First map after tutorial videos

Hello!

I just got CC3 and have been completely blown away by both the complexity and power of the tool. I got the program as I just created a homebrew DnD campaign for my group after our last DM quit. I saw this program being mentioned on the Realm Works forums and it seemed right up my ally and it was!

The first map I made was a large global map (after watching the fantastic tutorial videos), as I'm making a open ended adventure, so I wanted the space to add things later. I've attached the rough draft of it to get feedback on it. It's pretty empty except for the south west corner, which is where the party is starting (next Wed!).


I normally don't join Forums, but the community here is really active and supportive from what I've seen, so let me know what I can improve on- as I'm still super new to using CC3.

Thanks!

Comments

  • For huge maps, I suggest using areas of color for forests and deserts. Using large numbers of symbols can slow down map loading.

    Note that the first symbol of a type is loaded into the map, and the same symbol after that is a reference to the symbol.

    So Tree 1 is placed once, and more of Tree 1 ( just a made up example) references the first symbol placed.

    But it is better to use bitmap fills or color polygons for large forests. mountain ranges, and deserts than large numbers of symbols.

    When you do district maps, you can use numbers of symbols.

    I don't know where the 'break point' is for number of symbols for the above problem.

    Currently CC3 uses 2 gigs of ram and doesn't notice your video card. Some of this is supposed to be dealt with by CC3+. I don't know the details of CC3+.
  • DogtagDogtag Moderator, Betatester Traveler
    edited November 2014
    Hi MarcFox,

    Welcome to CC3 and the ProFantasy forums. I think you're off to a nice start! I like that you're concentrating on one area right now, with plans to expand. It looks like you laid out some detail in the southwest, including roads and towns. What's the scale of your map, do you know? Any chance you could post a pic of just the southwest? If so, that'd be great, but don't feel pressured. I'm just curious to see what you've laid out for your players' first adventures, and it's hard for me to tell from your larger map.

    You mentioned the tutorial videos. You may also want to check out the tutorials in The Essentials guide or in the User Manual.

    The Essentials guide is a great overview of the most common and important parts of CC3. The map tutorial part of it starts around p. 14 but I recommend reading through the whole thing — it's a fairly small document but it packs in a lot of good information. If you got the physical disc, it should have been included in the package. And, regardless of whether you got a physical disc or a direct-download, a typical CC3 installation has an electronic, PDF, version in the \ProFantasy\CC3\Documentation folder. Also, the CC3 User Manual might be installed there as well. If not, you can download a copy of it from your registration page.

    The User Manual has pretty much the same tutorial but with a few extra bits of information. The real power of the User Manual, I've found, is in the rest of the information it contains. For example, it has detailed information about sheets (p.44) and each of the effects (pp. 46-53)!

    Your players are lucky you chose to pick up the DM mantle, but they have no idea how lucky they are you also chose to use CC3. Wait till they get a look at your maps!

    Cheers,
    ~Dogtag
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