How can I make those Wikipedia colored maps?

D&D Special ways to make maps on your computer?

• I want to make maps for my RP's, but being me I like being able to create my own maps and such, or at least I WANT to without actually going through the trouble of hand drawing them as I am a rather bad artist. So does anyone know a program that could be used for free in order to make quality maps? I would prefer being able to make maps semi-graph for example having the map labled with squares, but no squares outside the map. Any suggestions please? Building maps of the places I intend to have the action happen rather than a town or something, of course I could wing it but that can get complicated sometime so I rather plan ahead.

• Answer:

  Drawing good maps is a skill that can be developed over time, but it can also be one of the biggest time wasters in getting ready for a game. The truth is that simple maps although they don't look good will do for most situations. I have spent hours drawing good maps, and it was fun, but they don't often get used that much. So they are a one time use sort of thing. Go to the Wizards of the Coast site and you can download good free maps from there. http://www.wizards.com/dnd/Archive.aspx?category=all&subcategory=mapgalleries A good DM learns to borrow items from others to make his/her life easier in getting ready for the games, which is where the real action occurs. Have fun playing!