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Pen & Paper Roleplaying Central => Pen and Paper Roleplaying Games (RPGs) Discussion => Topic started by: Chunkthulhu on May 20, 2019, 12:39:41 PM

Title: Hex Mapping Software
Post by: Chunkthulhu on May 20, 2019, 12:39:41 PM
Ok, folks.  What do you use for generating hex maps?  I had some great software several years back - called Wilderness Mapper - but it's no longer available.  I'm looking for something very simple, very easy, and hopefully free.  I don't want to make random maps, for whatever that's worth.
Title: Hex Mapping Software
Post by: Steven Mitchell on May 20, 2019, 02:23:56 PM
I like Hexographer, latest version now called "Worldographer".  The later version is much better designed (doesn't have memory issues on Windows machines, for example), but the old one was serviceable.  

It's usable free, if you don't mind a very limited set of features and jumping through a few hoops, but much better with the basic license, which is not very much.  I wouldn't call the support for it anything special except for one thing:  It's had slow but continuous support since the start.  In any case, the free version is worth trying, and will give you a good idea of whether you want to pay or not.

Worldographer is on the opposite end from something like Campaign Cartographer, or similar CAD software.  I used CC long ago, and got pretty good with it.  It is, of course, expensive and has a steep learning curve.  Occasionally, I miss some of the more exotic features, but for no more mapping than I do, Worldographer is close enough to alright for me.

Edit:  There is only one thing I don't like about Worldographer in the "ease of use" bucket, and not that big of deal considering the price and other features.  The placement of icons is somewhat counter-intuitive in how it remembers settings and placement.   I recommend saving frequently while learning its quirks.
Title: Hex Mapping Software
Post by: nope on May 20, 2019, 03:56:42 PM
Here's a free online/downloadable one: http://shadekeep.com/shamat/shamat.html

I've toyed around with it but haven't used it extensively, so can't speak much as to quality. Seems pretty straightforward, if lightish on configuration options.

As Steven Mitchell above noted, Hexographer / Worldographer are good tools.
Title: Hex Mapping Software
Post by: JeremyR on May 20, 2019, 09:03:53 PM
Hexographer. Easy to use. Just click where you want to put a hex.
Title: Hex Mapping Software
Post by: Supervisor194 on May 23, 2019, 07:13:36 PM
Illwinter's Floorplan Generator on Steam is awesome.
Title: Hex Mapping Software
Post by: Lynn on May 24, 2019, 12:27:46 PM
I just got it on sale, but I am going to figure out if Hexels (https://marmoset.co/hexels/) is good for mapping.
Title: Hex Mapping Software
Post by: GnomeWorks on May 24, 2019, 01:14:10 PM
Tiled is working out okay for me.
Title: Hex Mapping Software
Post by: Narmer on May 24, 2019, 06:41:41 PM
Another free online mapping resourse is HexTML (http://hextml.playest.net/).  You can find it here (http://hextml.playest.net/).  I've played with it a little and it looks interesting but I don't know how capable it is overall.
Title: Hex Mapping Software
Post by: nope on May 25, 2019, 11:25:11 AM
Quote from: Supervisor194;1089236Illwinter's Floorplan Generator on Steam is awesome.

Welcome to therpgsite, and thanks for the tip! I hadn't heard of this one before.