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DIY - Map Making For Wargames

Started by Capn Darwin, February 13, 2012, 06:01:31 PM

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Capn Darwin

I told Longblade I would jump right in and add some information. So here is a summary of the tools I use to make maps for a number of Lock 'n Load world at War and Nations at War modules for playtest use. I'm also using these tools on a few of my own design projects.

For Hex maps, the best piece of software I've used and continue to use is Jo Bader's HexDraw 1.1. This is a shareware tool but the low cost coupled with the great results I get make it a must have. Does it do everything. No. There are a couple of things I'd like to see fixed like saving the images for roads and rivers with the map and a bit better control of map scaling. Minor issues. There are a good number of texures and overlay elements out there from users and it is easy to make your own.

There is good info and some art on the CSW page: http://social.consimworld.com/group/hexdrawusers

His site for the software is here: http://www.hexdraw.com/

Questions welcome. I'll post some shot of maps I've done as soon as I find a good hosting site. I'll also try to talk methods and map design a bit more in detail too.

Here's a WaW playtest maps that we used. I based it straight off of a google earth snapshot.

Rocket Scientist by day, Game Designer by night.

LongBlade

The only mapmaking software I've used is Dunjini and that was several years ago. It featured a hex overlay, but was primarily designed for making RPG maps for buildings and passages. IIRC you could add customized art and stuff.
All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.

Staggerwing


Very interesting. I've had a few ideas for games in the past so I'm all ears (or eyes as the case may be).

Quote from: Capn Darwin on February 13, 2012, 06:01:31 PM
I'll post some shot of maps I've done as soon as I find a good hosting site.

I use Photobucket.com because it's painless to use. It has some great features like automatically giving you the URLs
of your saved pix to copy and a firefox plugin that lets you upload and save right from the browser window where you
are viewing the target image you want to save.
Vituð ér enn - eða hvat?  -Voluspa

Nothing really rocks and nothing really rolls and nothing's ever worth the cost...

"Don't you look at me that way..." -the Abyss
 
'When searching for a meaningful embrace, sometimes my self respect took second place' -Iggy Pop, Cry for Love

... this will go down on your permanent record... -the Violent Femmes, 'Kiss Off'-

"I'm not just anyone, I'm not just anyone-
I got my time machine, got my 'electronic dream!"
-Sonic Reducer, -Dead Boys

Capn Darwin

Staggerwing and LB,

Thanks. Went with Photobucket for images. Works just fine.  8)
Rocket Scientist by day, Game Designer by night.

TheCommandTent

I have a thing for maps I am enjoying this thread and looking forward to what else I can learn from it.
"No wants, no needs, we weren't meant for that, none of us.  Man stagnates if he has no ambition, no desire to be more than he is."

GJK

Here's a remake of the S&T game "The Desert Fox" that I did a while ago.  I thought that this one came out nicely:

http://garykrockover.com/uploads/Desert-Fox-Map.jpg

The original map is here:

http://boardgamegeek.com/image/467209/the-desert-fox

Antietam: Burnished Rows of Steel

Mine: http://garykrockover.com/uploads/Antietam-Map.jpg

Original: http://cf.geekdo-images.com/images/pic185624_md.jpg

Remember AH's Air Assault on Crete/Malta?  Here's the Malta map done as an exact replica:

http://garykrockover.com/uploads/MALTA.jpg

John Prados' Third Reich done with different colors:

http://garykrockover.com/uploads/JP3R-ZunTzu-Color.jpg
(ZunTzu gamebox)

Every play this game (NFL Strategy)?  I took mine out of the box and drew it for a VASSAL module:

http://garykrockover.com/uploads/NFL-screenshot.png

The Gamers In Their Quiet Fields as a VASSAL module (map and counters redrawn):

http://garykrockover.com/uploads/ITQF-WAR.jpg

This map was a b**** to draw.  A remake of GMT's "Ardennes '44".  I like my bulge games to go east to west but GMT decided to print the map north to south (Germans come from the south).  I re-orientated the map and redrew it how I like it.  :)

http://garykrockover.com/uploads/A44-screen1.jpg

Tons more that I could post but those are some of my better examples I think.  I strictly use Photoshop (old version 7) for all of my stuff.  I also had a lot more free time to do all of this when I was married too.....  :O
Clip your freaking corners!
----------------------
Blood Bowl on VASSAL - Ask me about it! http://garykrockover.com/BB/
----------------------
"Fat, drunk, and stupid is no way to go through life, son."

-Dean Vernon Wormer

Staggerwing

Those are Amazing! How long does it take you to do something along the lines of that Malta map?
Vituð ér enn - eða hvat?  -Voluspa

Nothing really rocks and nothing really rolls and nothing's ever worth the cost...

"Don't you look at me that way..." -the Abyss
 
'When searching for a meaningful embrace, sometimes my self respect took second place' -Iggy Pop, Cry for Love

... this will go down on your permanent record... -the Violent Femmes, 'Kiss Off'-

"I'm not just anyone, I'm not just anyone-
I got my time machine, got my 'electronic dream!"
-Sonic Reducer, -Dead Boys

GJK

I think I finished that one in a weekend.  The larger maps could take a number of weekends to complete. 
Clip your freaking corners!
----------------------
Blood Bowl on VASSAL - Ask me about it! http://garykrockover.com/BB/
----------------------
"Fat, drunk, and stupid is no way to go through life, son."

-Dean Vernon Wormer

Capn Darwin

GJK,

What software tools are you using to make those? Very nice work.
Rocket Scientist by day, Game Designer by night.

GJK

Just an old version of Photoshop (7) with mostly the stock filters, I have a few of the Eye-Candy stuff and others but I don't use those much. 
Clip your freaking corners!
----------------------
Blood Bowl on VASSAL - Ask me about it! http://garykrockover.com/BB/
----------------------
"Fat, drunk, and stupid is no way to go through life, son."

-Dean Vernon Wormer