D&D General Mapping: How Do You Do It?

[UngainlyTitan]

It can properly emulate the potential confusion and mistakes in position that can happen in-game, but I'm not sure that's such a universal benefit to justify it.

This is where I disagree, not that it can cause confusion but it properly emulates anything, certainly not enough to be worth the bother.

 

[DragonLancer]

What is your go-to with regards to mapping big dungeon exploration, in person or on a VTT or anywhere in between? What have you learned to definitely do, or definitely not do? As a player, how do you prefer to deal with mapping that kind of exploration?

We use wipe-clean battle maps. If it's a small dungeon or a house, I try to make sure it fits on a single such map sheet. Otherwise I describe the twists and turns, and only draw out a specific room or corridor section if the players ask for it, or combat is about to occur.

 

[Lakesidefantasy]

What is the purpose of the player drawing map if it does not correspond to any character activity? I really do not see what is gained by the player attempting to draw a map from the DM's description.

The Characters aren't doing anything, the Players are doing everything. And the Players aren't just playing the game, they're spilling drinks, smoking [CENSORED], listening to music, telling jokes, tracking Hit Points, reading rules, asking questions, etc. And, perhaps, drawing a map.

Now, I admit it is tedious, and I don't really recommend it. As Players, we are often very orthogonal in our thinking and we don't feel like a map is a map unless it contains all of the nooks and crannies, apses and buttresses, daises, etc. we encounter while playing the game. This is a detailed map, but a ball and stick map is also an option. But not making a map removes a tool for fun. A sense of discovery for the Players that is more than a die roll.

How about this as an example.*

Clue: The secret door you seek is in the center of the magic square.

Exploration: We find nine rooms and each contains a large magic square inscribed on the floor.

Discovery: The entire dungeon is laid out in the form of a magic square.

Twist: Each of the nine magic squares has a secret door in the center, but eight of them lead to certain death!* *

* Another example is the Vivified Labyrinth in Korvosa.

* * Damn! This is a brilliant idea. I'm salivating already. But wait, it's not a good idea because my one Player who liked to map things is no longer with us. [CENSORED]!

 

[Charlaquin]

What is the purpose of the player drawing map if it does not correspond to any character activity?

Of course it corresponds to a character activity. It’s just that any map the character could make is also imaginary and therefore not very useful for navigation.

I really do not see what is gained by the player attempting to draw a map from the DM's description.

A map is gained by it, which is a valuable tool in helping navigate the space it depicts.

 

[Charlaquin]

It can properly emulate the potential confusion and mistakes in position that can happen in-game, but I'm not sure that's such a universal benefit to justify it.

It’s not a universal benefit. It may be beneficial in games where successfuly navigating the space is meant to be part of the challenge of the dungeon. It would be quite detrimental in games where that isn’t the case.

 

[Charlaquin]

This is where I disagree, not that it can cause confusion but it properly emulates anything, certainly not enough to be worth the bother.

Emulation doesn’t matter. What matters is whether or not navigating the space is meant to be part of the gameplay challenge. If it is, then the players making a map is something they can do to try to make that challenge easier. If it’s not, then there’s no point in the players making a map, and the DM should just give them an accurate map (one room at a time if they want to preserve the fog of war effect).

 

[Valetudo]

When i was but a lad and a player, I was a serious mapper. When I leveled up to a rookie dm, I made some of the most overdesigned dubgeouns you would ever see. Now as an old man I just wing it. If the players don't seem to be rappers, turn it into a narrative instead with skill checks and challenges Ala 4th ed.

 

[Lakesidefantasy]

When i was but a lad and a player, I was a serious mapper. When I leveled up to a rookie dm, I made some of the most overdesigned dubgeouns you would ever see. Now as an old man I just wing it. If the players don't seem to be rappers, turn it into a narrative instead with skill checks and challenges Ala 4th ed.

Have you ever heard of HärnWorld? If maps are your fetish then Härn is your pornography. The Continental and regional maps are great, but their castle and dungeon maps are pornographic because they show ev-er-y-thing. And I do mean every thing.

 

[payn]

When i was but a lad and a player, I was a serious mapper. When I leveled up to a rookie dm, I made some of the most overdesigned dubgeouns you would ever see. Now as an old man I just wing it. If the players don't seem to be rappers, turn it into a narrative instead with skill checks and challenges Ala 4th ed.

Though yeah I get it. If you dont want to be ten foot pole tapping old school survival sim, then its easier to just skill check it and go.

 

[Lakesidefantasy]

Though yeah I get it. If you dont want to be ten foot pole tapping old school survival sim, then its easier to just skill check it and go.

Word.