I mentioned on here a couple of years ago that I was looking for
software to help design spaceships and world maps. I wound up buying
Campaign Cartographer 3 (for world maps) and the add-on, Cosmographer 3
(for starship deckplans). The learning curves have been steep, and my
work has been rather crude. It seems that if you don't create things in
just the right order, you're screwed. At the very least, the interface
isn't dummy proof. I've watched tutorials, but it looks like I'll need
many more hours of playing around with the software before I come up
with anything respectable. I'd rather spend those hours working on
actual campaign material.
I've been more impressed with Fractal Terrains 3
(https://secure.profantasy.com/products/ft.asp). One can input several
parameters (like hydrographics %) and a world is generated (with a dozen
different map output options) for you in seconds. Said worlds can then
be edited further to your liking (I don't like that peninsula; it should
be an island!) even exported to CC3 (adding icons for terrain, cities,
etc). The output looks great and is far superior to anything I could
ever generate on my own with CC3.
AstroSynthesis 3.0 (http://nbos.com/products/astrosynthesis) generates
star systems with detailed worlds and planet maps, all in 3D. It claims
to use scientific principles when generating the worlds and star
systems. It also generates fractal maps of world surfaces (where
applicable). Again, sample images look fantastic.
Has anyone used either of these programs? I'm tempted to pick up one
just because I want to be able to provide my players with quality maps
whenever I need them and without spending 10 hours to do it. CC3 looks
like a dead end for me, though I'm holding out hope that I'll eventually
be able to make decent deckplans with Cosmographer 3.
\_/
DED
TNE @ Yahoo ml Admin
software to help design spaceships and world maps. I wound up buying
Campaign Cartographer 3 (for world maps) and the add-on, Cosmographer 3
(for starship deckplans). The learning curves have been steep, and my
work has been rather crude. It seems that if you don't create things in
just the right order, you're screwed. At the very least, the interface
isn't dummy proof. I've watched tutorials, but it looks like I'll need
many more hours of playing around with the software before I come up
with anything respectable. I'd rather spend those hours working on
actual campaign material.
I've been more impressed with Fractal Terrains 3
(https://secure.profantasy.com/products/ft.asp). One can input several
parameters (like hydrographics %) and a world is generated (with a dozen
different map output options) for you in seconds. Said worlds can then
be edited further to your liking (I don't like that peninsula; it should
be an island!) even exported to CC3 (adding icons for terrain, cities,
etc). The output looks great and is far superior to anything I could
ever generate on my own with CC3.
AstroSynthesis 3.0 (http://nbos.com/products/astrosynthesis) generates
star systems with detailed worlds and planet maps, all in 3D. It claims
to use scientific principles when generating the worlds and star
systems. It also generates fractal maps of world surfaces (where
applicable). Again, sample images look fantastic.
Has anyone used either of these programs? I'm tempted to pick up one
just because I want to be able to provide my players with quality maps
whenever I need them and without spending 10 hours to do it. CC3 looks
like a dead end for me, though I'm holding out hope that I'll eventually
be able to make decent deckplans with Cosmographer 3.
\_/
DED
TNE @ Yahoo ml Admin