Map Making Software Summary

[LordEntrails]

This thread details the details of numerous map making software applications use to make maps for RPGs and Fantasy Grounds.

If you know of any applications that should be added, or entries that should be updated, please reply.

Dedicated Map Making Programs

These are programs that are usually designed from the ground up to make RPG maps. They usually come with symbols/graphics/assets/brushes to immediately start making RPG maps. They can be very powerful, but are usually limited to features used to make maps. (See next post for generic image editing programs).



Name
Platform /OS
Base Cost (USD)
Cost w/ Recommended Add-ons
Description
Pros
Cons


Fantasy Grounds VTT
Win/Mac/Linux
Free
$5/month Art Subscription
Built in to FG VTT
Free, includes some assets and animated & lighting effects, Line of sight.
limited export capabilities, no commercial use of assets.


Arkenforge

$35
$95
Animated map maker
Export to FG



Campaign Cartographer 3+
Windows
$45
$74 Top Three bundle
Raster and Bitmap program built on a CAD engine.
Powerful, versatile, numerous add-ons. Incl. Commercial use.
Learning Curve


Deepnight RPG Map Editor
Online / Windows
Free
PWYW

Easy to use, commercial use free, asset importing



Dungeon Alchemist
Windows
$45

3D procedural generation
Free demo
Early Access. Export to FG VTT.


DungeonDraft
Win/Linux
$20


Export to FG



DungeonScrawl
Online
Free

online brush & tile style mapper

limited styles and assets


Dungeon Painter Studio

$15

Tile based mapper

Early access in 2017, not updated since


Fantasy Map Builder
Online
Free
N/A
Grid based online map builder
Free and online
Last updated in 2016


Fantasy Word Generator (donjon)
Online
Free
N/A
Fractal random world generator
quick and easy
Limited styles and control


Fractal Mapper
Windows
$35

Fractal image generation with symbols
Supports export to UVTT format
Limited add-ons


Fractal World Generator
Online
Free

Fractal random world generator
quick and easy
very limited options


Hextml
Online
Free
N/A
Online hex overland mapper in OSR style
Easy to use
Limited assets

[LordEntrails]

Name
Platform /OS
Base Cost (USD)
Cost w/ Recommended Add-ons
Description
Pros
Cons


Illwinter's

$8

Brush and Fill style fractal mapper




Inkarnate
Online
Free, limited
$40/yr
Online fantasy map maker
$80/yr for studio version that incl commercial use
Limited assets. Free is really just a trial (3 maps etc)


MapForge
Win/Mac
Free = limited export resolution
$40 for export license
Tile and grid based mapping program
Good selection of features, focuses on tactical battle maps, easy to use,
Limited add-ons, poor large map performance


Never Winter Nights



It's a CRPG, with a map maker built in.
cheap if you can find it on Gog or Steam
old, very old


Other World Mapper
Win/Mac/Linux
$32
$55+
Vector-Raster Mapper

Last updated in 2023


Tiled
Win/Mac/Linux
Free
N/A
Java 2D/Isometric tile map making
Very easy to use and supports custom tiles
Basic, tiles only


Wonderdraft
Win/Linux
$30

Overland map maker

Limited assets


Worldographer 2025

$70
+$40 in symbol add-ons
Tile based mapper?
21 add-ons
Expensive base program, expensive add-ons

[LordEntrails]

Graphic Programs that are Used to Make Maps

These programs are graphic design programs that can be used for many things, including making maps for RPGs. Often you will have to find custom "brushes" "symbols" or graphics to use to to get the look and feel you desire, or at least to make map making quicker.



Name
Platform/OS
Base Cost (USD)
Cost with recommended add ons
Description
Pros
Cons


GIMP
Windows, Linux, OSX
Free (GIMP)
N/A
Full blown graphics application.
Ultimate flexibility, free, online tutorials
Steep learning curve, need to find/organise own mapping objects


Photoshop CS5.x/CC
Windows, Mac OSX
$10/month
$10/month
Professional 2D/3D Raster Image software. Includes full suite of support tools, automation, effects and styles. Premium choice for professional artists.
Professional quality output.
Can be overwhelming at first but has the best performing pipeline. Considered by many to be the number one image raster tool and as such enjoys a plethora of support tools and add-ons. Need to find own library of textures/symbols.


