World/Starmap/Wilderness Map Creation Software
If you play in a sandbox style game world, involve a lot of overland travel in your game, or want to digitize your old school game maps then check out hexographer.
It’s my currently preferred map making program due it’s numerous helpful features. My favorite being the note tool it provides. This tool allows you to write several paragraphs of information tied to each hex you place on the map. Use it to detail locations, or record names, or list monster encounters, weather conditions, roll charts, etc... Due to this tool, I’m almost removed any need for a secondary note location.
Also provided in hexographer is an understated useful tool which allows you to alter the dimensions of the grid at any time. Make your map too wide? Clip it up. Need to add a few more hexes to let a continent be longer? Add it in. It’s great. It may seem simple, but I’ve found that few other map design programs allow this.
I like hexographer as well because it really allow me as the DM to detail the world mile by mile, and keep track of exact distances in the world. I’ve used paper maps, photoshop maps, Inkarnate, and a few other map systems before, but none of them provide this micro management the way hexographer does.
Lastly, I like the program because it makes me feel like I’m immersed in an old school classic feel of the world map. The hexes are CLASSIC. I definitely found the program through Matt Colville, my D&D dad, and it’s the singular best tool I’ve added to my DM’ing in the last 5 years.
(Most of my favorite things about the program require the “pro” version)