Map Making

[Mourn Blackhand]

Is there going to be room in PFO for a character to explore, make a map, and then sell the maps in town?

[DarkOne the Drow]

I sure there could be for general static geographic content. Doubt maps to many dungeons would work as their entrances move about as a method to prevent killing grinding.

[Dakcenturi]

They have mentioned you could loot maps off of people, so maybe.

Ryan Dancey wrote:

Imagine that you have a chance, when you kill an opponent, to get a range of value from nothing to Wahoo! Wahoo! being potentially complete sets of gear, very valuable resources, maps, quest items, spell components, etc.

Also he mentioned wanting to have location trading

Ryan Dancey wrote:

I would really like there to be a huge system for map manipulation. So rather than selling a map to another person, you'd sell them information that you've gathered and it would appear on their map. Your character's map would be a way of keeping a whole lot of information organized.

[Dario]

My concern with that second quote from Ryan.. what if I want to sell someone *false* information? =P

[Dakcenturi]

That's what the reputation system is for, you sell someone mis-information they whack you with a reputation hit.

[Andius]

There are also ways to make it so that isn't possible. Personally here is how I think cartography can be a viable skill:

Certain features of the map are static. They will not change. Those features of the map you can expect to be on a wiki within a week of PFO's release. And realistically, it isn't like these are uncharted territories. Most if not all of the static features on the map should be available from the start.

There are a lot of dynamic elements on the map though. These include:

1. Player structures and hideouts
2. Exhaustible resources
3. Dungeon entrances
4. NPC spawns, especially escalation cycle related ones.

When you find 2-4 and probably certain elements of 1 (hideouts and work camps) it should give the option to mark it on your map.

All you need then is a system that allows you to offer map markers in exchange for coins and/or good.

Cartography is now a viable skill and you may not be able to sell false information if the system doesn't allow the creation of false markers. I'm kind of torn on whether it should be possible or not, at least it would be VERY easy for the game system to know if the information you gave was false.

Also, if there is a coordinates system then you already have a way to buy and sell information on locations even if they don't create an in-game system for it.

[Being]

There will be a coordinate system: the question is whether we will be able to access it in a way that will be helpful to us.

[Dakcenturi]

If there was an automated *waypoint* type system that you could trade waypoints, I would think this would be difficult to allow for false info, where as a coordinate type system I could see being very easy to sell misinformation.

However, as Andius mentioned most of the static stuff will end up being on a wiki in a short period of time. What is really the benefit to players selling locations?

[Dario]

Dakcenturi wrote:

That's what the reputation system is for, you sell someone mis-information they whack you with a reputation hit.

That presumes the ability to sell false information exists. Ryan's second quote makes it sound like that's unlikely. I'd rather you *could* sell false intel if you wanted.

[Valandur]

I think there needs to be a way to annotate (write on) maps you can then sell or trade. Really important IMO. It would greatly add to the RP aspect of the game and open up all sorts of methods and means to adventure.

[AvenaOats]

Andius already beat me to it in terms of variables being markers added to your map that then have temporal value and can be sold while "active".

It's a great and necessary addition for Exploration & discovery & prospecting of course!

[Zidash]

I like Andius's idea in the form of Valandur's idea. Allows for looting said locations from other players. Just exists to create more to do in the sandbox, more immersion and more detail in the world xD