Map making and reading

[Bullgrit]

"What skill would you use to read maps, draw maps, and follow maps?"

A Player making a new character for my game asked me this. In the past, when the PCs have a map, I've just had it give them a circumstance bonus on their Survival checks to find their way.

Off the top of my head, I'd think that anyone who is literate can read a map, unless the map was intentionally made to be cryptic. But I thought I'd run the concept through ENWorld's Rules forum for some ideas. Does map making and map reading fall under a certain skill?

Bullgrit

 

[Shin Okada]

Basically, Survival skill is used for keeping from getting lost. I will give +2 circumstance bonus to this check if one has a good map. Maybe only +1 if one cannot read the characters on the map. But a map described by generic symbols instead of language may exist.

For writing up maps. Profession (Mapmaker) or maybe Craft (Maps). But one may use other skills such as Survival, Knowledge (geography), Knowledge (local) to gather necessary information.

Thats my two yen.

 

[Primitive Screwhead]

One would think anyone literate would be able to read a map.. but this is not the case..

Stick with maps providing a circumstance bonus to the Survival check, with a range from -5 to + 5.

Yes.. I types -5. Bad maps can lead you off track

As to making them, I would go with Craft: Cartography.. it can be used untrained. I know someone cool, and better at DC's than I am, could come up with a sample DC chart/cost for creating maps. Kn: {Local and/or Geography} and Survival could provide a synergy bonus.

 

[dcollins]

Making them: Profession (Cartography).

 

[andargor]

I would think that Survival would apply to outdoor situations, whereas Knowledge (dungeoneering) would apply underground or in buildings.

Andargor

 

[Jdvn1]

Making them: Profession (Cartography).

Ditto.

 

[Nyeshet]

Read Maps: either Survival, Decipher Script, or (in d20 modern) Navigate.
Follow Maps: Survival or Navigate
Draw Maps: Craft (cartography)

I can see Profession (cartography) being used in the first two (receiving a synergy bonus from whatever skill you think would otherwise apply), but I cannot see a Profession skill creating anything. That's the perview of the Craft skill.

 

[Li Shenron]

Right now I think it would have to be a Profession. I know that you're crafting the actual map, but the painting is only a small part of the job, the real job of mapping is to actually decide what to paint, involving lots of distance estimations for example. Too complex to be reduced to a manual job.

As for reading a map, I'd just call for an Int check, if any, because I don't think maps in D&D world are so complex to require training, or that experience could improve your chances significantly. Anyway, usually I don't even call for check: I print the map out on paper and give it to the players, and they can use the map directly. If they get lost, then there's always Intuit Direction which can be assigned some extra use.

edit: and I wouldn't require Literacy, unless the map has names on it, which is not often the case.

 

[irdeggman]

To make a map I'd use Craft (maps) since it is making something specific.

Profession (cartographer) to me involves the interpretation of maps as well as dealing in them vice actually making any specific one.

In this case I'd have the craft skill give a bonus due to synergy to the profession skill.

The various Knowledge skills mentioned should provide bonuses to the craft (and possibly profession) skills.

The map itself should provide a circumstance bonus (or penalty) to any survival check made to figure out where you are or where you are going.

 

[Nac_Mac_Feegle]

The 3.0 edition sourcebook for rogues and bards (Song & Silence) had a treasure hunter prestige class, and he need map reading skills, if I remember tonight, when I get home, I will try and post up the skills that wer prerequisites and class skills of the class.

Unless someone here has acces to it now and could post it

Feegle Out