• Wheri
  • Da Vincian
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2006-10-04
  • Posts: 258

Topic: Mapping software

The problem every prospector encounters in Ryzom is: there are lots of materials on the map, and marking them with landmarks is rather hard. You get too many marks in the list, they get on top of each other, barely ordered. To make it even worse, some materials are only available during a specific time (Only at a rainy Summer night, and I'm not kidding there!).

Obviously, I need a big mighty program that can utilize a big map (Grabbed from a screenshot, I guess) of the area and set multiple marks and supports mark grouping, filtering and the like. If possible, I'm also going to use it for keeping a city map for a Pen-'n'-paper game.

Can anyone suggest such a program?

RP in MMOG's looks like this when trying to base it on in-game activities:
"Let's go <activity>!"
"Yay, <activity>!"
"<motivation>!"
  • From: Aachen, Germany
  • Registered: 2006-10-02
  • Posts: 51

Re: Mapping software

Well, I stumbled over that DnL map using the google maps API: http://dnl.houseofkenja.com/map/
I think here the API is avaiable: http://www.google.com/apis/maps/
Though I don't know how it looks like with filter options, but at least it may a start.

  • Prunes
  • Still in floatbed
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2006-10-03
  • Posts: 5

Re: Mapping software

check out http://ballisticmystix.com/map.jsp
tho it doesnt contain the free/starter island

  • Wheri
  • Da Vincian
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2006-10-04
  • Posts: 258

Re: Mapping software

Thanks for the advice, but I think I've found what I was looking for.

Just as I predicted, the more or less suitable program was found among roleplaying accessories. Namely, AutoREALM. It has layer support and you can place small handy pop-ups with whatever text you want appearing when you mouse over them.

It isn't ideal: there's only a basic layer system and changing popup text may be a pain. Still, it is great help. Also, it is opensource, and there may be a plugin available somewhere that allows to make custom popups and advanced cross-over layers (Hint hint!).

Overall, it's a nice piece of software for mapping stuff.

RP in MMOG's looks like this when trying to base it on in-game activities:
"Let's go <activity>!"
"Yay, <activity>!"
"<motivation>!"
  • Darkhawk
  • Fluffy harmless Teddy bear
  • Offline
  • From: Denmark
  • Registered: 2006-10-01
  • Posts: 710

Re: Mapping software

But Wheri, the ballisticmystix site actually has a great and comprehensive tool for foragers, where you can see a list of materials and then click to see where on the map you can find it. Just so you don't end up doing more work than neccessary.

  • Wheri
  • Da Vincian
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2006-10-04
  • Posts: 258

Re: Mapping software

I find databases and ready maps uninteresting and actually diminishing the fun of a game in most cases. It's a lot more fun finding the stuff yourself, exploring the world and the rules it lives under. Creating and filling such a base, on the other hand, is very interesting :)

RP in MMOG's looks like this when trying to base it on in-game activities:
"Let's go <activity>!"
"Yay, <activity>!"
"<motivation>!"