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Message: <blockquote data-quote="JoeGKushner" data-source="post: 2011552" data-attributes="member: 1129">Map Folio II takes a different approach to the map accessory field than the first one did. See, the first product was a collection of maps that had appeared on the Wizards of the Coast website. According to this, there are all new maps. The really interesting thing is that, “When combined, the maps in this folio create an exotic walled city built centuries ago by a mighty civilization.”Sounds good right? So what’s in there.First off, the maps are all on separate sheets of paper and have black borders. Most are on a yellowed colored page. Thankfully the product has a backing board but I don’t know how I’m going to keep the maps in the cover long term. I’d say it starts off with an overview of Axchilan and the nearby islands. The detailed land, the City of “Atl” is located on the isle of Chac Tlaloc. The map isn’t great as it’s a massive overview but could be useful for the GM who wants to do it all. The upclose map shows where the city is and includes a view of the city looking to the northeast.An overview of the city provides an up close view of that illustration along with some animals drawn on the side and a few other maps. Makes it look very much like an explorer’s parchment. Unfortunately, on another sheet, we have the same picture with a detail of the entry statues and another view of the city looking north.Other maps show the interior of several buildings. Often-large maps with several follow up maps. Take for example the Observatory. It shows the outsider of the whole building, as well as a more abstract view of a city wall. The map shows what the first floor looks like and include the scale, in this case, one square equals 5 feet. The other levels, two and three, each have their own sheets. Good maps but spread out a little.Other buildings include the Temple of Healing Arts, the King’s Temple, Jungle Outpost, Foundry, and Typical Dwellings. Somewhere in here are several full color maps. They have no legend on them nor any scale. This makes them very pretty but also useless. Sad really. One is of a lake with a river running through it with the city to the west. Another of the river running through the city with boats, some docked, some moving through the river. Another map shows another part of the docks. The other maps expand upon this view. All four go together but due to the borders, it isn’t a smooth match. For example, one map ends with the city, the other matches up but is wilderness.My biggest complaint is that the paper is a little thin. Since it is a map product, it’s going to get handled a lot. Having these done on thicker paper would encourage me to hand them out to the players. All I want to do know is copy them. Unfortunately, because they have a yellow background and black borders, they tend to come out a little dark unless you lighten the copier setting.Overall a better ranking than the first one but still a little too exotic. Where are the detailed dungeons? Where are the secret passages in a castle? Where are the sewers? Perhaps next time we’ll see some of those subjects come up but until then…</blockquote>

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