City pre-planning tool/aid

[FoxDonut77]

I would like to be able to use in-game maps to make rough sketches as a preparation material for the actual in-game planning and building. It would have been a great support to plan things like main transportation "arteries", municipal services, power and other stuff.

I have a tendency to start building with nothing of a vague notion of how the city is to evolve and spread with time and before I know it I need to re-do a great deal of the road network and zoning.

I suppose I could go find some images of maps and import them to a photo editor or something, however I prefer non-make shift solutions.

Are there any apps or tools for this? Any constructive suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Cheers!

[droneman88]

The overlay mod? But seriously buddy if you want to play like that just use the unlock all mod and plan from there if you don't like upgrading your city as it grows.

[grapplehoeker]

You can layout your roads by using dirt tracks. This is a cheap and effective way to get the basics down.
You can also use the district tool to highlight areas of your future city and name them to act as place holders for areas of your city that you want to designate for a particular landmark or function.