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Message: <blockquote data-quote="iserith" data-source="post: 7443175" data-attributes="member: 97077">There was <a href="http://www.enworld.org/forum/showthread.php?643038-How-do-you-like-to-handle-dungeon-mapping" target="_blank">a thread on this</a> recently.I use Roll20 for my games, both online and in-person, so the map is generally up on the screen and revealed as the players move their tokens around. Dynamic lighting is great because the players will only see what their characters can see.I think mapping has fallen out of mainstream practice, in part, because the reason for mapping "back in the day" was chiefly to help the players figure out where hidden chambers or corridors might be. If there was a big gap on the map, it might suggest the presence of a secret door leading to a cache of treasure! Now, with mechanics like Passive Checks and Activities While Traveling, that sort of thing is handled with action declarations and ability checks rather than precise mapping and using that visual to suss out hidden areas."Draw a Map" is an activity a character can certainly do while traveling and exploring. In order to make that a meaningful trade-off against other activities, in addition to providing a reduction in the chance of getting lost in the wilderness, I make source maps of dungeons worth gold. So if the player is willing to risk his or her character being surprised by the odd wandering monster, he or she can make a source map and sell it back in town. I'm also using the rules in Xanathar's for tool and skill use. Someone proficient with cartographer's tools can Draw a Map and perform some other activity at the same time which usually means the character is also Keeping Watch and has a chance to avoid surprise.</blockquote>

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