Cosmographer 3 released

[Diamondfist]

For anyone interested to know, Cosmographer 3 for CC3 has just been released.

The product information, features and screenshots can be found here:

http://www.profantasy.com/products/cos3.asp

The product page has a Traveller link on the left as well. I hope that this is helpful to those interested.

 

[vitalis6969]

Looks gorgeous. Now Im going to have to decide if CC3 is worth learning...

-V

 

[Treebore]

This Spinward MArches map is pretty sweet too!

http://www.profantasy.com/library/COS3_SpinwardMarches.pdf

 

[Treebore]

They also offer up a large view of a deckplan that would work for a heavy duty deep space independent type of Scout Ship:

http://www.profantasy.com/library/COS3_Example.pdf

 

[FreeTrav]

If anyone who uses such tools would care to write one, Freelance Traveller would be quite interested in receiving a review of the CC3/Cosmo3 combo...

 

[phavoc]

I had the older version of Cosmographer, and upgraded to the version 3. First off, I have to say I've not been a big fan of it. When I originally purchased it, I was hoping for a mapping tool that would be relatively friendly for non-architectually inclined people. I wanted to abilty to be able to draw a shape, and then place the images on my deckplan that suited what I was looking for.

With that being said, I have to admit that the newer version is no improvement over the older one. There are some very nice and colorful templates, but the amount of effore required to use the tool to draw simple deckplans far outweighs the pretty pictures. I can do more, with just Visio, than I can with Cosmographer.

For those that remember, D&D put out a tool called Core Rules. Part of the application was a mapping program. It produced quite readable maps and drawings that just about anyone could do. It wasn't a super-high quality application like Cosmographer, but in most every way it is superior - it allows you to jump in and to be creative with the game while not having to spend a large amount of time just trying to master your drawing tool.

So from this gaming enthusiast, I have to give it a big 2-Thumbs down. It's kinda pretty, but mostly useless to the average or casual gamer who wants to create useful documents for their game.

 

[GJD]

I had the older version of Cosmographer, and upgraded to the version 3. First off, I have to say I've not been a big fan of it. When I originally purchased it, I was hoping for a mapping tool that would be relatively friendly for non-architectually inclined people. I wanted to abilty to be able to draw a shape, and then place the images on my deckplan that suited what I was looking for.

With that being said, I have to admit that the newer version is no improvement over the older one. There are some very nice and colorful templates, but the amount of effore required to use the tool to draw simple deckplans far outweighs the pretty pictures. I can do more, with just Visio, than I can with Cosmographer.

For those that remember, D&D put out a tool called Core Rules. Part of the application was a mapping program. It produced quite readable maps and drawings that just about anyone could do. It wasn't a super-high quality application like Cosmographer, but in most every way it is superior - it allows you to jump in and to be creative with the game while not having to spend a large amount of time just trying to master your drawing tool.

So from this gaming enthusiast, I have to give it a big 2-Thumbs down. It's kinda pretty, but mostly useless to the average or casual gamer who wants to create useful documents for their game.

I have to say, I couldn.t disagree more, phavoc. I used Cosmographer and Cosmographer Pro and found them to be a bit fiddly. Cos 3 and the Cos add-ins in the annuals I find to be a piece of cake.

1. Draw hull outline.
2. Draw Deckspace
3. add bulkheads
4. If required, add internal fittings.
5. Done. Print.

 

[DFW]

I have to say, I couldn.t disagree more, phavoc. I used Cosmographer and Cosmographer Pro and found them to be a bit fiddly. Cos 3 and the Cos add-ins in the annuals I find to be a piece of cake.

1. Draw hull outline.
2. Draw Deckspace
3. add bulkheads
4. If required, add internal fittings.
5. Done. Print.

For those that haven't been users of CC or other CAD programs, the learning curve is long.

 

[phavoc]

I have to say, I couldn.t disagree more, phavoc. I used Cosmographer and Cosmographer Pro and found them to be a bit fiddly. Cos 3 and the Cos add-ins in the annuals I find to be a piece of cake.

1. Draw hull outline.
2. Draw Deckspace
3. add bulkheads
4. If required, add internal fittings.
5. Done. Print.

I have seen the output, I'm very aware of the nice work they CAN do when you know what you are doing. But I'm not a CAD user, nor do I want to invest the time and effort to become an expert at the tool just to use it. My hope was that it would have been more friendly, or at least had a more friendly mode where I can draw the outline of my hull, then drag and drop the features that I want onto it. But it's not.

Simple things like rotating an object? Not so simple. I should be able to just right click on the object, select "Rotate" from the available menu, then either do a pre-selected rotation or enter the percentage that I want. Desiging user-friendly software is NOT rocket science. It's what I did for a long time. You can have the best tool in the world, but if you don't make it friendly to the user, they aren't going to use it. So that means you've created crap.

If I'm going to design a real-world aircraft, I'd use CATIA. If I was designing deckplans to sell I'd use something like Cosmographer. But if I'm a gamer, I think I'll stick to graph paper, a mechanical pencil, and an eraser.

 

[DFW]

If I'm going to design a real-world aircraft, I'd use CATIA. If I was designing deckplans to sell I'd use something like Cosmographer. But if I'm a gamer, I think I'll stick to graph paper, a mechanical pencil, and an eraser.

I agree 100% My deck plans are done using paint and are usable for table top game play.

