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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Lanefan" data-source="post: 8760975" data-attributes="member: 29398">I'll grant that a layout such as shown in the above map would be hard to depict top-down as there's so many elements directly beneath other elements.  To do this top-down would require several maps (more on this below) plus a thumbnail overview like what is shown to indicate how everything connects together.  Sometimes, a side-on view can also be useful.  But even here, there's background elements blocked by foreground elements, particularly in the middle area.In a setup like the one shown, what those several top-down maps would have to take care with (and IME many do not) are the following elements:--- in every room there must be an elevation marker, showing the difference in elevation relative to a datum point (usually the entry room)--- every connecting passage, stairway, etc. leaving one level must clearly show where it leads to on another level along with (and this is the bit most often overlooked) the linear distance it takes to get there!  I can't count the number of times I've had maps that show a stairway or passage leaving one level and (on a different map) the same stairway arriving at another level but no indication anywhere of how long that stairway/passage is or how much vertical distance it covers.  If even one of the maps shows the whole stairway/passage and its end, that's enough--- sloping halls and rooms must be clearly marked as such, as must slopes and elevation changes within a rough chamber or cavern--- stairs on any map must be, if anything, too clear about which direction goes up and which goes down.  It's usually obvious enough for stairs between levels, but on the same level where a short flight of stairs connects two rooms or even two parts of a room, it's often impossible to tell whether those stairs lead up or down from which direction.</blockquote>

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