What do folks who are OS X users like for map creating software?  I am specifically most interested in terrain / political mapping rather than dungeon mapping.

I would recommend GIMP because it is free. GIMP can be downloaded at www.gimp.org There is a downloads section (click 'other downloads' to get the Mac version), a manual section, and a tutorial section.

Once you have experimented with that, I recommend joining up to the Cartographer's Guild (its free!) and following this tutorial on building world maps with the GIMP:

http://www.cartographersguild....ed-presentation.html (original thread here: http://www.cartographersguild....egional-rpg-map.html ). Another useful tutorial is here (work through this whole thread all the way - the most crucial bit is posted half-way through): http://www.cartographersguild....r-masks-gimp-ps.html

Personally, I would not recommend any paid-for mapping software, because these are all overpriced and not as powerful as GIMP. Even though they might seem simple to use at first, they are a very expensive dead end. Only thing to watch out for with GIMP is that it is VERY resource hungry so if you have an old mac (like me) and try to make big maps it is going to be slow going.

Has GIMP improved in recent years?  I used it a bit five years ago or so and it was as you say a resource hog, and generally a pig to use.  If memory serves it used to require x-windows, and no good ever comes from that. ;^)

It now works on macs properly (no need for a fake windows environment) but it suffers from the same resource-hog problems as ANY raster-based graphics programme (eg Adobe Photoshop). Vector-based graphics programmes (Autocad; Vectorworks, etc.) are much more efficient, so if you intend on making numerous very large maps then you should probably try and download a vector-based programme. Ultimately it depends on what you are aiming to achieve: if you want a very functional political world map of a very large size, with lots of zooming in and out and accuracy, then Vector is better. If you want something very pretty where you spend time tweaking the colours and textures, then Raster is better. I recommend raster unless you know what you are doing.

I am more concerned with a functional map than a pretty map.  To me functional means clearly presents the information, easily modified and new information is added, and not too much of a pain in the butt to use for one with limited drawing skill.

I use Inkscape for the lines, and GIMP for textures and colours and stuff. Both are free.

In reply to erbridge (msg # 6):

How does that work?  Merging SVG based files with whatever GIMP is using these days?

One game I'm in use Ditzie for rpol ^_^

I do the drawing in Inkscape, then export as a png then continue in GIMP. It's not very easily modifiable, though (I keep notes of everything I do in GIMP so I can repeat the steps).

It's not pretty at all, but I use Google Docs, and not just for tactical maps. It is simple, quick, easy to update, and you can even give your players access so they can edit things as well. And you never have to worry about uploading and posting image codes.

https://docs.google.com/spread...EVkNHhscGRzQ2c#gid=0

https://docs.google.com/spread...1ZPSHVBVU1aZ3c#gid=0

As I said, pretty ugly. But they get the job done.

A question about GIMP:

Can it draw fractal lines? I'm looking for a better option than Google Docs. I've gotten free trials of programs like fractal mapper, but I'm looking for a full version of something that lets me draw fractal lines. Those always let me draw up political maps in a jiffy.

This looks interesting:

http://www.cartographersguild....e-bearing-gifts.html

A free vector based map drawer that I've used a handful of times is AutoRealm.  It's free and open sourced so you can edit the code if you so choose.

Here is the wiki for it for more info..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AutoREALM

And the link to DL it from Sourceforge

http://sourceforge.net/projects/autorealm/


Mustard Tiger, this one allows for fractal line drawing.