Where is a good place to start when mapping a world?

[fisheypixels]

That would make sense. Why I didn't think of that, I've no idea. I have GIMP. But the only thing is I don't have a tablet. I can't do any artistic anything with a mouse. I can chekc out Inkscape though!

Thanks man! Much appreciated!

[Ghostman]

I have GIMP. But the only thing is I don't have a tablet. I can't do any artistic anything with a mouse.

There are tools and techniques for map creation that don't require drawing anything, or using any other kind of manual artistic skill for that matter. Coastlines, for example, can be randomly generated. Many map elements can be added from premade icon/brush sets. Labels can be entered as text input in just about any image manipulation software. You should be able to find some useful information on this kind of mapping in the Software Discussion and Tutorials/How-To boards of this forum.

[fisheypixels]

I do know a website that randomly generates worlds and world maps for you, but I prefer to do it on my own. I use that site for ideas for shapes and reference to coastlines.

donjon; Fantasy World Generator

I'll keep that in mind. I've yet to really play around with GIMP. Thanks man!

[Gamerprinter]

That would make sense. Why I didn't think of that, I've no idea. I have GIMP. But the only thing is I don't have a tablet. I can't do any artistic anything with a mouse. I can chekc out Inkscape though!

Thanks man! Much appreciated!

Believe it or not, all of my digital maps are created with a mouse. I have a tablet, but don't care for it, since it doesn't draw as fast as I do. I find it frustrating to use. While drawing with a mouse might be equivalent to drawing with a brick instead of a pencil, I've been doing it for years, so its not an impossible task. I even do professional commissions doing it this way. Although I prefer to use Xara Photo & Graphic Designer 9, a vector drawing application, it is very similar to Inkscape, though has many additional features I rely on that Inkscape does not. However, Xara is not free (not expensive either, but not free).

I wrote an article a while back posted in G*M*S magazine blog that might help you decide which software is best for you.

[fisheypixels]

Ah. My biggest catch is money. I can't pay to commission a map, nor can I afford a tablet. So I'm stuck with pencil and paper, or mouse and GIMP or Inkscape.

That is amazing though! I don't really use a mouse in general, I just use my laptop's little cursor screen.