D&D 5E Puzzling lack of maps in the SCAG

[robus]

For an edition that is attracting a lot of new players and currently so firmly set in the Forgotten Realms it's puzzling to me that the maps are so lacking. I would have expected to get a map of Toril naming the major landforms, seas and oceans. Then another focusing on Faerun, identifying the major geo-political points of interest, finishing with a large map of the sword coast region.

I don't understand how we can get details of places like Rashemen (pg 12) with no map to locate them? Without a map you've know idea how one location relates to another.

 

[Shiroiken]

Because it's a focus on the Sword Coast. Far off locations are given vague descriptions to be useful for the Far Traveler background, not for use in play.

 

[Demetrios1453]

There are maps of Faerun and the Sword Coast. Granted, the Faerun one is pretty vague with only a few labels, but the Sword Coast one is more than adequate.

 

[robus]

Because it's a focus on the Sword Coast. Far off locations are given vague descriptions to be useful for the Far Traveler background, not for use in play.

I guess I can see that but still it seems odd not to take this opportunity to place the Sword Coast within the larger world if you're going to talk about stuff in the text.

I think there's too much assumption that players are coming to this from earlier editions and thus know what's being referenced.

 

[robus]

There are maps of Faerun and the Sword Coast. Granted, the Faerun one is pretty vague with only a few labels, but the Sword Coast one is more than adequate.

The Faerun one is pretty unusable. It just seems pointless to include a map that doesn't locate the places being described in the text.

 

[Shiroiken]

I guess I can see that but still it seems odd not to take this opportunity to place the Sword Coast within the larger world if you're going to talk about stuff in the text.

I think there's too much assumption that players are coming to this from earlier editions and thus know what's being referenced.

I don't know. IME, Players completely unfamiliar with the Realms just take everything on faith, seldom sweating or caring the details. It is the players coming from earlier editions that are having the problems, but they usually have the information they need (minus post-sundering updates).

 

[Demetrios1453]

The Faerun one is pretty unusable. It just seems pointless to include a map that doesn't locate the places being described in the text.

Oh, I agree, the map should have had at least the main countries labeled instead of just major regions. But a map of Faerun was included, useful or not.

Of course, on the other hand, if anyone is interested in a more detailed map, or where a certain nation is located, it's just a Google search away.

And hopefully we'll get a full FRCS that will give anyone all the detail they may ever need...

 

[Ezequielramone]

For me this is a player's companion, not a campaign setting, so no need of detailed maps spoiling hidden locations or places common people don't know.

 

[Uchawi]

The days of extensive and useful maps appears to be a thing of the past. But they are on a budget, and good maps and extra handout materials does cost money. I yearn to the years past when you had supplements like Time of the Dragon.

 

[robus]

For me this is a player's companion, not a campaign setting, so no need of detailed maps spoiling hidden locations or places common people don't know.

I don't want hidden locations. But I'm pretty sure most people would know where Amn is, for example, but it's not marked.