what is the best way to do Maps in Quests and RP?

[Spktr Alpha]

Alright years ago I joined the SV/SB/QQ community starting from this website with a few idiotic and ill-thought out empire-builder quests before I more or less got my stuff together over at SB with the likes of Omnissiah Quest and With Science. But the one thing that bugs me is this: How the hell do you do Maps? For sure I have visual aids to describe characters, units, and locations but I have yet to to find what is best to do Maps quickly.

Right now I'm split between MS Paint + Imgur or doing ASCII art. So SV do you got any recommendations?

 

[Oh I am slain!]

Right now I'm split between MS Paint + Imgur or doing ASCII art. So SV do you got any recommendations?

Click to shrink...

The three approaches I've seen:

1) Hand-draw a map, then scan it in.
2) Find an existing map from the setting or other fantasy maps, then build the quest around it. Google them, or search in specific communities like the Cartographer's Guild.
3) Hex Map programs, like Hexographer. They often have a free version. Takes an afternoon or two to master. Works well for small-ish empire-building quests, I'd think.