For maps, do you you GMS use some sort of a CAD program for buildings, do you just describe them, do you hand draw them, or do you steal them from other sites?

Been trying out a few free ware CAD programs, and I'm curious.

do you recomend any that have structural things, like adding doors, windows, etc.

Thanks!

I use Visio, cause my players had an uprising demanding I stop using badly hand-drawn maps. I'm not willing to learn how to use a more complex CAD software though, so Visio is good enough for me.

Cool, I'm looking for somthing pretty basic, somthing I can save and usea gain later! I'll check it out, thanks!

Due to my lack of a blueprint-sized printer and the scale I generally like to work with, when I make maps, which is about half the time, I tend to use huge sheets of papers and a very long ruler.

I posted something a while ago that could help you...

I am no architect!

Also...

Cool SR Floorplans Website

...I was actually looking for floorplans and the like and the guys here really gave me a hand. Maybe you do not need to create anything, it has already been made for you!!

Cheers,

Max

A neat site I ran across as well. A map of a real university campus, and when you click on the buildings it lets you select a level of the building to get a floor plan. You will have to accept the download of Whip, an a control that Autodesk (the people that make AutoCAD) supply. And the controls aren't the greatest, but it is kind of cool that these are real layouts.

http://campus.umr.edu/phyfac/map/

EDIT

They aren't the only Universitiy to do something this either. For example here is the Catholic U of America.

http://facilitiesoperations.cua.edu/floorplans/

Generally these seem to be ways for them to get info out to students, and they likely were some sort of class project to start.

If you all ask nice I can point you in the direction of a massive selection of plans for Malls in the USA.

Or (seeing as I AM an architect, almost) sketch something up for you.

As that annoying guy says, BAM!! General Growth Properties Inc.

And incase you need it, a DWF viewer: DWF viewer

If any of you are going to running Food fight any time soon, PM me and Ill get you something.

For Software:

http://www.autorealm.org/

RPG mapping software, uses Delphi, is free

This would also be a good time to point out (to the four of us that don't know about this) that http://maps.google.com/ provides fantastic satellite images with some great resolution for certain areas (especially major metro areas).

Admittedly lots of things will have changed in the 50 year period, but it's a great place to get ideas. I've also used it to give the players "real" satellite images of the location they've got to hit...

Also Google's new(ish) Digital Earth app is even better...

The Other DSE

I'll have to remember to post the maps I'm working on now after the players get them. Some interesting (if not too complex) things in them.

~J

Check this new cad program that's free by google.
I have't checked it out fully yet, but hey, it's free.

http://sketchup.google.com/

I am carrying an extra pair of pants with me at all times until I have confirmation as to whether or not the interface disasters that all other CAD programs I've used have had have been avoided.

~J

Heh, well it's uh, free and released by google and it's supposed to be compatible with google earth.

Anyway, I'm at work so I can't check it out yet to see if it's any good. but I thought I'd let y'all know about this.

edit: can anybody tell if it can do the interior? From what I've seen it's just exterior modelling.

I use dundjinni with a custom tile set.

The images aren't CAD quality, but it works for our group.