Hi, I'm looking for a program that allows a Ref to manually place a system on a subsector hex map.
Is there anything like that out there?
Is there anything like that out there?
Mapping software
- Thread starter Blue Ghost
- Start date
Campaign Cartographer with Cosmographer.
Includes all the standard symbology, even, and looks just like a standard map.
Mikazoid's stuff automates it from a sector list; update the list in your text editor, generate a new PDF.
Rob Prior's old mac software (Mac OS 7.5-9.2 ONLY; won't even run right under Rosetta) did so, as well.
Jim V's Galactic can, if you can cope with an OLD MS-DOS app.
Includes all the standard symbology, even, and looks just like a standard map.
Mikazoid's stuff automates it from a sector list; update the list in your text editor, generate a new PDF.
Rob Prior's old mac software (Mac OS 7.5-9.2 ONLY; won't even run right under Rosetta) did so, as well.
Jim V's Galactic can, if you can cope with an OLD MS-DOS app.
I actually have H&E, but it's for generating worlds and systems. It's not really a mapping program as such.
Space Hamster
SOC-12
Campaign Cartographer is an excellent piece of software. There is a very steep learning curve. I think they have a trial for the software that I would recommend trying before buying. You would want to plan this over a weekend to go through the tutorials to see if you would want to do this.
Right now you could only use CC2 Pro and Cosmographer for the sector maps. You would want to make sure you can use CC2 Pro when you buy CC3 as CC3 is the only version available for sale. They have not updated Cosmographer or Fractal Terrains yet. They are close (don’t hold your breath) to finishing the update to Cosmographer. If you get Fractal Terrains you can output random world terrain maps split up in triangles (forgot what these maps are called) that can be merged in the Cosmographer template. They look good. The site is here.
http://www.profantasy.com/
Edit - Extra info if you try this out. http://forum.profantasy.com/comments.php?DiscussionID=1707&page=1#Item_0
Right now you could only use CC2 Pro and Cosmographer for the sector maps. You would want to make sure you can use CC2 Pro when you buy CC3 as CC3 is the only version available for sale. They have not updated Cosmographer or Fractal Terrains yet. They are close (don’t hold your breath) to finishing the update to Cosmographer. If you get Fractal Terrains you can output random world terrain maps split up in triangles (forgot what these maps are called) that can be merged in the Cosmographer template. They look good. The site is here.
http://www.profantasy.com/
Edit - Extra info if you try this out. http://forum.profantasy.com/comments.php?DiscussionID=1707&page=1#Item_0
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Interesting. I saw that. I also tried some of the other free bees on the net wit mixed results. I tried looking at one of the sectors provided here, and am thinking I should come up with my own format rather than trying to duplicate the "official" form that we've all gown to love over the last 30 years.
In which case, CC3 will do you just fine. Set up a hex-grid, and fill it in as you see fit.
You'll need to get or make your symbol sets for worlds, but it's an excellent, if CAD-style, program.
Grrr... isn't there a freebee on the net that does everything I want it to? Arghh!. Man, I really don't want to spend the money on a piece of software that I'll use maybe once... bleh.
Icosahedron
SOC-14 1K
BG, try Hexographer:
http://www.hexographer.com/
It may or may not be what you're after.
I recall being interested in it last year, but there were some wrinkles the designer was working out and I never got back to it.
If you try it, let me know what you think.
PS. And you sure as hell won't want to use CC as a one-off - you'll spend a hundred times longer figuring out how to use it than actually making your maps.
http://www.hexographer.com/
It may or may not be what you're after.
I recall being interested in it last year, but there were some wrinkles the designer was working out and I never got back to it.
If you try it, let me know what you think.
PS. And you sure as hell won't want to use CC as a one-off - you'll spend a hundred times longer figuring out how to use it than actually making your maps.
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I'm curious what other Traveller authors use to create their subsector maps. I'm still hopeful I can create an LBB-ish format adventure with official looking maps and what not, but the mapping software used escapes me.
In the meantime I'll give Hexographer a whirl.
In the meantime I'll give Hexographer a whirl.
Okay, I just tried Hexographer, and my verdict is that it's a neat little program for the individual creating a campaign for his friends and/or gaming group. But I'm looking something for publication.
I guess I need to whip out my old CAD software, and put those drafting skills I learned in junior college to use.
