Fictional map making app or software?

amlptj · Nov 21, 2011

Hi,

I'm extremely new to writing Fantasy in fact i'm writing my first YA Fantasy novel as my Nano project. My characters are in a fictional world and are given a map of it.

Now i have no drawling ability to make a map, and didnt think i would need to actually see one to be able to write about it. I was wrong... i really need the visual so I attempted to try and make one on Adobe Illustrator with some pretty bad fail results. The thought hit me today that other Fantasy writers must have the same problem. So my question is how do you make your maps for your worlds?

Is there any software you use and would recommend? (Any Free one?) or does everyone just draw up a map by hand?

BradCarsten · Nov 21, 2011

heres a map thread you may be interested in

I used photoshop for my map.
Used the pen tool to draw the outlines of my world, then used the fill tool to colour them. So I had splotches of green for forest, blue for lakes and the sea, and for mountains I created a little ^ shape and filled with that.
Turned out quite nice actually.

TheBladeRoden · Nov 22, 2011

Here's one called Autorealm.
http://autorealm.sourceforge.net/index.php
It's free but about as old as dirt

areteus · Nov 22, 2011

Not sure if it is still about (but you may be able to get cheap second hand copies) but there was a program called Campaign Cartographer which was designed for use in designing fantasy maps for roleplaying games.

However, one thing I would ask is: do you really need a map? The 'fantasy map' is sometimes seen as a laughable thing these days and they are not always necessary if you describe your locations right.

If you do need a map, why not ask either your friends or for some one on here to draw you one in exchange for a small payment or some other service from you? Always worthwhile to get someone who can draw properly to do something like that than use software.

Izz · Nov 22, 2011

I'm quite fond of the scenario creator in Civilization V. You can make good country/world maps with that.

Campaign Cartographer costs a bit, and has a steep learning curve, but its results are very pretty.

If you're just looking for a map to help you write the story (i.e. so you can figure out where everything is and how long it'd take to travel from Pilsing to Markavesh, etc), then i'd echo TheBladeRoden's suggestion of AutoREALM. It's fairly easy to learn, and free.

TheRob1 · Nov 22, 2011

As a long time Dnd player, let me recommend: graph paper and colored pencils. You can use blank paper if you want.

You can run off a few copies of your initial draft so that you can experiment w/ future modifications w/out having to use up the only copy.

Elvirnith · Nov 22, 2011

Another great source for map making is the cartographers guild. Great site with a lot of awesome people.

http://www.cartographersguild.com

Also, a trend that's becoming the norm is for fantasy authors to add the map to their website so that those interested in it can hop online and grab it. It's also a great way to get people to go to your site.

Arcadia Divine · Nov 22, 2011

I have campaign cartographer and I love it. http://www.profantasy.com

Torgo · Nov 23, 2011

Plenty of games generate nice maps; particularly thinking of Dwarf Fortress.

bearilou · Nov 23, 2011

TheRob1 said:
As a long time Dnd player, let me recommend: graph paper and colored pencils. You can use blank paper if you want.

You can run off a few copies of your initial draft so that you can experiment w/ future modifications w/out having to use up the only copy.

I recommend crayons, myself.

But there's just something fun about having colored pencils/crayons and a blank sheet of paper and going to town with filling it up.

I sometimes use autorealm to help get a nice fractal-type shoreline for a continent.

MattW · Nov 23, 2011

bearilou said:
I recommend crayons, myself.

But there's just something fun about having colored pencils/crayons and a blank sheet of paper and going to town with filling it up.

I like nothing more than sketching up a map on my own, and having little quirks of geography or drawing mistakes generate a new idea. Somehow electronic map making doesn't trigger other parts of my brain that fill in those spaces.

MattW · Nov 23, 2011

Elvirnith said:
Also, a trend that's becoming the norm is for fantasy authors to add the map to their website so that those interested in it can hop online and grab it. It's also a great way to get people to go to your site.

Posting maps is also a great resource for people who can't make out anything on maps in e-reader formats.

Win-win for reader and author.

KodyBoye · Nov 23, 2011

I went the pen-and-paper way. This tutorial on YouTube really helped me.

Fictional map making app or software?

amlptj

Speling & grammer murderer, Sorrie!

BradCarsten

practical experience, FTW

TheBladeRoden

Can finally change his title

areteus

Izz

Doing the Space Operatic

TheRob1

Trained by the soft master

Elvirnith

Dark Lord

Arcadia Divine

Torgo

Formerly Phantom of Krankor.

bearilou

DenturePunk writer

MattW

Company Man

MattW

Company Man

KodyBoye

New kid, be gentle!