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Mac OS X  |  Games  |  Strategy / RPG  |  RPGMapMaker

RPGMapMaker

RPGMapMaker - 5.0.0

draw maps with polygonal grids

All Time: (4.1)
Version 5.0.0: Not rated (0.0)
Selected Version: 5.0.0
Release Date: 2006-11-02
License: Commercial
Downloads (version 5.0.0): 222
Downloads (all versions): 26,866
Price: $37.00

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Product Description:

RPGMapMaker is a tool for drawing maps with polygonal grids. These kinds of maps are used in Role Playing Games, but of course can be designed for any other purposes. In addition to having most of the capabilities of a real painting program (such as multi-documents, lines, rectangles, ovals and round rectangles, drawing and filling with color and pattern, text, rubber, pipettes tools, etc.), RPGMapMaker has also unique features that greatly simplify the building of this kind of map, such as:

  • Various kinds of grids. You can create a grid map made of hexes (well suited for world, region or village maps), or with squares (well suited for dungeon maps) or with lozenges (well suited for pseudo-3D castle and dungeon maps).
  • Seven layers static map. One layer for the grid, three pre allocated layers (one for color and drawing, one for terrain tiles and one for text and lines). Also three extra layers (also one for drawing, one for terrain tiles and one for text and lines) can be allocated on demand. For example you can change a polygon color without loosing the terrain that lies on top of it, build a map for the DM eyes only and a map for his players, etc.
  • Interactive maps. Static maps can be linked between each others like in a hyper text document. This allows you for example to design a continent, then zoom-in to a country, then zoom-in to a city, then zoom-in to a house, then zoom-in to the cellar of the house, then zoom-in to the dungeon beneath the house, then zoom-in... Of course, you can also zoom-out.
  • Layers manager. It allows you to allocate and free the three extra layers, to choose which layer is visible and which layer is not, and select which layer is the active one (an active layer is a layer where drawing occurs).
  • Various dimension units. You can specify the map dimensions in either cm or m or km. Alternatively, you may prefer to use the ft, ya or mi dimension units.
  • Grid polygon color filling in just two clicks (three if using patterns). One selects the color and one selects the filling area.
  • Predefined terrains tiles. ???? RPGMapMaker ???? comes with several predefined libraries for building regions, villages, castles and dungeons. They are available in either black and white or in colors.
  • Terrains editor. If you do not like the terrain tiles and wish to modify them, the terrain editor goes here for that purpose. Of course, if you are talented, you can also create terrain tiles from thin air!
  • Terrain Organizer. This tool allows you to quickly reorganize a terrain library and transfer tiles between libraries.
  • Random terrain generator. This tool allows you to generate random terrains made of up to four differents "regions" (for example water,mountain, plain, etc.).
  • Random maze generator. This tool allows you to generate random mazes, caverns and dungeons. For dungeons, rooms number can be generated.
  • Notes Window. This floating window allows you to add notes to your maps. For example, this lets you add comments about a specific areas, store information such as monsters statistics, etc. You can also merge all the notes (or only some of them) into one big note. You can then print this big note or copy it into an other program.
  • Line with arrows of various shapes. Also, you can add a distance between the ends of a line. The distance is automatically adjusted when you change the map dimension units.
  • Drawing contexts. You can memorize up to 40 foreground colors, background colors and patterns for further utilization.
  • Textures. This pallet allows you to use the Color Filling and Grid Polygon Color Filling tools with textures instead of Drawing Contexts.
  • Selective drag or clear. As the map is made of seven layers, you can specify which map layer(s) you want to drag or clear.
  • Intelligent copy and paste. As the map is made of seven layers, you can specify which active layer (or a portion of it) you want to transfer into the clipboard and on which active layer you want to paste the clipboard contents.
  • Intelligent external drop. You can choose the portion of an external drop to insert into the chosen active layer.
  • Multiple levels of Undo. By default, the application is configured with 16 levels of undo, but if you need more levels this can be changed in the application preferences.
  • Models. Using a special script, you can create maps with a predefined appearance for the grid layer (a grid with a legend for example). In addition, you can further modify the script to alter the grid layer appearance..
  • Layer Scripts. You can attach a script to a layer. This script contains directives that allow you drawing into the layer as if you were using drawing tools. At present, however, only strings drawing is supported.

