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Sneak Peek At Ghosts of Saltmarsh Maps
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<blockquote data-quote="WaterRabbit" data-source="post: 7777767" data-attributes="member: 2445"><p>You must write copy for infomercials! Lol. Take something trivial to do make make it seem really really difficult.</p><p></p><p>If you have a paper map -- you know the most common form of map in the last 500 years, there is no "top". Google maps has created this expectation more than anything.</p><p></p><p>Blind convention is doing something without thought because everyone else does it. Again, you are being pedantic. Your are trying to create absurd scenarios to try and proved your silly point. A map's usefulness does not require it to be orientated in a particular fashion. The information on the map is what is important.</p><p></p><p>Your argument about the map in Saltmarsh focuses on the trivial and the shallow. You apparently aren't concerned if the map conveys the information necessary to run the module effectively -- just that it is in the wrong orientation. It is the same trivial and shallow argument about whether the map is in color or not.</p><p></p><p>I want a map that conveys the information I need as a DM to run the game effectively. The map helps me understand the spatial/temporal relationship between objects. Literally the least important information to me is the arbitrary location of the compass directions. For the Saltmarsh maps you could just pick any side of the map you like and label it north as it is totally irrelevant to running the module. It is especially relevant if you home the city into your own campaign where its orientation may or may not coincide with its new location.</p><p></p><p>The point you are trying to make is absurd precisely because it is so irrelevant. Apparently this is a religious matter for you or something.</p><p></p><p>For important maps, orientation is important. As a geologist it is important to have maps provide precise orientation -- not just of the magnetic north but also magnetic declination so one can adjust their compass. </p><p></p><p>However, for D&D, such precision is not needed. In fact most of my D&D maps don't even bother with compass directions as they just aren't relevant -- especially if the campaign is set before Renaissance level technology.</p><p></p><p>As a side note: Your 500 year timescale is not correct. It was the invention of the marine chronometer (1761) that brought about the beginning of map standardization. The convention that you so ardently adhere was not so ingrained into people when I was growing up, so we are really only taking about a 50 year period where people started publishing maps consistently with north towards the top of the page. However, you could also say the same for the mercator projection. It is useful for a large number of applications, but if that is the only projection you are willing to work with it is inherently self-limiting.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="WaterRabbit, post: 7777767, member: 2445"] You must write copy for infomercials! Lol. Take something trivial to do make make it seem really really difficult. If you have a paper map -- you know the most common form of map in the last 500 years, there is no "top". Google maps has created this expectation more than anything. Blind convention is doing something without thought because everyone else does it. Again, you are being pedantic. Your are trying to create absurd scenarios to try and proved your silly point. A map's usefulness does not require it to be orientated in a particular fashion. The information on the map is what is important. Your argument about the map in Saltmarsh focuses on the trivial and the shallow. You apparently aren't concerned if the map conveys the information necessary to run the module effectively -- just that it is in the wrong orientation. It is the same trivial and shallow argument about whether the map is in color or not. I want a map that conveys the information I need as a DM to run the game effectively. The map helps me understand the spatial/temporal relationship between objects. Literally the least important information to me is the arbitrary location of the compass directions. For the Saltmarsh maps you could just pick any side of the map you like and label it north as it is totally irrelevant to running the module. It is especially relevant if you home the city into your own campaign where its orientation may or may not coincide with its new location. The point you are trying to make is absurd precisely because it is so irrelevant. Apparently this is a religious matter for you or something. For important maps, orientation is important. As a geologist it is important to have maps provide precise orientation -- not just of the magnetic north but also magnetic declination so one can adjust their compass. However, for D&D, such precision is not needed. In fact most of my D&D maps don't even bother with compass directions as they just aren't relevant -- especially if the campaign is set before Renaissance level technology. As a side note: Your 500 year timescale is not correct. It was the invention of the marine chronometer (1761) that brought about the beginning of map standardization. The convention that you so ardently adhere was not so ingrained into people when I was growing up, so we are really only taking about a 50 year period where people started publishing maps consistently with north towards the top of the page. However, you could also say the same for the mercator projection. It is useful for a large number of applications, but if that is the only projection you are willing to work with it is inherently self-limiting. [/QUOTE]
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