Encounter Mapping Software - 3 Tips For Choosing The Best One
From JohnnFour | Published November 29, Updated December 3, 2021
Roleplaying Tips Newsletter #1,182
Brief Word From Johnn
A great conversation came up in the monthly Wizard of Adventure chat Saturday on what encounter mapping...
Campaign Cartographer is a full-featured fantasy CAD app and it makes beautiful maps.
Steep learning curve if you are new to this type of map-making approach, but there are guides and a strong community for support.
@JochenL uses it for his campaigns.
And we are lucky to have Platinum Wizard...
The Kickstarter for the Never-Ending Dungeon software has just launched. The tool reminds me of Dungeon Alchemist but supports also physical mapping:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/never-ending-dungeon/never-ending-dungeon/
Game Master Engine a mapping tool with some impressive 3D visuals:
https://www.gamemasterengine.com/
GME is coming to Steam in March:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1451680/Game_Master_Engine/
An early access version is available at Itch.io:
https://danthedm.itch.io/game-master-engine-pro...
The Unity-based Wildshape mapping software is currently in alpha, and downloadable for a Pay What You Want price for Windows, Linux and Mac:
https://dldev.itch.io/wildshape
See their Patreon for more information:
https://www.patreon.com/Wildshape
Dnd Map Sketcher is a a new online mapping tool for drawing isometric dungeon maps in the browser. Players can connect to the same session, seeing what the GM sees.
https://danifm.itch.io/dnd-map-sketcher
The tool is still heavily in development, but has already managed to bring something new...
Quite like Dungeon Scrawl, Dungeon Map Doodler allows to draw dungeon maps directly in the browser. Also available are some art assets for furnishing the dungeon.
https://dungeonmapdoodler.com/
This mapping software is available as a PWYW download as well as a browser app:
https://deepnight.itch.io/tabletop-rpg-map-editor
The licensing terms are generous as well:
I haven't yet put this tool to the test, but at least the sample maps look quite classy:
There is also one unique feature:
This week’s deal on Steam:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/630900/Illwinters_Floorplan_Generator/
ASCII import is certainly an innovative feature. (Hmm, would it work with NetHack?...)
Hextml is a light, hex-based drag-and-drop tool that works straight in the browser:
http://hextml.playest.net/
Custom icons can be uploaded and a collaborative mode is available (and on by default).
I just received my hot-of-the-presses copy of The Demonplague yesterday. It's awesome!
I've been boasting to all of my buddies about how cool it is and showing them how efficient Johnn's character/plot driven campaign planning approach is. It's something I'm trying to do with my current Rise...
flowchart mapping
An old post in the Neuronphase blog presents a simple but effective mapping tip: instead of a presentation of the physical space, one can use flowchart maps:
http://www.neuronphaser.com/fantasy-rpg-flowchart-mapping/
[Edit: Originally my idea was to create a single thread...