What's new in this version:

  • [New] Mac OS X (10.2 or higher) only version.
  • [New] Interface (sheet windows, drawers, Terrain and Maze Generator, clipboard window, preferences, etc.)
  • [New] You can attach a script to a layer. This script contains directives that allow you drawing into the layer as if you were using drawing tools. At present, however, only strings drawing is supported.
  • [New] (Models) More drawing primitives (rounded rectangle, rotated text, ...), and new interface.
  • [New] Blend effect.
  • [New] (Terrains Pallet) The height has been reduced to allow more room for the main window(s). In addition, there is "button" to further reduce its height (by reducing the number of visible rows).
  • [New] (Map Information Dialog) 32 levels of undo when editing model scripts.
  • [New] (Map Information Dialog) The dialog is now resizeable to allow more room for the script editfield. In addition, the dialog size is remembered between invocations.
  • [New] (Map Information Dialog) Now remember the paper size and orientation as well as the scale between invocations.
  • [New] (Map Information Dialog) More scale available: 1/4, 1/2 and 3/4.
  • [New] You can save the script part of a map based on a model into a user model for further reuse.
  • [New] Multiple level of undo for the Terrain Editor (40) and the Clipboard window (8).
  • [New] (Generator Pallets) There is a button that allows you resetting the colors and patterns to their default values.
  • [New] "Repeat Last Effect" menu item.
  • [Imp] The Random Maze Generator can generate maps of any size.
  • [Imp] Applying an effect while drawing a terrain tile is now as fast as drawing terrain tiles without effects.
  • [Imp] Random Map Generation is slightly faster.
  • [Imp] Pasted picture experience...
  • [Imp] Error handling in Map Information dialog for model.
  • [Imp] Effects can work simultaneously with terrain tiles, the main window(s) and the clipboard window.
  • [Imp] Scroll wheel support...
  • [Chg] The RPGMapMaker modules have been merged with the application.
  • [Chg] The application support folder (where user terrains libraries, textures and models are located) is now ~/Library/Application Support/RPGMapMakerX/.
  • [Chg] The Tools palet dialogs are now displayed within the main window as their information are relative to the window.
  • [Chg] (Layers operation) Cut/Copy/Paste/Clear submenus in the "Edit" menu.
  • [Chg] Keyboard shortcut for undoing drawing operations on layers is now cmd-shift-U.
  • [Chg] The way of storing recent maps. As an indirect consequence, the Recent menu items will be empty the first time you launch the application.
  • [Chg] (Inks Pallet) The first 60 patterns are no longer editable.
  • [Chg] The Random Generator map dimensions cannot exceed 100 columns or 100 rows. However, you can now choose where on the main window the random map is generated.
  • [Chg] (Maps from models) The Grid layer position must be changed by script and not through the Layer Manager.
  • [Chg] Maps are always compressed.
  • [Chg] By default, selections and pasted pictures are not aligned on Terrain Grid.
  • [Chg] By default, the program uses the system color picker for selecting colors. There is however an option in the Prefs dialog to revert to the old ways of selecting colors.
  • [Bug] Creating/deleting layers or moving the Grid layer is now correctly reflected in the Layer Manager.
  • [Bug] The Grid layer is now correctly updated after you modify a model script.
  • [Bug] Changing the Grid layer position now correctly flag the map as dirty.
  • [Bug] Some effects had erroneous behaviors. This have been fixed.
  • [Bug] When pasting a map, it now remains within the main map area.
  • [Bug] The password dialog for encrypted map is now always visible.
  • [Bug] When selecting the entire map, the previous selection is now correctly erased.
  • [Bug] The polygon shadow borders popup menu is now displayed at the correct mouse location.
  • [Bug] Pasted pictures at zoom factor greater than 100% are now correctly placed on the main map.
  • [Bug] The Light Blur effect is now really light.
  • [Bug] The Gaussian Blur effect is now working correctly.
  • [Kis] When drawing several polygonal objects at a time, there exists situations where canceling the drawing is not always totally successful.

