Question about next software to purchase - CD3 for CC3, or Fractal Mapper?

[Mark Oliva]

I went from CC3 to FM8 and wouldn't consider going back again for any kind of map. The main reason for dropping CC3 was that FM8 maps are portable and CC3 maps aren't. Beyond that, the learning curve for FM8 is about 10% of the learning curve for CC3 with the end map result being about the same, regardless of whether you're mapping overland, cities or villages or dungeons. However, any map I can make with CC3 I also can make with FM8 in about 25% of the time.

The clue to knowing whether FM8 is for you is to try it out. It doesnn't cost anything to do that. First go to:

http://www.nbos.com/nox/index.php?action=1001&id=144

and download the trial version of FM8. It's identical to the full version with two exceptions:

1) You can't save maps.
2) It has a small symbol library.

But that's adequate for a learning trial.

Then go to:

http://www.nbos.com/nox/index.php?action=1001&id=125

and download the free FM8 Manual/Tutorial (PDF). Work your way through it. It takes about a day. Once you're done, you will know all of the basics of FM8. You will be well set to make just about any FM8 vector map you want. If you're like me, you won't be all that impressed, because vector maps - from FM8 or CC3 - were left behind by the RPG industry more than a decade ago. The really good FM8 and CC3 maps are raster maps. So, next. go here:

http://www.vintyri.org/vintyri/tu1.htm

and download our free 200+ page FM8 raster mapping tutorial. Other people who have done it tell us that it takes about two days to do. Once you've done that, you will have mastered about 90% of FM8, and you should be able to produce all kinds of excellent raster maps.

At that point, you can throw FM8 and CC3 into the scales and weigh which is best for you.

Be sure to get CSUAC. It works with both.

Unfortunately, the CSUAC no longer is available.

Dundjinni is not necessarily going out of business, but it has come to a dead end. The current version 1.07 was released six years ago. Dundjinni Enterprises announced two years ago that the long promised Version 2.0 has been laid on ice indefinitely. So ... the question of how long Dundjinni will stick around certainly is valid. No one at Dundjinni Enterprises has been offering answers.

All of that notwithstanding ... I have Dundjinni too and use it at times. It's an excellent program for making great dungeon and encounter scenarios, but it's limited when it comes to overland mapping or mapping cities, villages, etc. However, if you want to get a feel for it, download the free trial version from:

http://www.dundjinni.com

[OldGuy]

Unfortunately, the CSUAC no longer is available.

I hope that's not the case. I was at GM's Apprentice recently (2 weeks ago maybe) and it was up and running. I just checked and am receiving "Server Not Found" messages now. Has he moved or just taken it down?

If the later, hopefully someone will take up hosting it. It's too wonderful a resource to let disappear.

[Mark Oliva]

RE: CSUAC no longer being available.

I hope that's not the case. I was at GM's Apprentice recently (2 weeks ago maybe) and it was up and running. I just checked and am receiving "Server Not Found" messages now. Has he moved or just taken it down?

If the later, hopefully someone will take up hosting it. It's too wonderful a resource to let disappear.

It's Cecil Solomon's site. As far as I can determine, Cecil hasn't explained anywhere why he pulled the site. However, with the CSUAC license conditions that Cecil established, onecan't simply throw the CSUAC up to another web site for downloading. Unfortunately.

However, another, slower way to get at the objects is with the thread "Monthly Archive by Sendorian" on the Dundjinni site. Go to:

http://www.dundjinni.com/forums/foru...001&PN=1&TPN=1

Elric's mirror of the CSUAC site at:

http://www.halerecordings.com/forums...s.php?catid=28

also appears to have vanished.

[Felonius]

Thanks again for everyone's input. I ended up purchasing City Designer 3 to go with my existing CC3 purchase.

Mark, after looking at the Fractal Mapper 8 demo, I was extremely impressed, and I think I would recommend it to anyone getting started in doing fantasy mapmaking. It's fast, it's easy to transfer experience from existing vector/art editing software, and has a reasonable number of good filters/effects.

The two I didn't see--that ultimately pushed me to CD3--was the edge fade, and inner edge fade effects that can be applied using sheets in CC3/CD3. Maybe the demo didn't have them and the full product did, but those two effects are my lifeblood for overland maps. Particularly when I'm trying to blend/fade contour lines, or other effects. Without them, my maps just wouldn't look the same.

If I were to recommend a product to someone who is wanting something easy, and isn't really trying to make "professional level" maps, however, I would say Fractal Mapper 8 over CC3/CD3.