Five D&D map making programs you've (probably) never tried
Improved Initiative makes running combat so much easier!
improvedinitiative.app/powerw...
I tested out five MORE D&D/TTRPG map makers to find out how to make D&D battle maps super easily. I tested out Dungeon Scrawl, Talespire, Chronos Builder, Arkenforge, and Dragon Map Maker. I am always trying to reduce my DM prep time and make it easier on myself, so starting to make my own D&D 5e battle maps felt like it could be a step in the wrong direction. However, if I could produce maps that made me excited to show my D&D fifth edition players, without spending too much time, then I knew I'd stick with it. I can definitely see myself using at least two of these programs going forward!
Dungeon Scrawl:
www.dungeonscrawl.com/
Talespire:
talespire.com/
Chronos Builder:
chronosbuilder.com/
Arkenforge:
arkenforge.com/
Dragon Map Maker:
www.dragonmapmaker.com/
#00:00 some amazing maps
#01:44 Dungeon Scrawl
#04:24 Talespire
#09:29 Improved Initiative
#10:52 Chronos Builder
#14:51 Arkenforge
#19:16 Dragon Map Maker
#23:06 5 more map making programs!
Пікірлер: 70
I'd love a more in depth analysis of your favourite ones, or a comprehensive analysis after you've used them for a while :) Thanks for the great video!
😂
Dragon Map Maker looks awesome! I think that workflow will be intuitive to anyone who has played The Sims, and it produces gorgeous results. Definitely gonna keep an eye on it.
@jeffreyw901
3 ай бұрын
It definitely does look like the mapmaking version of the Sims, I love it
@WyvernBladeGames-iy3on
3 ай бұрын
Agreed. Very Sims-like -- and building is the best part of Sims by far. That's all I do with it. Actually playing Sims is pretty boring (to me). Think I'll check DMM out. Also very intrigued by Dungeon Scrawl since OSR black-and-white dungeon maps are pretty much the best.
Dragon reminds me of using DoomCad to design Doom levels back in the late 90s. You design the structure then assign a texture or bitmap to each surface. I think this is overall better because you can reassign a texture or style to an individual piece without having to replace it.
YO you were the one who introduced me to improved initiative! Congrats on getting sponsored by them.
Dungeon Alchemist and DungeonDraft are my go to apps for map making
Thank you so much for giving Arkenforge a go! The quality of your videos is absolutely stunning!
I always love to find out about more builders to try and keep an eye on. Hadn't heard of most of these so thanks for sharing and making this video.
Great overview of these tools. I will be checking some out. Keep up the great work.
Great series. TY for sharing!
I like RPG Stories quite a bit (on Steam). It still has a way to go, but it's getting cooler and more in depth with every Update. Also the Discord is super friendly, helpful and fun!
Once you get used to Talespire, it is super cool. The way that it is able to strip away blocks by layer when you zoom in, set up custscenes, and use lighting is truly brilliant. Also, mods are actually really easy to use with it as well.
@Taubrala
4 ай бұрын
the idear for that is great... but to be honest, i am always struggeling to blendout the correct layer, or to show the correct props... (I am the DM and we use to play face-to-face with one "presentation" screen... Talespire looks super cool but is not really useable for that)
@rane8432
4 ай бұрын
@Taubrala i actually just did that last night, it worked great. I used the game's photo mode to display on a TV I laid on my table. Its more difficult than just a picture for sure, but in exchange you get things like animated torches, that painted miniature art style, and built in atmosphere tools.
@Taubrala
4 ай бұрын
@@rane8432 thx, then i will try it again. Its a longer time ago, that i tried it.
@rane8432
4 ай бұрын
@Taubrala on my TV I was able to find a zoom level that made the tiles exactly 1 inch, and I just stuck with that.
I used Dungeondraft for my VTT games, I like it quite a lot, even with just the default assets. But I'll probably branch out to extra assets once I get beter at using it
The Dragon map maker assets look beautiful
I don't know where you came from in my feed but thanks for this. simple, great videos. You sir, have my subscription.
We are getting closer to the randomly generated DnD game I always dreamed of.
Subscribed for the content, sticking around for the moustache 👌
Thank you for this Work 🎉
Hey there! Love your vids! If i may i have a request: what about an easy, fast and cheap way to have your maps while live playing? I used to be an online master, but now I am starting to play live and i find this pretty difficult.
