AutoREALM is primarily designed for D&D type gamers, making maps for campaigns and dungeons. From the website:
AutoREALM is a Free GNU mapping software (a “cartographer”) that can design maps of castles, cities, dungeons and more. AutoREALM is generally used by Role-playing Game practicants who enjoy doing their own maps. But it could fit the needs of other people.
I can imagine that it works great for role-players, because I have been extremely happy with my more general use of it.
Copyright © 2010 B.D. Shepherd; All rights reserved.
I first found AutoREALM when I was looking for a mapping program I could use to rough out Vardya so that I’d have an idea of the relative position of various things within the city. It was perfect for that, so much so that I will eventually have a detailed street-level map that covers most of Vardya (I add detail such as buildings and side streets as my story ventures into new areas of the city).
AutoREALM also works great as a simple drawing or diagramming tool. It’s not perfect of course, but probably the main drawback for me is that it is easy to get too wrapped up in whatever I’m drawing. I generally consider time I spend mapping or figuring out a floor plan to count toward my writing, since it will help me so much in the long run. I really have to be conscious, though, that whatever I’m making is a means to an end, and not the end in itself.
Copyright © 2010 B.D. Shepherd; All rights reserved.
AutoREALM is a useful tool, and not just for fantasy writers like myself. Most writers make up at least some of the spaces they write about — the crime scene, the interior of a house, etc. — and, at least in my opinion, it really helps to have a neat, properly scaled reference to use.
