Fictional world mapping software

We lead the field in fantasy mapmaking software for gamers. All of these elements can be dragged around if you enable this feature. Drawing and building a fantasy world map weekend update. The ultimate cheat sheet on creating your fantasy world. Let me try to enumerate some of the things that come to mind. It is the place to go for creating historical maps, like world maps of 1815, 1880, 1914 world war i, 1938 world war ii and more. Weve redesigned this tool to support interactive mapping on tablets. Please leave a comment if you notice a broken link and ill try to fix it as soon as possible. This program is an excellent mapping program that can design castles, caves, cities, dungeons and more. World anvil allows you to search and find everything in your world quicker than ever. You may use autogenerated maps as they are, edit them or even. Oct 09, 2018 in todays adobe photoshop tutorial were going to have some fun creating a map of our own fantasy world, just like the fictional story settings of neverland, middleearth or westoros. Ive never written a book that didnt have mapping as one stage of its production.

Whether youre playing or writing interactive fiction, mapping can be invaluable. By clicking okay, it will automatically be updated. Of course it is possible to use the various tools around it the database, the editors for addingchanging data, the geocoder nominatim for searching locations, the renderer mapnik for drawing maps, and of course leaflet or openlayers for viewing the rendered map. It is also very helpful for the author and the development of their fictional world. Screen shot of fantasy map making software, dundjinni. And new features have been added to help you view and customize maps.

But ill bet theres one that falls in everybodys top ten list. For example, an mbtiles archive and a shapefile or any other format usable with openlayers. Fictional mapping is where a narrative is created, mainly by alternate history or future scenarios. Feel free to suggest additional world building software too. Jun 28, 2017 when i made a map of my world for my stories, i first looked at real world maps so i know how they look. Autorealm is a free roleplaying game mapping program originally made by andrew gryc. Ive been working on a map for a fictional setting for a while now, and have many iterations with and without labels, regions, etc. Planetmaker allows you to create and tweak your own planet using image textures, lighting, and more importantly, your imagination. Other world mapper map design software by three minds.

Mark your articles with tags to find them even more easily. I included natural parts for the inner landscape, like forests, mountains and hills. Heres an extensive list of free fantasy map generators and name generators. I was looking for fantasy mapdrawingcartography software and i was. Its mostly just placing lines and adding filters like erosion over it so it looks like a mountain or a river etc. Then, your readers and players can explore your world in an interactive way like never before. Whats the coolest thing about writing speculative fiction. One of the guys who runs it, jonathan roberts, was hired to do the official maps of grrms song of ice and fire, so he knows his stuff. An ongoing trend for fiction and fantasy novels is having a map for the reader to follow along with, just after the title page in the book. Like the wizard of oz, lord of the rings was a turning point in the history of fantasy map making. If you feel as, er, enthusiastic about maps as i do, have i got the software goodies for you.

Creating a fictional world can be a challenge, since you may not be sure where to begin. The most incredible fantasy maps youve ever seen io9. The best, webbased tool ive used todate is azgaars fantasy map generator. With the fractal world mapping provided by, you have more powerful options and features, and you are not constrained by a hexagonal gridlayout. I will also make up names on request you could use these to create a free map or base for something youd like me to customize. When i made a map of my world for my stories, i first looked at real world maps so i know how they look. When i first started writing my young adult fantasy novel, mer, i was like a map seems way too difficult. Nov 25, 2015 whether youve already got the bare bones of your fictional setting laid out or need help fleshing out an idea into an intriguing locale, you can use these resources to guide you through every step of creating your fantasy world. Sb chview the best 3d star mapping program out there. Its a good place to begin and later you could consider getting a paid software, some just stick.

Like most pro map making software, and indeed, professional graphics tools, its learning curve looks easy at first, but steep to get really elegant results. Aug 25, 2010 free software due to the everchanging nature of web links, the links presented here may break from time to time. The campaign cartographer range of map making software allows you to create beautiful maps, from world to local scale, of real and imaginary places. First, new technologies are emerging, as a result, the equipment is being improved and that, in turn, requires software changes. Snaiad an excellent fictional ecology on a very alien world. This tutorial will help create nice looking maps that can range from all over the world. Jan 20, 2020 your world will have characters in it, interacting, as we said.