Artrage

$80






Inkscape
Win/Mac/Linux
Free
N/A
Open Source vector image program




Flowscape

$10

3D Terrain/Scenic painter




Paint.Net
Online
Free
N/A
Basic graphic editor
Can open .PSD files

[LordEntrails]

Resources, Examples and More

Arkenforge Resources

Tutorials: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfzCVRfF40W3S6_bwWGsAug


Campaign Cartographer Resources


Video Tutorials: www.profantasy.com/community/cc3_tutorials.asp (http://www.profantasy.com/community/cc3_tutorials.asp)
Pick up the Tome of Ultimate Mapping: https://secure.profantasy.com/products/tome.asp which is an awesome CC resource (600+ pages of tutorials) and comes with a lot of good support files.


DungeonDraft and WonderDraft Assets


https://cartographyassets.com/


Photoshop Resources


https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4FC9177C6302AB60


General Mapping Assets


https://www.mapforge-software.com/csuac-cecil-solomons-user-art-collection/
https://www.textures.com/
https://neotextureedit.sourceforge.net/
https://www.vintyri.org/vintyri/index.htm
https://www.cartographersguild.com/
https://battlegroundsgames.com/links/
Forgotten Adventures: www.forgotten-adventures.net/ (http://www.forgotten-adventures.net/product/map-making/assets/core-mapmaking-pack/)
World Map Hex Tiles: www.2minutetabletop.com/product/world-map-hex-tiles/ (http://www.2minutetabletop.com/product/world-map-hex-tiles/)


Everything from the old thread: https://www.fantasygrounds.com/forums/showthread.php?20879-Map-Making-Software-summary should have now been moved over here.

I've had to break it into multiple posts and remove the example links from the tables (I think the links were making the post exceed character limites)

[Tempered7]

https://www.dungeonalchemist.com/ Still in Early Access.
Dungeon Alchemist is available as a standalone application on Windows, MacOS and Linux.

Dungeon Alchemist (https://store.steampowered.com/app/1588530/Dungeon_Alchemist/) [steam link] and its Road Map (https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1588530/view/490466287394226190) indicating 2026 release and High Seas update.
It has free Workshop (https://steamcommunity.com/app/1588530/workshop/) support with 14k+ Maps and even more single assets to place on maps.

Edit: Features (https://dungeonalchemist.fandom.com/wiki/Features) wiki article.

EDIT 2: Dungeon Alchemist comes with seamless exports to most popular VTT's. Depending on the VTT's capabilities, more or less features will be included. The following VTT's are supported out of the box:


Fantasy Grounds Unity (https://www.dungeonalchemist.com/import-to-fantasy-grounds)
Among others

EDIT 3: On AI Usage

- Do you use Generative AI/LLM's in Dungeon Alchemist?

+ No, we do not! All procedural algorithms are developed in-house and only use content generated by our own, paid artists.

Note: But there is some sort of AI powering (https://steamcommunity.com/app/1588530/discussions/0/604161392973464110/#c604161392973479548) in their engine [not the assets but how the assets are laid/randomized]. I'll pass the ball to someone with better knowledge though. xD

[Tempered7]

Free and web-based hexploration map maker: https://hextml.playest.net/
Quite basic but fast.

[Tempered7]

https://deepnight.net/tools/rpg-map/ Can be run from browser

Features

Full HTML5 support, Windows version (https://deepnight.itch.io/tabletop-rpg-map-editor) on Itch.io
Roll20 (https://roll20.net/) and Fantasy Grounds (https://www.fantasygrounds.com/) exports
Import your own images or icons
Fully customizable colors
Import maps generated by One Page Dungeon (https://watabou.itch.io/one-page-dungeon) (from Watabou (https://watabou.itch.io/))
Support for special walls, such as caverns, diagonals, etc.
Ground textures
Ray-casted lighting & fog
Multiple skins and many customizable colors
Texts, numbered elements with automatic legend block generation, text bubbles…
Icons
Enemies
User friendly UI
Pay what you want, including free!

