Trouble with creating a Manor House

[aielwyn]

Happy Monday all (if there is such a thing?)

So, I recently dropped a good bit of money on CC3 and City Designer 3 in order to get a floorplan created for the Manor that my D&D group just purchased in Hardby (Greyhawk). While there are some absolutely fantastic things here that I can draw ideas from, nothing really fits with the vision I've got.

So, back to my problem.

I've been troubleshooting install issues all day and finally got that fixed, but within CC3 and CD3, I don't see a way to start building out a floorplan - or at least not one that I'm smart enough to find. I'm a System Administrator by trade, so I like to think I can pick things up fairly quickly, but I feel like an idiot trying to design this building.

Help?

And apologies if this should go to another forum. Since I was trying to get a building set up, I thought it might go here.

[aielwyn]

I have sort of figured things out. Sort of. I've checked some tutorials online, but I still can't get the look right. *sigh* I do know that I'm not going to spend anymore damn money on this software.

[Larb]

What exactly are you having difficulty with? Coming up with a suitable layout for your manor?

A square is a pretty bad shape to start with as manor houses aren't square unless they have a central courtyard. One important thing to keep in mind is that all rooms generally require light and therefore windows. So a a long rectangle, U or L shaped plan would be a better place to start.

[jpstod]

That is because your using City Designer instead of using Dungeon Designer.
Dungeon Designer is (and the Symbols sets) designed to Map out "Battlemaps"
If your wanting 1"=5 ft Battlemap with details you will need to get Dungeon Designer

For More Variations and the Most Artwork you will want the Symbol sets and if you really want the most artwork you will need to buy the Annuals.

My Wayward Traveler's Guide Maps are made with DD3 and the Newest Art set by Mike Schley

[aielwyn]

At this point, I'm not going to invest more money into the tool. It was, obviously, my first attempt at trying to do this and I found the whole thing to be unpleasant to use.

With that said, that's just my opinion. I've seen what you guys can do with it and folks with more experience have come up with stuff that's phenomenal looking. I wish I had known that Dungeon Designer was what I needed to get instead of City Designer. I think, for me, the naming was slightly confusing. When I thought of City Designer, I had it in my head that I'd be able to design buildings and floorplans. I didn't attribute that to a Dungeon type add-on.

BUT -

Here's the final result of me fighting with this all day and night. I think it came out okay for my first try.

[jpstod]

It does have a bit of a learning curve. Honestly I rarely make City and Regional/World Maps so having to have the Complete package is a waste most of the time even for me.
Been using it for a few years and I am still tinkering with it. Playing with the Layers can help maps.
I try and remember to re-arrange layers so the Grid goes under walls and doors and objects that block movement.
I export the maps as PNG files saved at 72 DPI for 5 foot Battlemaps.

Hate to spread rumors but there is a glimps of Hope for Dundjinni. a Newer Version that easily works on Newer Windows 8 and more systems without a lot of Tinkering.

I like the Maps..simple and easily understandable.

[jpstod]

If you want I can do them in Dungeon Designer 3 and make some changes such as the grids under the wals and doors.

[aielwyn]

If you want I can do them in Dungeon Designer 3 and make some changes such as the grids under the wals and doors.

If you want to tinker around with these floorplans, I'd be glad for the help. Obviously this was my first attempt through it and even with this I feel fairly accomplished (there was a lot of four-letter words and cursing at the erasing tool). I forgot to add a cutting block and kitchen items as well as a couple of wash basins upstairs. I was going to add a privy to the basement, but I had forgotten that as well.

Just let me know what you need and I'll send the files over.

Thank you

[jpstod]

There is nothing wrong with the Maps as a "First Attempt". We all had to start somewhere. I still cuss at the Erasing Tool. Don't give up o the program and do consider getting the Dungeon Designer 3 portion if your gonna make a lot of Maps.

Play around, have some fun

[anomiecoalition]

CC3 (and all its add-ons) have a big learning curve - but I think its worth if you're patient. My breakthrough with the software was when I learned that (a) I didn't need their symbol sets - just go to dunjinni and download basically everything you could ever need from the forums - then open the folder containing those symbols and drop them into your map in CC3. And (b) that I didn't need to rely on their templates - Start a new map (doesn't matter if its a city or dungeon) and set the size you want - then use the line tools to draw walls, floors, etc instead of the actual "walls", "floors" tools. Then, just moved around the sheets and play with their settings to get the desired effect.

Hope that helps some.