Wilderlands of High Fantasy: Sucky Maps

[Steel_Wind]

Ok. First off - let me say that I love the old Judge's Guild products. I've both played and have owned and run the City State.

My first D&D character was in the City State. I love this setting.

So when the Wilderlands boxed set was announced, I was quite pleased. In defference to my oldest gaming friend (the same DM who ran my first character in the City State) who has claimed the campaign setting as "his", I have not bought the boxed set.

But when he brought his new copy to the game I was very interested and excited as hell to poke through it.

The new books are really, really cool and I highly recommend the boxed set for this reason.

But the wilderlands maps? Ugh. Very uncool.

The maps themselves are the same layout as the old maps. I don't really have a problem with this - that's fine. The images of the terrain are fine too.

But the old maps were printed on a very thick bond, almost a cardstock. We still have those maps and still use them 25+ years later. DMs and players maps, both.

These new maps are printed on a glossy paper that looks like they will rip in the first session they are unfolded to be used in.

Our original Wilderlands of High Fantasy maps are still in use. There is not a snowball's chance in hell that the new 3E maps are going to be around in usable from 25 years from now unless you go have them laminated right now.

Great books - very disappointed in the maps though.

 

[Crothian]

THe maps do not rip that easily unless you are really trying to rip them. They are as strong as about every other map printed these days.

 

[Xombie Master]

Try getting the map and advertiser inserts out of "HP Lovecraft's Arkham" for Call of Cthulhu. I've yet to meet someone who did it without ripping one or both.

 

[WayneLigon]

THe maps do not rip that easily unless you are really trying to rip them. They are as strong as about every other map printed these days.

That being his point. I have the new City State book. I'm almost afraid to unfold that map, and I take very good care of my stuff indeed. I just use one of the thick paper maps I picked up at a con. My original 20-something-year-old map is still fine, with no rips or tears.

 

[The Shaman]

I don't think the new maps "suck" by any stretch but I do miss the feel of this old maps. That said, the new glossy maps won't soak up stains as easily as the original sheets!

 

[Haffrung Helleyes]

maps

The problem is, those old pebblestock maps are very, very expensive today for some reason.

We had this discussion on the Necromancer Games boards long before the boxed set came out... the explanation that Clark Peterson gave was that the project wasn't likely to make money even using the cheap maps.

The new maps will be available at the NG site in PDF format. What this means is that, if you really want to, you can take the map files to your local kinkos or whatever and have them printed 17x22'' on the nice paper of your choice. To me, that's a good compromise.

Ken

 

[ssampier]

Is the large map available fromJudges Guild the same quality (tear easily)?

http://www.cafepress.com/judgesguild.11085378

 

[JoeGKushner]

THe maps do not rip that easily unless you are really trying to rip them. They are as strong as about every other map printed these days.

Haven't got mine yet, but that's not good news as many maps I've used recently have had the tiny rips much quicker than their older counterparts.

 

[Turjan]

Is the large map available fromJudges Guild the same quality (tear easily)?

http://www.cafepress.com/judgesguild.11085378

Well, it says "printed on heavyweight 7 mil semi-gloss paper". I'm not able to translate that into plain English, though .

 

[Mystery Man]

The maps aren't any different that any other map that I've got from WoTC, Dungeon magazine or any other. Its the same paper, material whatever. I don't get what all the complaining is about, other than just something to complain about.