Campaign cartographer 3 is the leading map making software for games rpgs, miniatures and wargaming. Even if you are selfpublishing or being traditionally published, heres how to get started. In this article, i will cover 17 different software products for making maps. Thousands of cities and points of interest add depth to the world. Azgaars generator also integrates with medieval fantasy city generator, meaning you basically have a onestop shop for both world and city maps. Mapmaking discussion and collaboration, independent of profantasy.

Create fantasy maps quickly using intuitive ui and specialized tools. Keep in mind this is for beginners, but that doesnt mean you cant watch it. Maps workshop developing the fictional world through mapping. Cc3 gives you fingertip control of both the big picture and the small details. A great place to develop cartography skills and share mapmaking ideas. If youre new to the community, you may recognize some mappers from their own. Although they are not software, older rpgs like traveller and space opera included systems for generating solar systems and planets. I mean, writing fiction is a lot like playing god anyway, right. Worldbuilding by map fantastic maps fantasy maps and. You may be creating a fictional world for a novel or for a series of books set in the same world.

Opengeofiction is a map of an imaginary world, created by a community of. Note that the openstreetmap project is about collection real world data and not designed to create fantasy maps in the first place. Cartographers guild is a forum devoted exclusively to fantasy and sf mapping. Search your whole world by typing 3 letters in any search bar.

This map creator tool will allow you to the create a whole world of your own design using well over 1400 different images. Any software for making a fictional map interactive like. Planetmaker create your own planet, real or imaginary. I really wish they would update it, but for right now the thing serves my purposes admirably. However, historical mappers and fictional mappers tend not to be classified in the same community. Any good fantasy world deserves a map, but how does a world map go from your notebook to an espansive illustration that provides depth and information. The maps feature will inspire you during the worldbuilding process, allowing you to quickly create articles you can flesh out later. An historical battlefield littered with burntout tanks. Secondly, the needs of users are growing, requirements are increasing and the needs are changing for best fantasy map making. Create a solid scientific foundation with world builders from. Maptitude comes packed with data, including extensive world geography such as.

Over the years a number of styles have evolved for interactive fiction mapping. Its just that occasionally mapping is the second stage, or even the thirdsay around about the time i get the first two chapters written and realize there are important things about my characters world that i do not know. So make sure you save your work with the proper level selected. See every continent, island, sea, forest, desert, and nation. That means you can mix and match readymade tile sets with custom drawn shapes and textures to create truly unique maps. Worldspinner makes it easy to create an entire fantasy world in just a few minutes. Set the paper size sufficiently large eg a0 and zoom to 100% to allow space for panning. So, you need to draw a parallel between our real world and your imaginary world, and see how many of the things that we experience here on earth can be applied to your world, and how many are worth changing. It allows users to create walls and floors, place objects, insert text, and more. In the last twelve hours, this generator has been used to construct 866 worlds and 4.

Its not the most intuitive to learn, but the maps ultimate quality and ability for customization are exceptional. What tool can i use to draw a simple map of a fictional world. Well, i guess there might be lots of answers to that question. Terra incognita yet another fantasy world map generator. With the expert support, integration functionality, and data capabilities that your business requires.

Allows rpg gamers, authors and developers to create detailed fantasy maps quickly using an intuitive gui and specialized tools. Worldbuilding by map this article was originally written for people building their own worlds for novel writing, but the process is useful for anyone who wants to create a world and draw a map. A 2d map does not work well for showing the locations of planets and systems relative to each other and the vast distances that may separate them. Historical mapping is a visual representation of a prior event, usually a war. Click show more to see links to all these tools below. World mapping software global mapping software world map. Map creation helps fictional world builders discover and record. Oct 03, 2019 how to create a fictional world from scratch. Take the frustration out of creating highly detailed maps.

