It does take ages. I usually have fable running in the background while I work on maps. Well..move stuff. Like I'm moving all the world entrances and exits farther down the trails to the ends of the maps. Because it's fun. as well as sticking some New enemies and wild life and such. Like Nymph Queens.

And lobsters..
I wish it was like Starcraft Campaign editing. Then I could see what everything looks like rather than little green dots.