Are there compasses in D&D?

[Prince of Happiness]

Whenever we played a campaign setting that had compasses, we just figured they pointed to what is "Up" or "North" on the map and let it go at that. No whys, hows, or wherefores. Just as long as the damn thing pointed north.

 

[Mangrum]

FWIW, other methods were more often used as navigation techniques--especially dead reckoning, and the flight of birds near coastlines.

Keep in mind that dead reckoning (the system of charting one's progress by recording current speed and heading at regular intervals) relies on the use of a compass (or, at the very least, some equivalent device for noting one's heading).

 

[Primitive Screwhead]

The question I ask when looking at having a compass in the game is... what use will it be?

Seriously...

In most worlds directions will be based on natural landmaps.. as will most maps..making the compass pointless. The relative distance/direction on the map may have nothing to do with the real distance/direction. The map will still get you where you need to go as you follow the white sands branch of the river up past three sets of falls, then left at the Wizards Mark {the lightning split boulder} and about 3 days ride {5 on foot} headed towards Carvers Peak...etc...


In a world where you have proportianal maps, the ones that you can measure distance on rather than a guesstimate, then compasses are worthwhile.

Personally the concept of North is a very modern on that is used in the game to make it easier on the players.

IMCs, Eberron is the only one that has compasses...its also the only one I use something beyond hand-drawn maps