Lately I have been using map editors that come with RPG computer games to create maps for D&D. It is something I have found extremely helpful in allowing me to present good looking maps to my players. Mostly I use them for Local Area maps, overlooking an area of roughly 50x50 miles or so. The cool thing about RPG map editors is they are easy to use and come packed with different terrain brushes such as water, grass, snow, swamp, desert, etc... They also have landscaping objects like trees, mountains, rocks, waterfalls, etc... and finally they have Adventure Objects such as towns and ruins and crypts and whatever else you could possibly want to signify a town or dungeon of any kind on the map. Here is one I made for a game using the map editor in a game called Heroes of Might and Magic 4:
Lots of games, especially fantasy strategy/RPG games have an editor you could use, pick one you like best. I recommend editors from the Might and Magic: Heroes series, the Age of Wonders series, Age of empires, Civilization series, there are all sorts you can use. Constrain your map to one screen's worth of material, because you will be taking a screenshot, so no point in scrolling around to create any more than that. Now, pull up a word doc and go to insert>screenshot>screen clipping and clip and image of the map you made. You can stretch it and print it for your game. I recommend 11x17 paper. If you want you can print a second copy to fill with your notes and take it behind the DM screen with you. Running an online game over Roll20 or something similar? No problem save the image as a PNG and upload it to your map on the background layer.
The cool part about making your area maps this way is that there is no need to stop there. Whenever your players cross the extreme North, South, East, or West edge of the map just roll them over into the next one, with new towns, dungeons, and other interest points. If you want to constrain their movements a bit you can use natural barriers like thick forest, bodies of water or mountain ranges. You can create an entire campaign this way by injecting each new map with adventure locations and plot hooks. When the players run into an adventure location, that's when you can zoom in to a town map or a dungeon map with the details on that location.
Lately I have been using map editors that come with RPG computer games to create maps for D&D. It is something I have found extremely helpful in allowing me to present good looking maps to my players. Mostly I use them for Local Area maps, overlooking an area of roughly 50x50 miles or so. The cool thing about RPG map editors is they are easy to use and come packed with different terrain brushes such as water, grass, snow, swamp, desert, etc... They also have landscaping objects like trees, mountains, rocks, waterfalls, etc... and finally they have Adventure Objects such as towns and ruins and crypts and whatever else you could possibly want to signify a town or dungeon of any kind on the map. Here is one I made for a game using the map editor in a game called Heroes of Might and Magic 4:
The cool part about making your area maps this way is that there is no need to stop there. Whenever your players cross the extreme North, South, East, or West edge of the map just roll them over into the next one, with new towns, dungeons, and other interest points. If you want to constrain their movements a bit you can use natural barriers like thick forest, bodies of water or mountain ranges. You can create an entire campaign this way by injecting each new map with adventure locations and plot hooks. When the players run into an adventure location, that's when you can zoom in to a town map or a dungeon map with the details on that location.
Fabulous idea. I may try this with Neverwinter Nights. Thanks!