Two views of the identical geospatial relationships (a part of the Britannia sport map)
Distance vs. Time
Our opening quote describes how perceptions and expertise could make a lot distinction. This time we’re making use of this to maps, the place we see that individuals residing in an enormous (and cellular) nation like America suppose 100 miles is a brief distance, whereas these residing in international locations with a protracted pre-technological historical past might imagine 100 miles is a good distance.
Travel occasions depend upon the state of roads, and we’ve to recollect that apart from Roman roads, roads in pre-technological occasions tended to be dust tracks or (in early technological occasions) often timber. In moist climate they have been a lot slower than in good climate. I’m reminded of Google Maps, the place journey occasions clearly assume that site visitors is mild and that you do not cease for site visitors lights. Weather is assumed to be tremendous.
One of the keys right here is that trendy individuals are accustomed to low cost and available maps that present distance in addition to highway connectivity. That type of map is never going to exist in a low know-how/Medieval setting. In days earlier than air journey and satellites, correct maps of a contemporary sort have been rather a lot tougher to make than they’re now. What you are extra more likely to get, and what could also be extra sensible for individuals of that period, is a map that reveals occasions quite than distances. This would usually be a connectivity map: circles for places, connecting strains with journey time listed (see illustration of a large-scale connectivity map, although with out journey occasions).
How Accurate Are Your Maps?
In non-technological occasions, maps could also be fairly inaccurate. If you have seen what some sixteenth century maps of the world seem like, you already know what I imply.
Some RPG journey modules embrace each maps for the GM and maps to provide the participant characters. There’s extra element on the GM maps, and there could also be inaccuracies on the participant map. The GM map will most likely be in distances, maybe with a hex grid, however the participant map could also be a connectivity map with journey occasions quite than distances.
Think of this by way of a pal telling you methods to get to their home. Some gives you instructions, a form of connectivity map: flip left right here, flip proper on the mild, drive 5 miles, and so forth. This type of “map” makes use of apparent landmarks, akin to “turn right at the Walmart”. Others gives you a scale map, whether or not a map another person made or a map that they made themselves. Which would you quite have? I’d a lot quite have the map, as a result of if you happen to lose your method and you’ve got a (distance) map you’ll be able to most likely determine methods to get the place you have to go. Whereas if you happen to lose your method and also you solely have instructions there is a good probability you will not be capable to get again onto the fitting place in/for the instructions, and you will be misplaced. My spouse, however, desires the opposite various, as a result of so many “distance” maps don’t even have a scale of distance on them, and since she judges precise distances (akin to “three tenths of a mile”) poorly.
For strange individuals a connectivity map may be extra helpful than a distance map. If travelling by river, the connecting line would observe the river. For important terrain you’ll be able to shade the connecting line accordingly, say black if the going is mountainous, blue for a river, and so on.
Solving the Mapping Problem
For RPGs, we will consider magical mapmaking gadgets simply sufficient.
- Perhaps one is a big flat piece of fabric that pulls a map of the terrain of the realm round you (you are within the center). It could be blocked by stone underground.
- Another machine might draw a map on paper or vellum as you journey.
- Another would observe the precise distance you journey, whether or not by foot, horse, or boat.
- Another would make a map of the place you’ve been, so to get again to your place to begin.
I suppose let’s imagine that “maps” can embrace connections, instructions, timings, landmarks, distances, or all roads in scale (typical trendy map).
There are a lot of attainable missions in hiring adventurers to make maps. After all, is not exploring one of many elementary actions in RPGs? Mapmaking is an effective excuse to get participant characters into overland adventures quite than dungeoneering. There may be abilities that one of many occasion should know with a purpose to make a map that corresponds nicely to the precise space. The space could also be occupied by hostiles, or by unusual encounters.
Your flip: Have you made an journey out of hiring the adventurers to make maps (whether or not primarily based on distance or journey time)?
