I guess that's the thing. I want a *simple* map, and these tools mostly make complex maps.
It's funny that I wanted to use as a model a map from OpenStreetMaps, and that map of a real place is much simpler than the maps produced by most TTRPG mapmaking tools.
@foolishowl does it have to interact with software? I always wonder how those are made (seems like a nightmare)
@aetataureate Only in that I want to post it on a message board. It's not even actually mechanically important to gameplay, though in the past I've had a player complain they couldn't visualize what was happening without a map.
My last resort would be to draw it by hand on paper and take a photo, but I thought I could come up with something a bit nicer than that.
@foolishowl are you a bit out of your depth with drawing software? if you have a source map you already like, you could just roughly trace over it on a different layer.
here's what i'm doing right now for fun so . . . if you want some help feel free to ask. also here's a very simple and good free pixel art rotoscoping (tracing) software that i've used a lot and love. (that's NOT what this screenshot is from to be clear)
@aetataureate Thanks. I had the map I'd downloaded open as a layer in GNU Image Manipulation Program, but I don't know it well.
@foolishowl i also have that open haha (it's artober!) and i would say drawing straight pixels is easier because it's easier to fill shapes that way without a weird outline.
also, if you find any pixel stuff you like and want to copy paste in, you can upscale it in gnu by choosing "scale" and then choosing None as the interpolation. (this keeps the pixels clean.)