I like this map idea, I liked the D&D encyclopedia with all of its maps and back grounds.
I have a suggestion that might go good with it "Racial sub-levels", giving each race their own "take" on the classes. here's an example I did up today (just messing around really, but I like it):
Orc Ranger: Orc ranger class functions the same as the standard ranger class except for the following.
Orc rangers, forge lifelong relationships with their preferred dire weasel companions as they act as spies and runners, scouts and hunters for their tribes.
Hit Die: d8.
Requirements
To take an Orc ranger substitution level, a character must be an Orc or a Half-Orc.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: An Orc ranger is proficient with “all” axes, falchions, bows and with any weapon with the word “orc”
in its name. An Orc ranger is restricted to light armor (an Orc ranger can not use any of his class features/abilities while wearing medium and heavy armor), and shields (except tower shields).
Class Features
All the following are class features of the Orc ranger racial substitution levels.
Orc Favored Enemy (Ex): An Orc ranger who takes the 1st-level racial substitution level gains the normal ranger favored enemy bonus on checks and damage rolls, but the skills affected by the bonus are Bluff, Disguise, Intimidate, Spot, and Survival instead of those given for the standard ranger.
An Orc ranger may only select, humanoid (dwarf), humanoid (elf), and humanoid (human) as his favored enemy, he gains a +3 bonus against the chosen creature type instead of the standard +2. Bonuses against such creatures also increase by 3 every time the Orc ranger gains a new favored enemy, instead of the standard +2 increase.
This substitution feature replaces but is otherwise identical to the standard ranger's favored enemy class feature (PH 64).
Dire Weasel Companion (Ex): An Orc ranger who takes the 4th-level racial substitution level gains a dire wolf animal companion. This ability functions like the druid's animal companion ability, treating the Orc ranger's effective druid level as half his ranger level, instead of half his ranger level -3. An Orc ranger cannot select from an alternative list of animal companions; he is restricted to choosing a dire wolf as his animal companion.
This substitution feature replaces the standard ranger's animal companion class feature.
An Orc ranger who takes this substitution level gains Track as a bonus feat and the wild empathy ability (PH 64), just as a standard ranger does.
Orc Ranger Spells: Orc rangers have the same spell selection as the standard rangers.
Combat Style Feat (Ex): At 2nd level, an Orc ranger gains the shield combat style and effectively has the feat Two-Weapon Fighting when he has a shield in his off hand (see rules on page 142, 152, and 202 for damage dealt by shields and Two-weapon fighting), and gains the feat Improved Shield Bash. At 6th level he gains Shield Focus, at 10th level he gains Shield Slam, at 14th level he gains Greater Shield Focus, and at 18th level he gains Shield Master. The Orc ranger gains these feats even if he does not have the normal prerequisites; but if he chooses to take any of these feats prior to when he gains them through this class, he must meet all of their prerequisites.
Does any one have any thoughts; likes, dislikes, love, hate?
