[UPDATED] Check Out These PRINCES OF THE APOCALYPSE Maps!

While you wait for Princes of the Apocalypse, the hardcover D&D adventure due out April 7th (March 27th in preferred stores), take a peek at these maps from the adventure, courtesy of cartographer extraordinaire Mike Schley! 7 maps in total, previewing The Dessarin valley, Red Larch and its surroundings, the Sighing Valley, Feathergale Spire, Rivergard Keep, and the Necromancer's Cave. And gorgeous they are, too! You can buy prints directly from the cartographer himself, which is a very cool thing that WotC does.

[UPDATE - unfortunately, Mike tells me that WotC has asked him to take the maps down for now, but they'll be back].

Click on one of the below maps for more!

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[doctorhook]

I'm glad that WotC hired Mike Schley, whose maps are evocative and beautiful while still being uncluttered and clear, for this adventure. I was unimpressed with the maps that Jared Blando did for the two Tyranny of Dragons adventures: they had too much decoration and not enough colour or clarity for my tastes.

I had thought so too, until I saw the digitial versions of Blando's maps; they were a lot more colourful. It's like all the art in HotDQ was washed out with purple.

Anyway, I still prefer Schley's maps, as they're a lot more useful.

 

[machineelf]

I think Blando's maps were beautiful. I'm not sure he's to be blamed for any of the confusion and editing issues concerning the maps.

I also like Schley's maps a ton, so I'm thrilled he's working on this project.

 

[trystero]

I think Blando's maps were beautiful. I'm not sure he's to be blamed for any of the confusion and editing issues concerning the maps.

I'm not blaming Blando for the editing errors, which were beyond his control. My complaints with his Tyranny of Dragons work are more to do with the busy borders and background elements, which often leave me struggling to figure out what's the map and what's just decoration, but even more so to do with the ambiguity of his shading for elevation: I can't tell which way his stairs go, and I have to refer back to the adventure text to tell whether I'm looking at a ridge or a pit.

They're beautiful as art; less useful as practical maps, though. And while I certainly prefer maps which have both clarity and beauty, if it comes to a trade-off I'll take clarity every time.

 

[machineelf]

And while I certainly prefer maps which have both clarity and beauty, if it comes to a trade-off I'll take clarity every time.

I agree with this.

 

[GlobeOfDankness]

i like schley's maps well enough, but i feel like he has some serious style lock going on. i can't tell you how many of his generic, green, swirly pastures i've seen groups slog through.

 

[MonsterEnvy]

I can't see the maps on his site.

 

[Mark CMG]

Sweet! I bought all of Mike's player maps for Lost Mine of Phandelver and it helped my game immensely. Looks like I'm going to have to creak the old wallet open again.

They are reasonably priced. Now, if you blow one up for the wall it can get a bit pricey . . .

 

[Ilbranteloth]

They were there earlier and I didn't finish the purchase. Now they are gone.

Looks like they went live a bit before they were supposed to...

They'll be back.

Ilbranteloth

 

[Queer Venger]

Absolutely stunning maps. Mike Schley is *the* D&D cartographer. Looking forward to buying these on his website. Yet again the best production values I've seen in any D& D product. I've preordered my copy already!

 

[GX.Sigma]

It seems they're putting a lot of resources into this campaign. Hopefully it makes up for the shockingly low production value of Tyranny of Dragons.