Sneak Peek At Ghosts of Saltmarsh Maps

Bolongo · Mar 12, 2019

Jacob Lewis said:
I thought so, too. So I pulled out my original copies of the module to compare. The details are almost identical down to the contents, size, and number of each room. But there also enough subtle differences to realize that the Dyson maps are, in fact, not just scanned copies of the originals.

Huh. I mean, they even have the artifacts typical of scanning an old copy (some dirt, weak lines, and the like).

But if you say so.

That's really disappointing, I agree.

Bolongo · Mar 12, 2019

Morrus said:
Well Dyson Logos says he did them. I’m inclined to believe him.

I didn't mean that anybody was lying. I just thought you'd used the wrong pictures.

But another poster has made a close analysis and says they're very slightly different from the originals, so I'll believe it.

That just leaves me very, very disappointed. Dyson is a talented guy, I've paid for his maps in the past. Why would WotC set him to essentially tracing over old stuff?

WaterRabbit · Mar 12, 2019

Rhineglade said:
Probably because the original was set in the World of Greyhawk located in southern Keoland along the coast of the Azure Sea.

No that is incorrect. The original U1 series wasn't set in any particular game setting. It was later placed in Greyhawk.

DEFCON 1 · Mar 12, 2019

Bolongo said:
I didn't mean that anybody was lying. I just thought you'd used the wrong pictures.

But another poster has made a close analysis and says they're very slightly different from the originals, so I'll believe it.

That just leaves me very, very disappointed. Dyson is a talented guy, I've paid for his maps in the past. Why would WotC set him to essentially tracing over old stuff?

Most likely because a new photoshopped version of the maps can be blown up to higher resolution when necessary than just scanned copies usually can.

Rhineglade · Mar 12, 2019

WaterRabbit said:
No that is incorrect. The original U1 series wasn't set in any particular game setting. It was later placed in Greyhawk.

Text from the actual print: "On the WORLD OFGREYHAWKª map, Saltmarsh is placed in the southernmost part of Keoland, at the western edge of hex U4/123."

Gradine · Mar 12, 2019

Rhineglade said:
Text from the actual print: "On the WORLD OFGREYHAWKª map, Saltmarsh is placed in the southernmost part of Keoland, at the western edge of hex U4/123."

How many more threads must we dispense with this misconception? There is literally exponentially more guidance on how to set Princes of the Apocalypse in Dark Sun than that.

Saltmarsh, like many classic adventures, were designed to be setting agnostic. That many of those provided throw-away guidance on how to set the thing in Greyhawk does not change that.

Demetrios1453 · Mar 13, 2019

MNblockhead said:
I love/hate the Dyson maps. I love them as a DM reference when they are not being shown to players. Very easy to read and run the adventure in. But if you want to use them as a battlemap, they are disappointing. Luckily, within weeks of the book being released, I expect that there will be artists releasing full-color digital battlemap versions.

I agree with you on this. I do love them while running tabletop adventures for their simplicity and ease of use. But, yes, they certainly aren't pretty, which is a drawback at other times, and which lessens their value for those who run online games...

Demetrios1453 · Mar 13, 2019

aco175 said:
How come the ocean is on the wrong side to be Sword Coast.

Outside the fact that, as others have mentioned, it's setting agnostic, it could be placed on the Sword Coast on a bay or estuary. After all, Baldur's Gate's shore is on the south side of the city as well, and it's on the Sword Coast, just on the north bank of a river estuary...

Hussar · Mar 13, 2019

Huh. That is an interesting question. If you wanted to place this in the Sword Coast, where would you?

Parmandur · Mar 13, 2019

Hussar said:
Huh. That is an interesting question. If you wanted to place this in the Sword Coast, where would you?

"The Styes" from Dungeon actually looks to have suggested Coromyr's southeast coast as a FR suggestion: they can make a FR suggestion that is not the Sword Coast.