Ever built a nice little piece of pointless art on your maps that your players somehow think is important?

[Whisper-Kitten]

One time I draw this map that really involved the players solving some puzzles and hazards to get to the other side. As an afterthought I draw this whirlpool just for an added landmark It had NOTHING to do with the plot it was just there because I thought it looked cool. They ignored the treasure chest, the skeleton with a magic ring, and even the talking mirror. Everyone of them, sans one, tried to venture into this whirlpool though. One of them swam into it with a character that in his bio could not swim. Failed the swim check. The next person jumps in and tries to save him and also gets stuck. Finally someone had the good sense to throw a rope, that I allowed just so they didn't die from the flavor item. No point to the post really, I just wanted to tell the story really.

 

[Laurefindel]

Misleading doodle on a map specifically? No. Any other unimportant detail or set-dressing element that steals the focus or takes unforeseen proportions? Yes, all the times!

Sometimes it brings the campaign in an exciting, unforeseen direction. Sometimes it kills momentum and distracts more than it should. Sometimes, an uncaring cow can turn out to be a shape-shifted baddie (even it it wasn't meant to be). Sometimes the cow has to mean proximity to a settlement or civilization, or else its presence makes no sense. Sometimes, it's just a stupid cow...

When it happens, I pause to consider the relevance of the distraction, try to understand why the players find that element so fascinating, and ponder potential meanings and/or campaign opportunities, etc. A few times I've retracted my description, admitting that the element was out of place. A few times I used it as an opportunity to improvise on the implications of the said element. At least once was an impromptu "Well spotted, indeed it was a trap! Roll for initiative!". But often, I strait-up tell the players that the element is just meant as set dressing. There are things to investigate; just not that.

 

[Deset Gled]

The number of times I've used a free map and had my players start exploring the watermarks in earnest...

Even when it's a watermark they've seen before...

On the last map...

(Credit to @Dyson Logos and @DiceGrimorium as two people who have posted a lot of great free stuff on ENWorld, allowing me to have this problem.)

 

[TheHand]

I’ve had this happen especially when using VTT’s and maps I’ve gotten online. I always use the disclaimer “I didn’t make these maps, so ignore things I don’t describe.” Inevitably they’ll be drawn to some artistic flourish and ignore the actual thing they’re looking for.

 

[the Jester]

Not on maps, but I always have little hidden details that actually matter... which nobody ever, ever, EVER picks up on.

 

[Blue]

Back in my teens playing AD&D I was with a group with a good DM, but light on flavor text. One of the other players ran an adventure to give him a break, and we came across an underground stream that when we drank some the player-turned-DM described it as faintly metallic in taste.

That derailed the session for at least 45 minutes. Because of the dearth of details like that from the main DM, we assumed it had to be important.

 

[Whisper-Kitten]

Back in my teens playing AD&D I was with a group with a good DM, but light on flavor text. One of the other players ran an adventure to give him a break, and we came across an underground stream that when we drank some the player-turned-DM described it as faintly metallic in taste.

That derailed the session for at least 45 minutes. Because of the dearth of details like that from the main DM, we assumed it had to be important.

Did your characters later die from high levels of metal poisoning?

 

[Sossij]

Remind me, once I figure out Campaign Cartographer, to put red herrings everywhere (and then be forced to turn them into important details on the fly).

I'm finding I am mostly a narrative DM, and my players tend to go after NPCs I just put in to give everything some flavor and ignore the one I meant to be the next important link in the investigative chain. It's a similar situation.

 

[Whisper-Kitten]

Remind me, once I figure out Campaign Cartographer, to put red herrings everywhere (and then be forced to turn them into important details on the fly).

I'm finding I am mostly a narrative DM, and my players tend to go after NPCs I just put in to give everything some flavor and ignore the one I meant to be the next important link in the investigative chain. It's a similar situation.

This seems to be a DM problem shared by all.

 

[Ralif Redhammer]

I am terrible at drawing, terrible at drawing maps. Back in AD&D 2e's days, I was nonetheless proud of my giant map of the world of Nevere. I drew some islands off the coast to the south and thought little of it.

Come time for the party to decide where to go one session and the one player says "I want to go to the egg." I have no idea what he was talking about. So he pointed at the location on the map and sure enough, one of the islands sure did look like a fried egg.