The artistic map I think is a waste, it could have been better used to show close-up locations of the Shackles. Because the Inner Sea Map Folio included the Inner Sea region I would have preferred two Shackles maps that showed more close-up detail. At least that would have been an improvement. I would say this is the least value for the dollar I've purchased of Paizo's products and I'm sure my money would have been better spent on another one of their products.

I would certainly advise potential buyers to steer clear unless you get it at a major discount.

Despite the not so good reviews, I was looking forward to having this product. Sadly, I am VERY DISSAPOINTED. Yes, the maps look good but that is it. I have this product now to show and tell. I hope they had the best intentions putting this product together but they missed the mark when you have better maps elsewhere (like in the Isles of the Shackles Campaign Setting).
Before getting this product I: 1) took the Golarion Map and added Lat/Long lines w/ wind patterns; and 2) added Lat/Long lines to the Shackles map w/ ocean currents. I am glad I took the time doing this. Not only is more practical but the players can track their movement with more interest.

A DM key for Port Peril would have been useful. Granted, it gives more freedom for DM's to decide where things are in the city.

I was worried that this was going to be a disappointment, and I wasn't wrong. While I will willinglt admit that the maps are very well done, particularly the more stylized of the three, the fact that all the maps are unlabeled completely defeated the purpose I had intented on using them for. Since I've been running the Skull and Shackles campaign, all my PC's have been asking me, "So were are we exactly?". I got this so I could show them on a nice sized map that I hung on the wall, using a laser pointer. Now I have to refer to a separte map (one more thing to clutter up my workspace), write on a post-it, stick it on the map, hope it doesn't fall off, and go from there. Far more of a hassle than I had hoped for. If it hadn't been part of my subscription, I wouldn't have bought it.

This is arguably the best Pathfinder AP map, competing with Kingmaker for that accolade. Why? Because it provides genuine, in game, resources for GMs and Players.
The Pack contains three maps.
1. An unlabelled map of Port Peril
2. An unlabelled cartographer's map of The Shackles
3. An unlabelled fantastic map of the shackles, complete with aging stains, sharks, ships and an elaborate compass rose.
These are posters you can put on your wall or gametable which the players and GM can use (and label) as they explore the Shackles. 1. will let the players keep track of locations in Port Peril, and let GMs keep track of where their players have and haven't been.
2. & 3. offer you two different graphical styles showing the same place: gaming groups can choose which one they want to use. Again this is a wall or table poster to label and consult, showing players how the world connects and reminding GMs what the players know.
So, why 4 stars and not 5? I would have preffered for map 2. (the cartographer's map of the Shackles) to be a labelled GM's map that the GM could use to keep track of the world more easily, leaving the PCs with the dramatic and evocative map 3. I can only imagine that the furore around the (beautiful, to my eye) fantastic map of Westcrown led Paizo's design team to ensure there was a more boring but more practical player's map.
Now I just need to find space on my wall...

Just picked this folio up from the FLGS, and after having looked forward to these maps (and particularly after having been so impressed by the recent Shackles map PDF) the fact that the big Shackles map is unlabeled was disappointing, to say the least. We already have maps showing the geographical layout of the Shackles inside the covers of the AP modules, and why Paizo thought we needed a larger version of the same map (with even less information on it) is beyond me. The parchment map makes a good handout for the players to use (as expected) and the map of Port Peril is nice, but the map that was potentially most helpful to the GM is useless as anything other than decoration. Now, as GM, if I want map details I have to have a computer handy to access the labeled PDF, print out PDF sections beforehand, or label the big map myself. Lame.

This could have been a great folio, with a map of Port Peril (useful when your PCs are there), a player's map to chart their travels on, and a GM's master reference map to keep track of the entire campaign. Without the latter it's a map for the PCs, a map of a city you'll use once in a while, and a blank map the GM basically has to fill in himself in order to get any use out of it. This is particularly frustrating when Paizo obviously had complete information on the entire area available (the PDF) and didn't bother to print it on the map.

If you're running this AP and were looking to this folio to give you your campaign map, this ain't it. Save your money.