New to fantasy mapmaking...what software should I use?

[jfrazierjr]

Generally speaking, though, you'd want to make a new map for your zoomed-in topo view because all of the symbols and text will scale relative to the zoom level, and there isn't a level-of-detail function that will simplify the coastlines as you zoom out. So if you make your lines detailed enough for the zoomed-in view, things will get very sluggish on the zoomed-out view due to having more nodes than you need.

I will say that this "issue" is one place where Fractal Mapper has superior support(well.. depending on how you look at it may not be an issue!). FM allows each layer to have a set zoom scale(both ceiling and floor if you wish) so that you can turn that layer on or off as you scale in or out as needed after a one time set up. The primary reason most people use this is to keep country labels from getting the way as you zoom in to a region. I have used this to start a map with few general labels for countries and as I zoom in, those hide themselves and then "county" and a few city labels show up and as I zoom in further, those disappear and "new" city labels appear along with village and other local stuff.

[RoninFrosty]

Wow guys, thanks for all the feedback. I'm researching CC3 and Fractal Mapper at the moment, I'll let you guys know what I end up with.