I was just wondering what you guys do for maps when it comes to homebrew stuff? I know the ruleset doesn't need a map, however I do enjoy having something to look at. I also use a virtual tabletop, so hand-drawing on the fly isn't something I can really do. Suggestions?

For online stuff. I fronted the cash for Maps of Mastery's Omnibus . You get a lot of stuff for your money, and it's all quality product.

Good old graph paper planning and a vinyl grid mat with wet erase markers. Easiest and cheapest option, IMO.

You can try Campaign Cartographer if you want to draw your own. It is very powerful, but has a bit of a learning curve.

Good old graph paper planning and a vinyl grid mat with wet erase markers. Easiest and cheapest option, IMO.

. I also use a virtual tabletop, so hand-drawing on the fly isn't something I can really do. Suggestions?

You can try Campaign Cartographer if you want to draw your own. It is very powerful, but has a bit of a learning curve.

For fear of being repetitive, AutoRealm is a much cheaper (free) CAD that doesn't have the learning curve. I have both but only dust of CC when AR can't handle what I want. And each time I have to relearn a few things.

I don't often use maps. When I do, they tend to be hand-drawn sketches for on-the-spot events. On rare occasions, I'll throw together something in Photoshop, but not all that often.

In the Roll20 game that I’m currently playing in, our GM uses satellite maps from the real world, and then draws on top of them to indicate things like “this is where the spaceport is”, “this is where Cantina X is located”, etc….

So, with something like Google Earth, the entire planet is a good source of maps for you.

In the Roll20 game that I’m currently playing in, our GM uses satellite maps from the real world, and then draws on top of them to indicate things like “this is where the spaceport is”, “this is where Cantina X is located”, etc….

So, with something like Google Earth, the entire planet is a good source of maps for you.

That's a great idea. Varying terrains and "tech levels" across the globe. Ensure you don't select something a player might recognize and you have some great, realistic looking medium-scale maps. I wouldn't zoom in too close (able to recognize Earth architecture) or too far out (recognize the location). You could easily add some radar screen markings, Auerebesh along the border, etc, and you have a Star Warzy map.

That's a great idea. Varying terrains and "tech levels" across the globe. Ensure you don't select something a player might recognize and you have some great, realistic looking medium-scale maps. I wouldn't zoom in too close (able to recognize Earth architecture) or too far out (recognize the location). You could easily add some radar screen markings, Auerebesh along the border, etc, and you have a Star Warzy map.

Overall, I agree with you.

However, in the case of the Roll20 game I’m talking about, our GM has no problem if people recognize anything on the maps. He is totally open about where he gets his data from, and most maps also include callouts that show sample pictures of what the architecture or area looks like when seen closer up, so that the players can get a better feel for the scene.

I was a bit surprised at first, but now I see that this approach works fine, and I don’t really see the “Earth” locations in the maps anymore. I’ve kind of tuned them out over time, and now they just don’t really register.