Wilderness Maps - gridded or not?

[MerricB]

Once upon a time, wilderness maps were drawn on a hexgrid.

Then they weren't. When did that happen? (I blame the Forgotten Realms and its plastic hexgrid templates...)

I miss the hexgrids. Why? Because they made it easy for the DM to describe which direction the characters were going in, and allowed the possibility of them mapping.

Certainly, hexgrids aren't necessary in known terrain, but consider the original Isle of Dread and its most recent incarnation in Dungeon Magazine. It's not quite the same without the grid!

However, that's me. What about you? Do you prefer your wilderness maps to have a grid, or not? Why or why not?

Cheers!

 

[MonsterMash]

Even better than just hexes - numbered hexes like the old JG blank map sheets and maps in the products. Bliss

 

[Deadguy]

It's funny, but whiulst I love and want gridded interior maps I can't stand artificial grids overlaying exterior maps - or rather large-scale maps. I think it's because the cartographer tends to allow the grid to define the shape of the land and the distribution of features. The result - IMO - looks very artificial, and is something I actually find harder to describe than a plain map. When you need distances out comes the ruler (or just as easy: the pencil shaft used to compare with the map scale!). As for directiom, I don't sweat it being too precise. Most travel is either along known routes or towards landmarks, even when exploring new areas.

 

[Melan]

Like Monster Mash said, hexes ... numbered hexes. They are very convenient to use as a DM, plus you can put the "we go off to explore that countryside" element to your gaming.

 

[Li Shenron]

I have never seen a map with a grid, so the characters shouldn't as well

 

[Hand of Evil]

I like hex but will use trail hiking maps in my games.

 

[S'mon]

def no grid

 

[diaglo]

Like Monster Mash said, hexes ... numbered hexes. They are very convenient to use as a DM, plus you can put the "we go off to explore that countryside" element to your gaming.

ditto.

just like in Outdoor Survival from Avalon Hill

 

[Psion]

Hex Grids.

Of course, one advantage of CC2 is I can create views with or without grids at a whim.

 

[MerricB]

I generally don't mind an artificial map where the terrain features correspond to the grid. This is mainly because I play D&D as a game, not a simulation, and things that make the game easier to run are appreciated.

This is the same reason I like dungeon maps aligning to the grid, etc.

Cheers!