What world has the best maps?

[CapnZapp]

Top 3:
1. HârnWorld: Nuff' said
2. Warhammer's Old World: Strong ties to RW Europe makes for realistic map
3. Kalamar: Ambitious project, but unpronounceable names a big disadvantage

I think most people voting for Forgotten Realms and/or Greyhawk either:
* mistake this vote for "which game world do you love the most?". FR is a rich fantasy realm, but its map is completely unbelievable. And it's the map that's on the vote here, folks.
* are unaware of better alternatives. Of course FR and GW will get many votes here: many voters will have played D&D only.

 

[diaglo]

Harn and the Harnworld product line have the finest maps in all of gaming.

ditto. from the 1edADnD dayes.

 

[reanjr]

Given all the nice reviews of the Hârn map, does anyone have a link to what it looks like?

 

[diaglo]

try www.columbiagames.com

 

[francisca]

Mystara, with the Gazetteer maps compiled into the two Trail Maps giant fold outs.

Yeah. Those are sweet. Some of my favorite D&D stuff.

 

[Henry]

I'm going to say Forgotten Realms, because until now it's the only one that I KNEW actually detailed the entire world, instead of just one continent! I may have to glance at some of Kalamar's offerings then, because I've always perceived it as a rather plain fantasy setting.

 

[reanjr]

I'm going to say Forgotten Realms, because until now it's the only one that I KNEW actually detailed the entire world, instead of just one continent! I may have to glance at some of Kalamar's offerings then, because I've always perceived it as a rather plain fantasy setting.

Well, I should tell you that Kalamar's does NOT detail the entire world, just most of one continent. That part is VERY detailed, though. Plain? In the sense that it is traditional, yeah. It's just very richly detailed in every fashion. Everything is (or at least seems to be) heavily researched and ends up with a level of consistency and "realism" I've never seen anywhere else.

On another note:

I just looked at some of the Hârn maps. Very nice. I still maintain my vote for Kalamar, though. The Hârn maps all seem way too busy (probably due to the hex grid - I hate grids - and the terrain).

 

[jcw8705]

I went with Kalamar's map, certainly some of the names are difficult to pronounce, but then again when I go to a foreign country I have some problems with that too. The Atlas really makes the map shine, giving you an in-depth look at the region in a topographical manner and then following with pages of resources to give an idea as to how population, resources, militaries, currents, and weather patterns are all set up.

 

[WayneLigon]

Top 3:
2. Warhammer's Old World: Strong ties to RW Europe makes for realistic map

Oh, yes, I'd forgotten about that. Those are nice overland maps. For interior and city maps they beat almost everything else hands down and I only say 'almost' because I might be forgetting something.

The Canonfire maps are a thing of absolute beauty. Now there just needs to be more of them.

 

[Zudrak]

...I think most people voting for Forgotten Realms and/or Greyhawk...mistake this vote for "which game world do you love the most?".

I agree with the first part of CapnZapp's "either" statement above. However, I like the Greyhawk map best because of the way the nations are set. The interactions and dealings between countries simply arrive from their location and their relation to other ones. I also feel Greyhawk looks more realistic in its geology.

Then, there's the fact that Greyhawk hasn't been "paved to death". In other words, Greyhawk leaves a lot to the imagination of the DM, whereas other worlds leave no stone unturned, it seems, in plotting out where every iota of matter belongs.

That's just my $.02.