Lulu's MUD Cartographer is a simple mapping utility for grid-based MUDs.

The purpose of Lulu's MUD Cartographer is to replace the pencil and graph-paper that I was using to map out RetroMUD. I wanted something where I could create the map just like I would navigate the MUD (if I had number pad keys bound to compass directions). With some mapping programs editing a map manually can be a pain but with MUD Cartographer it's very simple.

Grid based, but flexible

Lulu's MUD Cartographer is used to create 2D maps of MUD areas that are at least loosely "grid-based"; by grid based I mean that you could place the rooms on a grid and none of the rooms would overlap. To handle situations I found in RetroMUD where rooms overlapped I added a "extension" icon that looks like a room connection so that you can give yourself some room: a screenshot appears below.

Notice how the extension between 3 and 4 allows rooms 2 and 5 to occupy the same grid space without overlapping. This was one of my complaints with another mapping utility that is part of a popular MUD telnet program.

There are now two completely separate development tracks for MUDCartographer. The more up-to-date development track is the Java track, but you can access the old C# web page here.

Sourceforge page

The Lulu's MUD Cartographer sourceforge page has most up-to-date list of implemented and planned features but I'll list them here as well for convenience:

Implemented features

• Room numbers, letters and unicode characters
• Room annotations, listed along with the room character
• Room "cursor" - highlights current room
• Ability to delete rooms (this needs work, the cursor can get lost)
• Room numbers, letters and unicode characters
• Room annotations, listed along with the room character
• Room "cursor" - highlights current room
• Ability to delete rooms (this needs work, the cursor can get lost)
• Room cursor shows current room character for a brief period when the room character is changed. (Otherwise you can't see which character you've picked unless you have an annotation on that room)
• Popup window to choose room character

Planned Features

• Link one map to another
• Save, load, import, export maps
• Copy to clipboard
• Add exits to rooms without adding a room, would help track which directions haven't been explored
• Room "cursor" - highlights current room
• Set default symbol for rooms
• Fill feature - outline an area and then fill in all the rooms (useful for fields and such)
• Custom exit symbols - one way doors, traps, portals, etc.
• Graphical direction pad so that numbers don't have to be used.
• Insert a room between two rooms (e.g. extend a hallway)

Annotating rooms:


Extending hallways (can be used to handle overlapping rooms):