Mapping not done on a computer

[mrken]

Does anyone else use the earth as their model of their uninhabited world?

Somehow, I am quite sure this is not as unusual as I have been told. I use Mapquest and Google Earth as my source. I just print out the area I want to map, ink it to bring out detail what I want to highlight, then copy it. Each time I copy it I make it just a bit lighter until the only real definition is the line the fine point Sharpie made. Sometimes I do use some white out to clean it up a bit but I get very good maps.

I can then add whatever details I wish. The map can be given to the players if I wish as it looks like I generated it by hand and the map can be turned upside down with the names and writing done upside down to totally confuse any chance the players could actually recognize the location.

The maps come with a scale to make it easier on me. I also have maps I made similarly from old atlases.

[cplmac]

If you are using mapquest or google earth, wouldn't that qualify as using a computer?

[mrken]

Guess I meant using a CAD program. I used to make them freehand from an atlas, but find using a scalable map is even easier. But I guess your right, I do use a computer like that.

[jade von delioch]

i do it free hand, CAD programs look wrong to me.

[agoraderek]

i used to have an atlas of the ancient world (included mesoamerica stuff too) lots of site maps, pyramid interiors, cities and stuff, all real world. i would hand draw maps out of that book like mad for my game. now, i use googlemaps to compare modern cities to the drawings made in the high middle ages so i can get the street scale and landmarks nailed down. so, yeah, chalk me down as a "yes"

[tesral]

It would save a lot of work it would. I didn't but it wasn't much in fashion you understand.

As for maping with out a computer I understand that things called "pencils" are to be had.

[cplmac]

It would save a lot of work it would. I didn't but it wasn't much in fashion you understand.

As for maping with out a computer I understand that things called "pencils" are to be had.

I've seen these pencil things at the dollar store. Even more remarkable was that right next to the pencils were colored pencils. There was also pens and crayons there too.

[tesral]

I've seen these pencil things at the dollar store. Even more remarkable was that right next to the pencils were colored pencils. There was also pens and crayons there too.

What will they think of next?

[Engar]

I just recently (from moving not long ago) was going through all my old DnD stuff from years ago. I had bought a bunch of really fine graph paper and colored pencils to create huge world view drawings, then scaled bit by bit to produce region maps for important areas, local, city, etc... My players had at one point made copies of most of the maps (once they knew everything on them at the time anyway).

Here is the killer. This is not the first move since then and I cannot find the fine colored pencil maps I spent hours and hours on. However, I do have several lousy zerox copies to look at bitterly.

[tesral]

Here is the killer. This is not the first move since then and I cannot find the fine colored pencil maps I spent hours and hours on. However, I do have several lousy zerox copies to look at bitterly.

Been there, been done by that.

My current maps are old as the hills. 11X 17 sheets of paper that cover a bed but I'm still using them.

[agoraderek]

Been there, been done by that.

My current maps are old as the hills. 11X 17 sheets of paper that cover a bed but I'm still using them.

im in the process of redrawing all of my world maps, region maps, castles, towns, cities, etc. this is fifth generation map making for me, as my artistic skill improves, and my ability to buy higher quality art supplies increases, i find myself looking at the last gen maps and saying, "hmmm, it would look so much better on vellum with a soft prismacolor palate..."

[tesral]

im in the process of redrawing all of my world maps, region maps, castles, towns, cities, etc. this is fifth generation map making for me, as my artistic skill improves, and my ability to buy higher quality art supplies increases, i find myself looking at the last gen maps and saying, "hmmm, it would look so much better on vellum with a soft prismacolor palate..."

So would mine frankly. But I want to get them on computer. I have CC, I just have not had the time to learn its foibles. Scanning and tracing the old maps would indeed be a pain. Some times it's just easier to keep using them.

[agoraderek]

So would mine frankly. But I want to get them on computer. I have CC, I just have not had the time to learn its foibles. Scanning and tracing the old maps would indeed be a pain. Some times it's just easier to keep using them.

my problem with computer cartography is this: i have to call my 12 year old nephew to walk me through how to turn this thing on sometimes. i have two different cartography programs i downloaded, and cant figure out either of them!

when everyone else was geeking out on computers when i was growing up, i was geeking out on a bristol drawing pad and 2h pencils...

[nijineko]

i use painter, fireworks, and/or gimp for mapping. hand drawn as i have a pen-tablet tool. very nice. =D the erases don't smudge. ^^ makes for less swampland as a result. ;D

[tesral]

When everyone else was geeking out on computers when i was growing up, i was geeking out on a bristol drawing pad and 2h pencils...

When I started gaming computers where not available, peroid. We wrote on legal pads and made maps on graph paper.

I like my new tools.