Having been in several old cities that were around in the middleages and before, I nticed how close all the buildings were. I've noticed on many of the recient maps that the city buildings all have nice yards and are not all crammed together.
I've also been through true slums in Panama city and Kirkuk and once again, everything is crammed in so close that their are bearly any alleyways at all.
This slum map looks more like a local fair at a park with its stands and tents.
ASEO out
RPG Superstar 2013 Top 4, RPG Superstar 2011 Top 16
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I'm with ASEO, many of the "slums" I've been through in Mexico are a lot more tightly packed than these maps. If a typical alley in the city is 20ft wide then there should be structures eating up 15 of those feet and a 5ft path wending its way through. I know the guys are trying to make a place where an encounter could feasibly happen but some of those aren't it.
If possible find a aerial or even satellite image of a medieval city (in germany, italy, or any of the former eastern block countries) or even a really tightly packed modern city in south america or the middle east and look at any markets and shanty towns there for examples.
Urban mapping is very tough...
It wouldn't be that hard to make your own "alley fillers". Probably would be fun, too.
The Slum Maps have those horrible White Arrows *all over them*
The White Arrows are not shown in the Product Photos above however - They have been removed - Why? (well... cause they make the actual product look horible)
Paizo really should show the Product how it really is (with the White Arrows).... because when folks get them in the mail and open the package... well, I for one was not happy.
I've purchased every set (several sets of each) of the GameMastery Maps (prob $300-$400 worth), and it seams like the newer ones (including the Slum Maps) are now being printed with those VERY Annoying White Arrows all over them.
The White Arrows are VERY distracting!
DMs/Gms can figure out how to put the maps together without the arrows.
If you need to show how the maps should be set up, just include (in the map package) an overhead shot of the maps *set up*.
It seams the older maps did not have the arrows, and are great! - the new ones (with the arrows) are just unusable.
I think I'm done buying these Maps until Paizo stops with the absurd White Arrows.
Sorry to be so stern, just a real waste of $$. ... and really even more than the $$ ... a real waste of an otherwise good product.
Would it be at all difficult to color them in? I haven't seen them up close and personal and I don't know.
I recently bought this at GenCon and after I found out who was the Australian distributor for Pazio so now my shop is getting in Paizo products and I won't have to pay through the nose for postage.
Anyway it's a great product bar this one part.
It has two tiles which are pretty meh, which are dirty road?
But everything else is great.
http://i719.photobucket.com/albums/ww199/caladors/IMGA0124.jpg
As you can see it files in quite nicely with other map products such as wizards DU2 streets of shadow and City of peril which allow you to make rather large areas of map which is quite nice or modify existing maps that you have to create a new feel for them.
http://i719.photobucket.com/albums/ww199/caladors/IMGA0125.jpg
Also the art is just great.
No question as to where you are.
Your in the run down church or the flea markets or house about to fall down or the shanty town.
A product I am considering getting again due to it's usefulness.
New preview images have been added.