Understanding Map Coordinates


Rules Questions


So, a character is given mapping coordinates to a specific location. These mapping coordinates are similar to the ones used by a GPS (done in hours, minutes and seconds, I think).

The question is: Which skill would I use to find my way to the location? Knw: Geography or Survival?


I'd say Survival:

Survival said wrote:
You are skilled at surviving in the wild and at navigating in the wilderness

Knw:Geogr. is more about people and noteworthy locations etc.

Shadow Lodge

Since it's about coordination systems independent of terrain, it's Knowledge(Geography), definitely.

Liberty's Edge

Both. Knowledge(Geography) to know where it is. Survival to get there without getting lost.


The challenge isn't survival; it's about calculating a geographic position with precise measurement tools like a compass, sextant and astrolabe. That'd put it squarely on the Knowledge (geography) side of things in my mind.

Liberty's Edge

Ambrus wrote:
The challenge isn't survival; it's about calculating a geographic position with precise measurement tools like a compass, sextant and astrolabe. That'd put it squarely on the Knowledge (geography) side of things in my mind.

For knowing where it is, certainly. But Survival is explicitly used for getting through wilderness to a destination without getting lost, which is certainly important too.

I imagine this as a classic plot-line: One guy knows where it is (and has a map), but doesn't know the paths. Another guy plays guide to show him the paths he needs to get to that spot and keep them from getting lost.


StabbittyDoom wrote:
For knowing where it is, certainly. But Survival is explicitly used for getting through wilderness to a destination without getting lost, which is certainly important too.

What you say could be true, but in this case the OP isn't talking about surviving the journey; he's merely asking about discerning where a particular location is to be found.

You're assuming that it's out in the wilderness but, since the OP didn't specify it either way, we could assume that the location is in the middle of a city, along a well traveled highway or even in the middle of the open ocean. In any case, the PCs might not have to resort to conventional travel to get there; instead opting for flight, teleportation or something else altogether. So the Survival skill might never play into the scenario at all depending on the specifics of the journey.


I'm definitely going to go with Knowledge (geography).

Liberty's Edge

Ambrus wrote:
StabbittyDoom wrote:
For knowing where it is, certainly. But Survival is explicitly used for getting through wilderness to a destination without getting lost, which is certainly important too.

What you say could be true, but in this case the OP isn't talking about surviving the journey; he's merely asking about discerning where a particular location is to be found.

You're assuming that it's out in the wilderness but, since the OP didn't specify it either way, we could assume that the location is in the middle of a city, along a well traveled highway or even in the middle of the open ocean. In any case, the PCs might not have to resort to conventional travel to get there; instead opting for flight, teleportation or something else altogether. So the Survival skill might never play into the scenario at all depending on the specifics of the journey.

Point taken. I tend to assume that if a map is needed, it's not exactly well charted. Though even if they have access to teleportation, that route is risky if they haven't been to the location. Though with the proper divination this problem might me mitigated (Scry doesn't work since it must target a creature).

Knowledge (Geography) is needed to know the location. To get there, survival is needed if it's wilderness and they are going to walk. Overland flight would obviate the need for survival since you're only tracking using large terrain features (which is Geography's domain). Teleport would work, but be risky.

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