How do you handle a "map the world" campaign?

[Tilla the Hun (work)]

I like the idea of exploring the world... whether the characters are the mappers/cartographers, or the 'native interfacer' types.

Something fun you could do would be to draw out the world on your own map, at pretty much the scale of the map you want the players to draw. Grab 2 larg and 1 small pieces of polarized plastic screen at your local HW store. Lay the 2 large down on top of the map, rotating the second one 90 degrees. This blacks out the map, keeping it from players eyes but letting you spread it out on the table. The 3rd, small piece, cut to fit your base scale unit (1 mile = 1" ?) or whatever is comfortable (having done this once, I recommend about a 6" square. It's about the farthest you can expect people on land to see without unusual circumstances, fyi: sealevel + flat land = only ~3 miles of visibility to the horizon for a 6' tall human ) Lay this square on the table, oriented the same direction as the bottom sheet of plastic. Voila, a view into the world that matches the party's view.

Now just move that view around with them, and have them create their own maps based on that 'small' view.

This leads to total hilarity of 'getting lost', 'looking for landmarks', and crazy maps from the players

When I tried it, I had a map some 12' by 16' all told (made with notebook paper fully taped at seams, front and back) that was folded into map creases so that only a 4' by 2' section was presented at any one time (made the plastic sheets smaller).

My party got 'completely' lost out in the wilderness and had to convince natives to help them get back to civilization. It was indeed a great deal of fun that i'll likely repeat in the future using technology like a laptop at the table .

Oh, and their map? After they got east confused with south, then decided that east was west, their map in no way resembled mine Strangely, none of them about the rising sun as a guide!

 

[mafisto]

Players can map, it's true

In the last year my players have been keeping their own maps, and they've been remarkably precise. The only information I give them is verbal. I've only had to redefine an area for them once in the last year. I think it's just a matter of keeping time/distance/name information all very solid.

I use CC2 to keep my own maps, so I know to the meter everything in the current campaign area. Lack of ambiguity when explaining their travels certainly takes out the guesswork - and keeps my descriptions accurate.

As for using the idea of the party being amateur cartographers or explorers, I like it. A couple of my player's characters have agreements with city cartographers to bring back maps of the areas they explore. Because maps are very expensive to produce with any accuracy, it's a good way to make some extra money. Plus, it drives exploration. A party too lazy to check out the hills to the east might wander over if they have a reason to at least give the area a good run through.

 

[Mythtify]

Just make sure that you get the population density figures correct, or there will be hell to pay.

 

[Woas]

I was thinking that, maybe the actual mapping could be done by a team of NPC cartographers. Few levels of Expert... The cartographers worry about making the map accurate and such, the party is in charge of keeping them safe in the hostile world, acting as the face of the party if they meet other peoples in their travels, and scouts. The entire group tavels around in either wagon team(s) or just by foot and stuff. Like a fantasy version of Louis and Clark's Journeys.

 

[Kichwas]

This is a Lewis and Clark, Magellian, or Columbus style of game.

One of the PCs would need to be some kind of census taker...

 

[WingOver]

I was thinking that, maybe the actual mapping could be done by a team of NPC cartographers. Few levels of Expert... The cartographers worry about making the map accurate and such, the party is in charge of keeping them safe in the hostile world, acting as the face of the party if they meet other peoples in their travels, and scouts. The entire group tavels around in either wagon team(s) or just by foot and stuff. Like a fantasy version of Louis and Clark's Journeys.

Lewis and Clark was exactly what I was thinking... the campaign would be a continuous expedition. They don't have to map every single hex... that would be tedious. But following the rivers and hitting all the major landmarks would be fun.

I like your NPC cartographer suggestion. That allows the players to focus on roleplaying and abstracting the mapping to the NPC. Plus the NPC wouldn't unbalance the party and if played correctly could serve as a foil to the characters and provide additional plot hooks.

 

[Woas]

I was thinking the same thing with the NPC cartographers. They would be more of a liability to the PCs, although have some valuable skills(I.E.: Maybe a healer/missionary, a cook, cartographer(s), blacksmith/crafter, scientists/botanists, etc). Very basic combat skills in dire situations, but mostly the PCs have to make sure they don't get eaten by bears, cooked for dinner by savage bugbear tribes...

 

[mmadsen]

After they got east confused with south, then decided that east was west, their map in no way resembled mine Strangely, none of them about the rising sun as a guide!

How were they orienting themselves before?

 

[kolikeos]

Players actually DON'T DRAW anything.

that is one reason i hate my dm, he wants ME to draw the map, not my character

 

[Dogbrain]

This can be an excellent premise. However, the "actual mapping" need never be done in play. Mapping is just a plot hook. What gets played are the difficulties and misadventures attendant upon making the maps.