Tolkien was a master world builder, creating several conlangs constructed languages for. Create a fantasy map of your own fictional world in adobe. Alternate future are a series of videos of fictional scenario events of geopolitics. The generator creates a fictional world complete with coast lines, regional borders and map labels. Sep 26, 2019 three minds software is raising funds for other world mapper map design software on kickstarter.

Free software due to the everchanging nature of web links, the links presented here may break from time to time. You can use programs like world machine or other height map software to create a map without using a mouse. The detailed africa, detailed asia, and oceania maps are now live. I have a lot of stuff written about a bunch of different areas and times of the game world, maybe one day ill talk about it too. Maptitude world mapping software allows you to plot your locations by coordinate, manually, or by any populated place in the world village, town, city, or to view your data by country or province. Some of them are general imagemanipulation software. The generator also includes a number of customization options which allow you to change the color of the map and the number of features generated. It boasts an intuitive interface and an impressive selection of objects and textures over 190 images. Hexographer worldstarmapwilderness map creation software. Also, the conversion will be performed on the level that was selected when the map was last saved. This is the place where mappers hang out to discuss about mapping, showing our official nations, events, map games and etc. Mapping can begin the fictional world building process, or it can be a step that starts after a period of reflection and writing. The process of map creation fosters reflection and it evolves as part of the research for a larger work. Im tiffany munro, fantasy world maker, world building consultant, and cartographer cant draw.

Unlock layeroverlay management, list importing, additional tools, and more. Fantasy map generator is a free open source tool which procedurally generates fantasy maps. When youre done with creating the height map, export it. Trizbort focuses on creating maps in only one of these styles, as popularised by infocom. The fantasy world generator requires approximately 45 seconds to create and draw a world map, 4000 pixels wide and comprising over 19,000 hexes.

Opengeofiction is a collaborative platform for the creation of fictional maps. It also generates detailed story information, such as a route taken by characters, or the distance and time from one location to another. Free world building software by shaudawn on deviantart. Authors, game designers, roleplayers and conworld hobbyists create and use maps to enhance their fictional worlds. Hexographer was built from the ground up to let you make maps in a few specific styles quickly. Or even linking maps to other maps, going from your world map all the way down to a city or a dungeon. It is for these reasons that i would greatly appreciate someone pointing me in the direction of a 3d mapping software, a program of this nature would be extremely useful. If you just started mapping, this is the software you should start with. Also an older program, it works quickly and can use real world dem data sections of the earth and mars are included or randomly generate landscapes. Then, your readers and players can explore your world in. Opengeofiction is a map of an imaginary world, created by a community of worldbuilders.

World engine is an easytouse, webbased rpg mapping tool that will let you create jawdropping maps quickly and easily without needing to be a graphic artist world engine seamlessly combines freehand drawing and tilebased tools. Its less about actually making it scientifically correct, and more about making it appear sci. You can explore them along with your players, or add or change any that you wish. Allworld, european, oriental, english, antique, high fantasy, dark fantasy, random. I have successfully used it recently to draw intricately detailed, gridded, real world maps. The simple world map is now updated with an option to show all countries names as labels. Introducing world engine the rpg map making app youve. Dundjinni is a fullfeatured fantasy map creation program. Ive got a demo download and hope to purchase it in the near future. Create fantasy maps quickly using intuitive ui and specialized tools powerful vectorraster blend tools. Three minds software is raising funds for other world mapper map design software on kickstarter. It has tons of tutorials on using commercial programmes and how to use things like photoshop to achieve the same end. Dundjinni mapping software bring your game to life.

Including mapping early on in the process can stimulate your imagination. Map creation helps fictional world builders discover and record geographical details about an imaginary place. This world map of magic schools from the harry potter series. Dec 05, 2012 want to create a map for your fantasy or fiction novel. Share with friends, embed maps on websites, and create images or pdf. Jd project rho the uber site for world building resources. Your map will not be affected in any way, but the conversion process can be lengthy and may even fail, depending on the power of your computer and the size and complexity of your map.