What’s the best place to make a map for world building?

[marcy]

Just wonderin — what do you use to make your maps? Do you prefer drawing by hand, using AI or something else? Looking for the best way to make detailed maps without it looking bad. Also for free or low cost…

 

[MsKnit]

One of my friends who runs online D&D games uses Inkarnate to make maps for his world, its regions, cities, and the insides of buildings. He says it can be a little hard to get used to, but it's got a free tier that might be enough for what you're after.

 

[Sync]

On the odd occasion I need (or want) to make a map (typically for a made-up fantasy realm) I use Inkarnate;

It's free to use - but of course the map resolutions/sizes and number of map-making assets are reduced in the free version.

Like all software, it takes a little playing with to get the hang of. It took me a while to realise that I could increase the scale of the map by decreasing the size of the icons, for example.

But even in the free version, I can make a map such as this:

The land of Veloria