Mapping during games

[jptheron]

Hi guys. Just a question that has bothered me for awhile. In my old D&D group mapping was always a headache.

Scenes really got slowed up because the mapper wanted to draw really accurate maps.

Also in the wilderness, for example Serpents Skull no 37 what is your approach to mapping.

Do you tend to make basic crude maps or do you try to recreate the GMs map?

How do you expect the GM to describe things to you regarding drawing maps.

I really want to not slow things down with detailed maps but want the players to have a usable one?

Any ideas?

[DeathQuaker]

When groups I've been in have mapped at all, they tend to be very simple.

In games I run these days, as the DM I actually tend to sketch out rough maps for the players on our battle map if need be, or share non-detailed versions of my own source maps. It's easier than trying to spend time explaining it to the players and waiting for them to catch up.

[azhrei_fje]

I run a game that uses the free MapTool application to manage all of the campaign maps. (It also manages PC and NPC data, but that's not its main focus.)

This gives the players a view of the same map that the GM uses, although I keep secret doors and such on the Hidden layer so that the players don't see them. In addition, areas that the PCs can see at any given moment will only show the Background layer -- the layers that hold creatures and objects will not be visible. That way an object could move in a room that they're not in and they wouldn't know. ;)

When I play in pen-n-paper games, I use what DeathQuaker uses: a simple map. I might draw a circle on a piece of paper and then draw lines to connect the various circles. In certain highly tactical situations I might be more complete, actually drawing out the description that the GM provides.

I actually prefer the online map provided by MapTool as it gives a more realistic feel to the game. And if you pick up any of Jonathan Roberts map PDFs from RPGnow (on sale right now; the bundle is only $13) he includes MapTool files pre-built and some of the maps include the "dungeon dressing" that went into making the maps. He's indicated that he'll be going back and adding MapTool files for all of his previous drawings as well. Very cool. :)

<disclaimer>
I'm the (volunteer) site admin for RPTools.net and I also contribute code to the MapTool application.
</disclaimer>

[jptheron]

Thanks DQ...

Those are the kind of ideas I am looking for. I am very keen in starting the Serpents Skull Campaign... It reminds me of the old D&D adventure - The Isle of Dread :)

How would you deal with that? Maybe a coastline map with no markings of the interior? I mean that would surely be available?

[Are]

The Paizo Blog very recently included an unmarked map of the entire Smuggler's Shiv island. Print the large version out, and give it to your players when they come upon a full map :)

[jptheron]

Are wrote:

The Paizo Blog very recently included an unmarked map of the entire Smuggler's Shiv island. Print the large version out, and give it to your players when they come upon a full map :)

Thanks just downloaded it. That will be a great help.