Crud.
I guess I need to whip out my old CAD software, and put those drafting skills I learned in junior college to use.
Crud.
New question; has anybody used Campaign Cartographer 3 from these folks?
http://www.profantasy.com/products/cc3.asp
Again, I'm looking to publish some Traveller goodness here, and any input and/or experience would be appreciated.
http://www.profantasy.com/products/cc3.asp
Again, I'm looking to publish some Traveller goodness here, and any input and/or experience would be appreciated.
Yes. It's a very CAD-familiar interface. If you took a CAD/CAM class, you'll be right at home, as the core is a CAD program. CC3 is a better interface than CC2.
Key features of CC2 and CC3 for the kind of maps you're doing:
1) Hexagonal grid support with
1.1) snap to center of hex
1.2) snap to center of edge
1.3) snap to vertices
2) symbol system with
2.1) customizable symbol sets
2.2) relatively straightforward symbol creation
2.3) ability to easily use and create varicolor symbols
2.4) ability to use and create chaining symbols
3) CAD/CAM style interface
4) multiple export options
5) Layers and sheets support - makes doing GM versions a snap!
The CC2 cosmographer has templates for the standard traveller maps (subsector, sector, world), and symbol sets for the standard traveller symbols (including bases). Those templates work fine in CC3, but can't be installed into a CC3 installation. A CC3 license, however, might still allow installing CC2, in which case, you then manually copy the templates from CC2 into your cc3 templates folder.
You can also easily build your own symbol sets for CC3 (and there are EXCELLENT tutorials in the user support areas on the profantasy website). You can even set them up to use textures so you can make each world a different design, or even use PNG's of individual worlds; I've not played with that aspect much, so it's not as much use to me.
You can also build templates for custom looking maps.
It's a full featured "Gamer 2D-CAD" and 2.5D CAD with the PerspectivesPro add-on.
That's great to hear. Is the out put something that's worthy of publishing? That's what I'm really looking for. I just want to be able to create the sector/sub-sector maps, maybe add my own unique flavor to the presentation, but eventually create something for e-publication.
AEG certainly thinks so; the Maps in 2nd Ed L5R and d20 Rokugan are done with stock symbols... it's a vector CAD with fills. And it can output PNG in any desired resolution*; you can also print to PDF with the right PDF printer, and get vector PDFs.
But, as with all CAD/CAM software, the learning curve is there. READ the manuals. They are important.
*subject to computer memory restrictions...
I have an older computer with 1gig RAM, so I think I'm okay. I'm just curious what software the powers-that-be used for the online LBB PDFs.
I'm torn between going the hip-new Blue Ghost "does his own cool" thing look, and sticking with the traditional no-frills "text and sector map" only LBB format.
Space Hamster
SOC-12
If you decide to go with the learning curve on CC3, you can make very beautiful maps. I have been using Campaign Cartographer since the DOS days, and can tell you they have been doing wonders at making it flexible enough do just about anything you can think of. Sheets are the latest and greatest thing they added for CC3, and they can really add a professional look to your map.
I do not know how much money you want to spend. If you are willing to spend a little extra, the Cartographer’s Annual has some real nice stuff in it. If you are doing this for sale you will want to check on how the licensing works on the Annual as works have been submitted to ProFantasy for publish and I do not know if there are any limitations on it.
Here is a link to the Annual. I have the first three volumes.
http://www.profantasy.com/products/sub.asp
I do not know how much money you want to spend. If you are willing to spend a little extra, the Cartographer’s Annual has some real nice stuff in it. If you are doing this for sale you will want to check on how the licensing works on the Annual as works have been submitted to ProFantasy for publish and I do not know if there are any limitations on it.
Here is a link to the Annual. I have the first three volumes.
http://www.profantasy.com/products/sub.asp
Err... I saw some of their smaller thumbnails of Traveller subsector maps, but I couldn't get a larger view to really get a good feel for how they look.
Icosahedron
SOC-14 1K
Have you tried Universe? It's Hemdian's baby, get him to talk to you about it. It's cheaper and easier to learn than the profantasy stuff for a one-off project. I'm sure it does what you want, and I think you can get a full colour, black background if you want it. I don't recall much about it myself, I temporarily shelved it waiting for Universe 2...