For Resources, Examples and More

Free Assets:

- Forgotten Adventures Mapmaking Pack: 140.000+ assets HERE (https://www.forgotten-adventures.net/product/map-making/assets/core-mapmaking-pack/) in patreon
- World Map Hex Tiles (https://2minutetabletop.com/product/world-map-hex-tiles/) Free or PWYW

EDIT:

Campaign Cartographer [CC3+] Tutorials: https://www.profantasy.com/community/cc3_tutorials.asp

[LordEntrails]

Thanks for all the additional info:) I'll look to incorporate it into the tables in the next couple of days.

[Tempered7]

Thanks for all the additional info:) I'll look to incorporate it into the tables in the next couple of days.

Np :)
I had more free resources but the links are all gone with the last format.

Thanks for making the table, it'll be useful for non-designer users like me.

Also, heads up, below link is dead.


Resources, Examples and More

Campaign Cartographer Resources


Zeus imparts a lot of info in this thread: https://www.fantasygrounds.com/forum...-Tactical-Maps (https://www.fantasygrounds.com/forums/showthread.php?12408-Photoshop-H3-Pyramid-of-Shadows-Tactical-Maps) Particularly post #12.

[QuothDRaven191]

Arkenforge Tutorials
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfzCVRfF40W3S6_bwWGsAug

Arkenforge is available on Windows and Mac BTW

Gigabytes of free mapmaking assets
https://www.forgotten-adventures.net/

I'd forgotten Fractal Mapper - have had it for years. It includes Fractal World Explorer that will generate a 3d globe world map.
They also do Astrosynthesis that does stellar maps

[claedawg]

Do you have recommendations on how to use the - World Map Hex Tiles Free or PWYW hex tokens inside of FG?
The "isometric" layout makes it hard to place the tokens and keep the raised edges from showing when making overland hex maps on the fly. Basically, you have to lay everything out from the top of the map then down, and that only works for one line hexes.

I really like these tokens, but they are not easy to use.

[LordEntrails]

Do you have recommendations on how to use the - World Map Hex Tiles Free or PWYW hex tokens inside of FG?
The "isometric" layout makes it hard to place the tokens and keep the raised edges from showing when making overland hex maps on the fly. Basically, you have to lay everything out from the top of the map then down, and that only works for one line hexes.

I really like these tokens, but they are not easy to use.
So hopefully someone with experience with those tiles and doing isometric in FG can give you some better advice, but from my work doing Isometric in CC3+, it sounds like you are already doing the best there is, and that's placing them from back/top to front. Or re-ordering the layers when required. I don't think there is much else that can be done when using isometric tiles that extend beyond the grid lines. CC3+ has a function to automatically reorder things back to front, but FG does not and I would not expect such a function to be implemented.

[Trenloe]

Do you have recommendations on how to use the - World Map Hex Tiles Free or PWYW hex tokens inside of FG?
The "isometric" layout makes it hard to place the tokens and keep the raised edges from showing when making overland hex maps on the fly. Basically, you have to lay everything out from the top of the map then down, and that only works for one line hexes.

I really like these tokens, but they are not easy to use.
Quite a lot of options and discussions in this thread: https://www.fantasygrounds.com/forums/showthread.php?81223-Emergent-hex-crawl-in-FG See post #19 for an example of the World Map Hex Tiles.

FG draws layers (images) from the bottom of the layers list up, and you can re-order FG layers, so you can control the overlapping of the 3D effect. If you create one folder per hex line it will make it much easier to avoid the 3D edge effect, as you can just add a new hex image (layer) to the correct line folder and order within that folder based on the horizontal position of the hex tile within the hex line.

EDIT: To clarify, it's lines not columns that need to be in folders. Here's an example, and more details: https://www.fantasygrounds.com/forums/showthread.php?81223-Emergent-hex-crawl-in-FG&p=760949&viewfull=1#post760949

Probably best to take any discussion about this to the thread I linked above.

[claedawg]

Exactly what I was looking for. Thank you!

