How to choose a tool for mapping?

[Mark Oliva]

Now, one of the advantages CC3+ has, is that you can draw maps from two different perspectives: isometric, and top-down views.

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Now, even with this disadvantage, there is also an advantage, in the fact that if you can figure out how to do it, you can create your own symbols for cc3+. Which means you could make sky scrapers, and monuments, and the like for sci-fi settings. But again, that takes time. I haven't been able to do so at this time, but it is something to think about.

Just to be clear, I'm not disagreeing with anything that Storm has said, but one should point out that the things mentioned above are by no means exclusive to CC3+, They apply just as well to MapForge and Fractal Mapper 8. All three programs use PNG graphics as symbols, so if you acquire a PNG symbol or make one, you could use it in any of the three programs. FM8 also includes ISO symbols for overland mapping in both its PNG and vector symbol sets. That doesn't apply directly to MapForge, because it works with add-in graphic packages rather than individual PNG symbols, however, one can import individual PNG symbols into MapForge.

One of the disadvantages, at least for me, is that there aren't any isomectric symbol sets for modern (or futuristic) map making, unless they are a part of Cosmographer

There aren't any in Cosmographer either or anywhere else including RPGMapShare, as far as I know. I'm pretty familiar with what's on the RPGMapShare site, and I have Cosmographer. Cosmographer has mostly symbols for furnishing the interiors of spaceships and space stations in deckplan mode. It has planets and similar space objects in starmap mode. It has geographic symbolry and hexagon landscape fill stamp symbols in overland mode.

ProFantasy also has issued a few annuals with sci-fi tools, but I've never seen them, so I can't comment upon them.

The space/sci-fi part of the Dundjinni Archives, which are free in both CC3+ and FM8 versions and can be imported into MapForge, also has symbols for furnishing space ships and space stations in deckplan mode along with personal equipment and creatures. It has planets and a wide variety of spaceships in starmap mode. It has nothing in overland mode.

The Symbol Set 3 add-on for CC3+ includes modern symbols typical for the 20th Century. Things like computers already are outdated for the 21st Century.

For the record: I have licensed installations of MapForge with quite a few add-ons, Fractal Mapper 8 and CC3+ with the eight main add-ons, including Cosmographer and Symbol Set 3. I have mapping experience with all of them.

I whish that there were more examples of sci-fi maps made with FM8, things like cities/towns, starship deckplans, battlemaps, "dungeon" maps, etc., specially maps on the better quality side, since the few I've seen were mostly on the low quality side.
Unlike FM8 where I'm yet to see a high quality sci-fi stuff, I found that there are plenty of high quality examples of all kinds of maps made with CC3+ and Cosmographer, from cities, to buildings/dungeons, to starship deckplans, to star maps, there are examples of all kinds of things with a good portion of them on the high quality side.

I find that strange too. FM8 is produced by NBOS Software. It's top-selling program is AstroSynthesis, which can work together with FM8. AS/FM8 users produce a lot of "how to" queries, but if they post their maps anywhere in the Internet, I have no idea where that is.

[nichendrix]

I find that strange too. FM8 is produced by NBOS Software. It's top-selling program is AstroSynthesis, which can work together with FM8. AS/FM8 users produce a lot of "how to" queries, but if they post their maps anywhere in the Internet, I have no idea where that is.

Isn't that strange? I've been mining for examples for some months, but I've only found three examples of starship deckplans and they were very basic and on the not pretty at all side.

I spent a some time with the trial version of AstroSynthesis and couldn't find any good tutorials for beginners, only after a time asking around in the official community I've found out that there is a PDF manual in the program folder, but there's no link or mentiob to it in the program's GUI.

As far as I could use it during the 14 days trial, I've found that the star map generation is rather interesting, though it lacks in options for the maps, for instance you can only generate top, side and front views, I couldn't find a isometric view, that would be nice to later process in PS to look like an holo-message.

I whish I could find modern and sci-fi buildings to add to my city maps, but it seems that I'll have to make them all from scratch, which would take a long time to finish enough buildings that would be feasible for use on sci-fi town/city maps.

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[Mark Oliva]

.I whish I could find modern and sci-fi buildings to add to my city maps, but it seems that I'll have to make them all from scratch, which would take a long time to finish enough buildings that would be feasible for use on sci-fi town/city maps.

You have my sympathy, but there's not much more that I can offer on that point.

If you want to build a modern or futuristic world, you will probably need Cosmographer, and probably SS3 (symbol set 3).

Symbol Set 3 won't do much for you on the futuristic side. It's modern in the sense of a little while before the present, mirroring the late 20th century but not yet into the 21st.