 

[Diamondfist]

Every time I post info about Cosmographer here, it always seems to cause so much commotion and controversy! I don't know why!!! :twisted:

You've all put out a lot of interesting ideas and program suggestions. Nobody has mentioned NBOS Fractal Mapper and Astrosynthesis yet (I tried this but didn't like it).

I still have my AD&D Core Rules 2.0, but wasn't happy with the mapping tool. Maybe it needed a little more to it, but it was very simple to use. Phavoc, I never heard of Visio or CATIA, do you have any samples to show?

I agree that CC has a high learning curve; I like it, but it should be easier to use for people who are casual users. It can be kind of intimidating. Are there other mapping tools for sci-fi campaings out there?

I agree 100% My deck plans are done using paint and are usable for table top game play.

Do you mean Microsoft Paint?

 

[DFW]

Do you mean Microsoft Paint?

Yes. Example: http://www.4shared.com/file/AGGD0Drx/200_Ton_Fast_Trader_.html


Although, I found a paint program yesterday that "supposedly" has a layering capability.

 

[Diamondfist]

Yes. Example: http://www.4shared.com/file/AGGD0Drx/200_Ton_Fast_Trader_.html

Although, I found a paint program yesterday that "supposedly" has a layering capability.

Very nice.

I like how you phrase "supposedly". Are you going to "try" that paint program with the "supposed" layering capability?

 

[DFW]

Very nice.

Thanks.

Yes, I'll use it for my next design. Should be done in a week or two.

 

[phavoc]

Every time I post info about Cosmographer here, it always seems to cause so much commotion and controversy! I don't know why!!! :twisted:

You've all put out a lot of interesting ideas and program suggestions. Nobody has mentioned NBOS Fractal Mapper and Astrosynthesis yet (I tried this but didn't like it).

I still have my AD&D Core Rules 2.0, but wasn't happy with the mapping tool. Maybe it needed a little more to it, but it was very simple to use. Phavoc, I never heard of Visio or CATIA, do you have any samples to show?

I agree that CC has a high learning curve; I like it, but it should be easier to use for people who are casual users. It can be kind of intimidating. Are there other mapping tools for sci-fi campaings out there?

No controversy here. Just putting out my opinion.

Visio is a tool published by Microsoft for making charts and diagrams. It's very easy to use, and different templates allow you to draw things like electrical diagrams, flow charts, even seating arrangements. I am thinking about looking into loading the images from Cosmographer into it.

CATIA is a CAD/CAM (computer aided design/computer aided manufacturing) program used by Boeing to design the jets. It's extremely powerful, and allows you to not only draw your designs, but to calculate stresses from wings and other aerodynamic forces. Plus once you have designed your aircraft, it allows you to use "stick" figurines to estimate how much clearance a real person would have if, for example, they needed to reach around an object to get at a part. It's clearly a tool most mechanics wish automobile designers used I bet!

 

[IanBruntlett]

I haven't got round to learning Dia, a free diagram tool (influenced by Visio) which is free and works on Windows / Linux / Unix systems. Take a peek at:-

http://live.gnome.org/Dia

 

[GJD]

Simple things like rotating an object? Not so simple. I should be able to just right click on the object, select "Rotate" from the available menu, then either do a pre-selected rotation or enter the percentage that I want. Desiging user-friendly software is NOT rocket science. It's what I did for a long time. You can have the best tool in the world, but if you don't make it friendly to the user, they aren't going to use it. So that means you've created crap.

If I'm going to design a real-world aircraft, I'd use CATIA. If I was designing deckplans to sell I'd use something like Cosmographer. But if I'm a gamer, I think I'll stick to graph paper, a mechanical pencil, and an eraser.

Actually Cosmographer is pretty easy to use. The example you give is, actually, just as you say. To rotate an objet either hold down control and free rotate or right click and enter the rotation in the box,

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c59/geejaydee/box.png

It LOOKS scary, but it really is easy to use with a bit of common sense. The version 3 updates have helped a lot - stuff is now automatically assigned to the right layers and so on now.

 

[DFW]

It LOOKS scary, but it really is easy to use with a bit of common sense.

It's easy to use IF you are familiar with CC already or CAD pgms in general. Otherwise, no.

 

[GJD]

Familiar with CAD rograms? No, not really. I've never used a CD program before. Familiar with CC? It's actually a LOT simpler to use than CC2 or CC Pro, so half the stuff I did learn for that, I don't need any more. Can you use it without reading the instructions- probably not, but then I bet I could get you up and running and making deckplans in 15 minutes flat.

 

[phavoc]

Actually Cosmographer is pretty easy to use. The example you give is, actually, just as you say. To rotate an objet either hold down control and free rotate or right click and enter the rotation in the box,

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c59/geejaydee/box.png

It LOOKS scary, but it really is easy to use with a bit of common sense. The version 3 updates have helped a lot - stuff is now automatically assigned to the right layers and so on now.

It's still a pain to do. It's not at all intuitive. It does have the steep learning curve, and frankly its not friendly to the casual user. It does have it's uses and place. But I still am gonna stick with the opinion that the average user will never master it, and will relegate it to the bit bucket. It would be akin to using photoshop to remove redeye from my pics when I can use a far more friendlier tool to do the same thing in a mouse-click.

Is photoshop more powerful? You betcha. Is it better? That's arguable. It's far too complicated of a tool for the casual user. I say Cosmographer (in its current incarnation) is as well.