Hex Mapping
- Thread starter jswa
- Start date
dmccoy1693
Cosmic Mongoose
I use Microsoft Visio. Its a drafting program and I have all the basic stuff (planets, military bases, etc) saved in a template so I don't have to recreate it every time and its always the right size. Took a little time to set up, but now its rather easy.
I'm working on mapping a subsector right now. I used the space opera optional rules to generate the system stats which keeps the dumb tiny planets with an atmosphere to a minimum. I don't like the hard science rules as they produce way too many E and X type starports for my tastes.
As for the mapping itself, I took the subsector map pdf that mongoose has for download and changed it to an image. Then I use gimp to add the planets and such. I'm developing a new system for displaying more useful data on the map itself. Examples being different size circles to mark the system locations with the size showing whether the planet is low gravity, normal gravity, or high gravity. Then the planet is also color coded to give you a quick idea of the atmosphere- none, marginal, breathable, dangerous, etc. I'm thinking of also using the planet name to show population level and law level. I'm about half-way finished with it.
As for the mapping itself, I took the subsector map pdf that mongoose has for download and changed it to an image. Then I use gimp to add the planets and such. I'm developing a new system for displaying more useful data on the map itself. Examples being different size circles to mark the system locations with the size showing whether the planet is low gravity, normal gravity, or high gravity. Then the planet is also color coded to give you a quick idea of the atmosphere- none, marginal, breathable, dangerous, etc. I'm thinking of also using the planet name to show population level and law level. I'm about half-way finished with it.
I use ProFantasy's Campaign Cartographer and it's Cosmographer add-on.
It's good for dooing deckplans, and other types of maps as well. It does have a bit of a learning curve, but it's not that bad when compared to the learning curve needed to getting similar results out of Visio, Illustrator or AutoCad.
It's good for dooing deckplans, and other types of maps as well. It does have a bit of a learning curve, but it's not that bad when compared to the learning curve needed to getting similar results out of Visio, Illustrator or AutoCad.
qstor said:
Galactic really doesn't have a graphics format, in that the only way to get a image is a dump to a bitmap. But for a free bit of software I won't complain.
Universe dumps to Jpegs. It is available from the BITS web site. As well as Rob Prior's Imperial Grand Survey 2 for Macs (system 9 only though)
Right now I am using a hybrid of Campaign Cartographer with the Cosmographer add-on for graphics and Excel as my database (yes I know it's just a spread-sheet prog, but it works for me)
This is what I used to make my hexmaps that you mentioned:
http://dotclue.org/t20/
I wrote some instructions on the Avenger board to get it working in windows too, at:
http://www.traveller.comstar-games.com/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=1109
You do need your UWPs in .sec format though for the perl script to read them - it's rather fussy about it.
Hope that helps!
http://dotclue.org/t20/
I wrote some instructions on the Avenger board to get it working in windows too, at:
http://www.traveller.comstar-games.com/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=1109
You do need your UWPs in .sec format though for the perl script to read them - it's rather fussy about it.
Hope that helps!
dorward
Mongoose
I've just started building my own software for building subsystems.
http://www.thecoreworlds.net/blog/2008/12/subsector/
At the moment it generates a blank subsector map - not bad for an hours work, during which I had to learn enough SVG to produce the thing.
http://www.thecoreworlds.net/blog/2008/12/subsector/
At the moment it generates a blank subsector map - not bad for an hours work, during which I had to learn enough SVG to produce the thing.
Joshua Bell
Mongoose
If screen (not print) resolution is sufficient for your needs, you can use:
http://www.travellermap.com/post.htm
You can upload a .SEC file and it will render a sector or subsector for you - as a bitmap image.
http://www.travellermap.com/post.htm
You can upload a .SEC file and it will render a sector or subsector for you - as a bitmap image.
I just use Excel. I have an Excel utility that generates worlds and plots the subsector map, including travel zones. It doesn't currently do anything automatically with regard Trade or Comm routes and doesn't have any other colour coding, but I could easily add that in at a later stage.
Don't know how to upload an image, or I'd show you what it looks like
Don't know how to upload an image, or I'd show you what it looks like
phild said:I just use Excel. I have an Excel utility that generates worlds and plots the subsector map, including travel zones. It doesn't currently do anything automatically with regard Trade or Comm routes and doesn't have any other colour coding, but I could easily add that in at a later stage.
Don't know how to upload an image, or I'd show you what it looks like
I do something similar, except with OpenOffice instead of Excel. It does trade routes, but not travel zones. It even does names!
As much as i like the OTU, i prefer to use my own somewhat similar, but original universe. It mostly has independent worlds with no imperial or central authority. That means no X-boats (comm routes) and no zone classification. If I ever bother to use the correct universe, I can see travel zones being reasonable to add, but comm routes definitely not worth it.
After i finish generating a subsector or whole sector, I transfer them to a photoshop template I made myself. Spica Publishing hadn't released their higher-res subsector map yet.
Screenies:
Subsector Generator
Subsector Map
Sector Map
Daneel Olivaw
Mongoose
That's from OpenOffice? It looks amazing! How'd you do that?
Have a look here
I made this Ruby program from scratch - it will randomly generate a sector or subsector, or read a SEC file and generate the maps. I tweaked a few things : the size of the circle on the map indicates the size of the world, it's colour represents the hydrographics and the stroke (line around it) represents the atmostphere. I also print the full UPP of the world in the hex.
Maps are generated at 300dpi, and look great printed - and it also generates the full sector overview map.
You can download the program from here. Please read the comments at the top of the .rb file for full instructions.
I made this Ruby program from scratch - it will randomly generate a sector or subsector, or read a SEC file and generate the maps. I tweaked a few things : the size of the circle on the map indicates the size of the world, it's colour represents the hydrographics and the stroke (line around it) represents the atmostphere. I also print the full UPP of the world in the hex.
Maps are generated at 300dpi, and look great printed - and it also generates the full sector overview map.
You can download the program from here. Please read the comments at the top of the .rb file for full instructions.
GypsyComet
Emperor Mongoose
Galaga said:
Nah. A rough neighborhood can be a lot of fun.
I'd like to find some planets that I can use for my own maps. Although I think it looks ok to use a simple dot or circle for a system, I'd much rather use an image that actually looks something like the planet would. So waterworlds would be all blue, earthlike garden worlds would be blue with visible continents, frozen worlds would be white, etc. I don't need the planets to scale, I can scale them easily enough myself, but I don't think that I have the skill to actually make realistic looking "planets".
To get an idea of what I'd like, take a look at http://www.travellermap.com/, with the "candy" setting at the size "32" setting (or zoomed in even closer).
Anyone have any ideas of where to point me?
To get an idea of what I'd like, take a look at http://www.travellermap.com/, with the "candy" setting at the size "32" setting (or zoomed in even closer).
Anyone have any ideas of where to point me?
Stattick said:
Here are a couple
Universe by Diehard
Flaming Pear also has some utlities.
You can also use Fractal Terrains from Profantasy.
These are all commercial products, there used to be a screen save that put out similar planetary spheres, but I can't seem to find it now.
But there is a start for ya at least.
