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Message: <blockquote data-quote="MerricB" data-source="post: 2063755" data-attributes="member: 3586">Map Folio IIWhen the Map Folio products were first announced, I was enthusastic about them. I have good memories of the original Dungeon Geomorphs, which I had as a child and have used on many occasions to help me create and adventure. I had visions of the Map Folios being like that - but better.The saddest thing is that Map Folio II almost manages to work. I think it's pretty, and the conception is nice. A ruined city of Aztec origins? Fantastic. I could easily use that in either my Eberron or Greyhawk campaign.It's just some basic things needed in D&D are neglected. You know, like scale, steps leading somewhere, maps actually joining together...The depths of ineptitude that the Wizards cartographers can sink to is astounding.Map Folio II gives you a set of 32 single-sided, glossy pages, of which about six show the wilderness area the city is in, the rest depicting buildings in the city.The wilderness maps aren't particularly useful, especially the four sheets which attach together to show the coastline - without a scale attached, or anything that looks like the city as drawn on the other maps.Once you get to the city, the usefulness of the maps increase. Sort of. There's an inset on every single one of the maps, showing a side view of the city. There are also little graphics to make everything look pretty. However, by the time you've dealt with all of this, there's precious little map left. Only about half of each page is devoted to the map.Here's a few other little things that the cartographers should keep track of:* In a multi-level building, number the levels so we know where they are in relationship to each other.* Stairs need to go somewhere. If you haven't numbered the levels of the building, at least name their destination.* If you use decorative illustrations, vary them. Don't use the same illustration on multiple pages.* Certainly don't use repetive illustrations so they fill up 50% of the page.* If you have a watermark, make sure it doesn't interfere with the map or the legibility of the grid.This is a bad product. The idea had a lot of potential, but the execution is extremely poor and uninspiring. Some of the maps may be useful, which keeps it from getting a "terrible" rating, and the actual pieces of paper are pretty - but I wasn't looking for something that was merely pretty. I was looking for something useful in my D&D game, which this is not.</blockquote>

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