Creating Maps and Using Counters

[Star Gazer]

Right, so here's my problem:

My players want to dip into mercenary life and they want to use Striker or a similar 15mm/scale game to play out their exploits. But, using minis and terrain is out (I have a 1yo and live in a 3-bedroom condo: no time, no space).

My thought was to use counters on printed maps.

Counters, I can do easily using the wonderful tools here: http://zho.berka.com/rules/. However, I'm stuck when it comes to maps.

Here's what I have available:
1. Large Format Printer
2. Adobe design products
3. ProFantasy products, (v2, not v3)

My thought was to grab some interesting geography from some of the thousands of gigs of available maps from USGS and somehow turn them into interesting play surfaces for my players, but I'm running into problems. Alternately, I could use CC and FT to come up with the maps but I haven't used either program in years, so am unsure as to whether or not they're capable of producing what I want.

Basically, I'd like to print out some interesting terrain for my players using a map overlaid by a 1/2" hex-grid. Anyone have any idea how to go about doing so?

Thanks,

-S G

 

[aramis]

yes, CC2 or 3 can do what you're trying; it probaby is one of the best for it, but I'm uncertain about the USGS files.

 

[far-trader]

How about doing a screen grab of some terrain pics from Google Earth? I've seen some very nice bits of rugged landscape not to mention detailed cityscapes, and everything in between. Then just overlay your grid on that. GE will let you scale, and istr the options allowing various detail levels of the terrain, and maybe even overlaying contour lines (though I may be thinking of some other service there).

 

[Sturn]

[EDIT] Far-trader dammit I posted this before refreshing and seeing your post!

I experimented by using Google Earth to find some terrain that might be appropriate and simply overlaying it with graph lines using AutoRealm, a free program. This took me a couple minutes of browsing to find a "Bridge Too Far" type setting, then a couple more minutes of taking a screenshot, pasting in AutoRealm, overlaying graph paper (AutoRealm allows any kind of graph of any size), then saving as a JPG. 5 minutes later a simple map, but not sure if this is what you wanted:

 

[far-trader]

Your picture is worth more than my words Sturn

 

[Star Gazer]

[EDIT] Far-trader dammit I posted this before refreshing and seeing your post!

I experimented by using Google Earth to find some terrain that might be appropriate and simply overlaying it with graph lines using AutoRealm, a free program. This took me a couple minutes of browsing to find a "Bridge Too Far" type setting, then a couple more minutes of taking a screenshot, pasting in AutoRealm, overlaying graph paper (AutoRealm allows any kind of graph of any size), then saving as a JPG. 5 minutes later a simple map, but not sure if this is what you wanted:

that's exactly what I was looking for.

Has anyone figured out how to scale things to 15mm size? I'm having problems getting maps large enough and scaled down so that counters representing three to four people make visual sense.

 

[watti]

Also...

I have also been using the program MapTool for essentially the same purpose.

The added bonus being that the progam is a online player aid too and you can use counters that you make yourself.

rptools.net

 

[wnourse1]

HeavyMetal Map

You could also try the product HeavyMetal Map, which is a map designer for Battletech. Not sure of the scale, but pretty easy to create quick and dirty tactical maps.