmer does pretty frequent updates so if you last tried it months ago he may have fixed the issues you have had. I have never found it slow, except probably when I was first figuring out how to use it. I rarely use the coloring because I prefer plain and as simple as possible maps, so can't really say anything about that feature.

It must have been about 3-4 months ago.
I dont remember exactly what was the problem, only that it took very long to modify a room that i'd previously made.
However, i will try again with that software and see how it goes.

 

[InkwellIdeas]

It must have been about 3-4 months ago.
I dont remember exactly what was the problem, only that it took very long to modify a room that i'd previously made.
However, i will try again with that software and see how it goes.

There was a bug (in Java itself, I can't claim responsibility for *this* one) where it would redraw all "map items" (doors, chairs, stairs, etc--everything but walls and floor tiles) even when I tried to make sure it would only redraw what was needed.

The "bug" was internal to Java itself, and only affected Windows. (At the time I was testing primarily on a Mac--I do 80% on a mac, 20% on a PC, and it goes in cycles.) Anyway, I changed the way I draw things to avoid using the bad/slow internal Java code.

If you've got other feedback please do post/email/pm it.

And thanks for the recommendations!

P.S. And for those of you who have use the tool for a while, in the past month we've added:
-Shift to classic blue when exporting/printing a line art map, just by checking a box.
-Change to an isometric map view also when exporting/printing a line art map by checking another box.
-A built in random dungeon generator, which will get even better in the weeks/months to come.

 

[Treebore]

A great place to look for mapping tips, including software recommendations, tutorials, and more is the Cartographer's Guild. There are a bunch of people using different tools out there.

Sadly, Dundjinni has died, since many folks really liked that program.

That is such an awesome site EVERY GM should have it bookmarked and look at it regularly! I have found dozens of fantastic maps on that site!