Edit: I just remembered, using the Tile Stamp will cause performance issues after about 6 hexes out.
Using the stamp feature under the paint brush menu fixes that issue if you put all of the stamps on a single image layer. That will probably mess with the alignment since you would not be able to adjust the layer level for each individual hex when going from west-east or east-west on the line.

[Griogre]

I think the donjon Fantasy World maker deserves a mention. Fantasy World Generator (https://donjon.bin.sh/fantasy/world/) is a web based generator that will make an old school hex style map with points of interest. You can download a map file or a htlm file (the better option). The htlm file allows you to click on the points of interest on and the map will center on the location and highlight it. I love this tool just for the inspiration.

The also have just a Fractal World Generator (https://donjon.bin.sh/world/) too.

[pindercarl]

Exactly what I was looking for. Thank you!

Edit: I just remembered, using the Tile Stamp will cause performance issues after about 6 hexes out.
Using the stamp feature under the paint brush menu fixes that issue if you put all of the stamps on a single image layer. That will probably mess with the alignment since you would not be able to adjust the layer level for each individual hex when going from west-east or east-west on the line.

I'm not sure when the last time you tried out using the Tile Stamp, but there have been many rendering improvements over the years. I stamped down about 150 tiles and maintained 60fps.

[claedawg]

It has been a while, maybe a year, since I tried using the Tile Stamp extensively. I will give it a shot since I know other things have improved over that time too. Thanks for the update!

Afterthought: The issues I was having with slog for medium to large maps using these tokens was most likely to me using the 300 DPI version.
AI is suggesting to use the 150 DPI since I want zoomed in detail.

What are y'alls thoughts?

[Pharoid]

I found that too many in a single layer would slow down a bit. But if you split it into folders its was fine and could handle a ton of them. so basically split 100 stamps into 2 50 stamp folders and close the folders your not working on. That worked for me many months ago and probably still does.

[dendarii]

Very helpful, thanks.

On the Dungeon Alchemist entry, I think "Export to FG VTT" should be on the Pro side?

[hawkwind]

Big fan of paint.net , its free and you can open psd files on it https://www.getpaint.net/

[Griogre]

I'm a big fan of Pain.net as well, though it would belong under the "Graphic Programs that are Used to Make Maps" category.

[LordEntrails]

FYI, I'm going to remove the hyperlinks from the tables. The links end up causing the posts to reach/exceed character limits and make them near impossible to edit. You'll have to Google the apps for the links.

[Tempered7]

FYI, I'm going to remove the hyperlinks from the tables. The links end up causing the posts to reach/exceed character limits and make them near impossible to edit. You'll have to Google the apps for the links.

Heh tell me about it, every time a new community ruleset releases, I play word tetris in the list page. :D
But an easy way to handle linkless links is selecting them, then right click > Go to "link name"

[Nylanfs]

Would using Bit.ly links help?

[LordEntrails]

Would using Bit.ly links help?
It does, but not for long. I'm thinking it might actually be the table formatting now. Because I've removed the links and 2 of 3 of the first posts still have to be redone every time I edit.

What U have to do, have one tab with the page open, a second tab with the page that I do an Edit. The content is not there to edit and if you enter there you get an error, so I do an Advanced Edit and cut and paste in the advanced edit window. Then I make the edits and reformat headers (they don't always paste).

When I have some time, I'm going to try removing the table from one and see if that helps without it being visually unusable.

[Tempered7]

Would using Bit.ly links help?

Just saw that it is also banned in my country...

There's 10k character limit and the forum counts BBCODE as characters: bold = 7 characters for [ b ] and [ / b ]. Tables and bullet points are the same too.
There's a long line that separates things in Advanced Mode which takes way less characters.

[Nylanfs]

Eww, ick

[LordEntrails]

Eww, ick
To not using tables?

[Nylanfs]

No, to Bitly being blocked, and the character limit.

[LordEntrails]

I used the "Remove Format" on a bunch of the text (not in the tables) and that helped too. Must have hidden formatting in there somewhere. They all remain visible now when editing.

[Tempered7]

No, to Bitly being blocked, and the character limit.

Exactly! :(