Dragon Map Maker reminds me of the building system from The Sims.
Talespire is so good I just wish I could convince my players to use it over Roll20 :(
Terrific mustache!
I appreciate you too
We use Talespire and really like it!
Talespire gets faster the more you use it. You can save your slabs/use slabs from talestavern and once you have tons of prefab slabs, your prep time improve drastically
Canvas of Kings is another you should check out!
Hello, your information is great and I am loving exploring making maps. You have mentioned in previous videos you have printed high level maps of the forgotten realms. Where are the getting the files? I’m looking at a forgotten realms map, as well as a couple old-school Raven loft maps
@powerwordspill
5 ай бұрын
WOTC released the high res file for the sword coast a few years ago, but I don't think they released any others unfortunately. I got the file from the WOTC website
At 1:15 into the video you show a clip of a whole city map in 3d. What program was that!!??
I tend towards Inkarnate, Dungeon Alchemist, and Wonderdraft/Dungeondraft...
Really wish hex map tools would catch up with battle maps, got any recommendations? (Other than worldographer)
GOOD SIR! You have an excellent moustache.
Okay, Dungeon Scrawl is everything i have ever wanted. Just straight up drawing. No fancy crap, no complicated menus, no hyped-up graphics that never seem to fit, straight up theater of the mind stuff. Love it. Just made my sewer level for my Kids on Bikes game in about 2 minutes. Perfect. I can fill out the details with my DM brain.
I subbed based on your mustache alone. Don’t let it down. Hahah JK great video!
just from listening how dragon map maker works make me think of the sims :D
which map maker are printable for those of us that dont play online or on screan
What is the map maker that's displayed during the intro at 1:17?
DUNGEON ALCHEMIST on steam, easy easy Map making
You can try "Dungeon Alchemist" too.
Dynamic dungeon is another one you could test. A lot of assets are behind the patreon wall. As a pivot, top 5 VTT with a 10 minute setup challenge (map load, layer effects, fog of war setup, etc.) would be intereting.
@powerwordspill
5 ай бұрын
That's on my to do list for sure! There's a lot out there so I think it'll be a multi part thing
@darthemphatic4654
5 ай бұрын
❤️
I really want to like Dungeon Alchemist but not having round buildings and the ability to rotate buildings really messes with me. I've been trying out Dungeondraft and I like it a lot BUT their export stuff for VTT's doesn't natively work with FGU or FVTT. You need 3rd party apps to do the conversion. I hear there is now a big delay in the release of the next version of DA which promised the features I needed. So I am going to stick with dungeondraft for now.
what about Dungeon Fog and Dungeon Alchemist?
@powerwordspill
5 ай бұрын
They were in part one of my maps video!
I keep thinking this is Patrick from Funhaus.
Does anyone know if there’s an idiot-proof way to display Tale Spire maps on a television?
@crapphone7744
8 күн бұрын
First let me admit I'm a boomer, then I'm just going to say which is not helpful, I don't know of any reliable way to display anything on a TV from any computer, because, well, random glitches and updates....
I mostly use dungeon alchemist.
I've gotten my eye on a 3d software called Crocotile3d and I'm saddened that it is only a modeling tool and not a map VTT. Please help!
Dungeon Alchemist imo is better than all of these.
@powerwordspill
5 ай бұрын
If you play medieval fantasy then I think I'd have to agree! Although I really like the look of the maps from dragon map marker, and they print really nicely
@cellphone7223
5 ай бұрын
@@powerwordspill Great Points. I keep forgetting about our modern/sc-fi players/gamers. The irony is, i'm even switching from many decades of GM'n fantasy to modern/sc-fi. 404 brain not found. 😂
@NotKyleChicago
3 ай бұрын
He talked about that tool in another video.
@jacksonreasoner1408
25 күн бұрын
I used dungeon alchemist to run a mini campaign and felt super restrained, I’ve switched to using inkarnate and much prefer it. I’m sure it’s subjective, but I wouldn’t recommend DA to anyone
The videos are awesome, content and production. The only thing that bothers me is this habit of making the voice hoarser at the end of sentences. I'm going to have to wait for this trend to pass before I start consuming USA's media again.
Stop using notification sounds.... It does not add anything positiv to the video
Why dont you try to build the same type of setting for each different program? That way you can show people the real difference between them. Decent vid but kind useless...