Operating System Requirements:

This product is designed to run on the following operating systems:

  • Mac OS X 10.4 PPC
  • Mac OS X 10.3.9
  • Mac OS X 10.3
  • Mac OS X 10.2

Additional Requirements:

  • Mac OS X 10.2 or higher

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Feedback Summary:

Version 5.0.0:
Overall Rating: Not rated (0.0) Features: Not rated (0.0) Support: Not rated (0.0)
Ease of Use: Not rated (0.0) Quality / Stability: Not rated (0.0) Price: Not rated (0.0)
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RPGMapMaker ReviewThe best map creation tool for the mac! - Version: 5.1.0, 4/30/2007 03:24PM PST

kelranth
This is by far the best mapping program I have ever used. It combines the ability to craft the appearance you want with the functionality needed for game play. The list of features is very long indeed but the highlight of this program is actually the developer. He both welcomes and listens to feedback from users in order to improve on an already impressive map creation tool. It is very easy to layout the landscape of the land using default or custom icons. With links you can open a city map just by clicking on the town icon or or navigate down stairwells in a dungeon, each level opening in either the same window or new windows as you click links. With automatic maze/dungeon generators you can quickly add to your world, when players do the unexpected. I really can not say enough, just that I hope you will give this amazing program a try.
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RPGMapMaker ReviewRPGMapMaker is a Great Tool for RPGers who use Macs! - Version: 5.1.0, 11/20/2006 08:17AM PST

moneill3
I recently returned to gaming after a near ten year hiatus. A the time that I stopped playing there were a number of computer based tools for RPGers, but none for the Macintosh. About a year ago I got the bug again and, as I still use the Mac, started looking at several of the Mac based tools available. I looked at most of them, and paid the liscencing fee for several before I stumbled upon RPGMapMaker. What a tool!

I found that the learning curve on RPGMapMaker was very short, being able to produce credible maps for my ganes in a very short time. The scripting ability that was built into the earlier version was VERY useful, allowing me to create my own specific Map Sheets, prepopulated with the room descriptions, basic NPC info, and even random encounter tables. RPGMapMaker also included severl modules that allowed the random generation of caverns, mazes and dungeons, though this feature was limited to an 8.5"X11" area. I quickly dropped use of all other tools and have been using RPGMapMaker since, and that was version 4.4.2.

Starting in version 5.0, veraion 5.1 is essentially the same as 5.0 except that it is a Universal Binary, Francois added some very significant features! Scripting has been expanded to all layers, though it is limited to text only on all but the 'grid' layer, and the random dungeon/cavern/maze modules have been expanded to allow for creation of maps up to the largest size maps the program can handle, which is "E" size (for those of us in the US) I have used the latest version to create a 'D' size cavern map for a campaign I am currently running, including scripting to add specific detail on the NPC list, Chamber description, and Random Encounter Table. My only issue now is not having a printer that can print the map,a problem that I resolved by going to a local print house. They LOVED the artwork I produced with RPGMapMaker.

Finally, when I first started using RPGMapMaker, there wasn't an online community from which I could get answers to some of my tougher questions, and even though the software was easy to learn, I am NOT an artist and some of the techniques used to develop the very nice sample maps available on RPGMapMakers home page escaped me. The good news is that Francois has agreed to support such a community and so the 'RPGMapMakerForum' at Yahoo!Groups was born. Its a small community so far, but Francois has been impresively cooperative, answering questions, working with the users to develop new exciting features for his software, and remaining open and extreemly responsive when it came to 'bug' reports on his a;pha and bata versions as he prepared the version 5 upgrade.

All round, I am VERY happy with the tool that Francois had provided and look forward to any and all advancements he makes.

Oh, one more thing. With version 5.0 and higher, Francois has made great strides with the documentation. For a program that was fairly easy to learn, his update of the documentation has made it even easier. If there was one area in the documentation where there is still room for improvement it is in the area of scripting for the 'other' layers. The documentation for scripting the 'grid' layer, in conjunction with the sample scripts provided, is very effective. Samples of scripts for the other layers would make it much easier to understand that aspect of the scripting feature.

Eric C. Smith
An Extreemly Happy User
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RPGMapMaker Developer NoteProblem with G3 - Version: 5.0.0, 11/4/2006 03:42AM PST

Francois_Menneteau_838
I am sad to announce that version 5.0.0 of RPGMapMaker does not work on Macintosh with a G3 processor. This is under investigation and I hope to find a solution soon.
Sorry for the inconvenience.
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