Maps and Map Making (CSC)

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Maps are the bones of a fantasy universe. They define the physical situations in which the adventures will take place. They are a concrete, visual representation of the DM's imagined world. Everything else is eventually built upon them. For this reason, the DM, whether novice or experienced, must give them the attention and care in creation that they are due.
A beginning DM typically prepares a large map of his world showing the major geographical and political features (see the previous chapter on world design), maps out a small village or town for adventurers to dwell in, then creates one or more detailed adventures and the maps that go with them. These maps are "secret," never to be seen by players, since they contain infomation that the pes could not know. Unfortunately, many of these maps should remain secret forever, hidden away and never used.
Too often, during the process of world and adventure creation, a DM will hurriedly slap together a wilderness that bears no relationship to real geography, a cavern complex that more closely resembles a rabbit warren, or a castle that totally ignores plausible (or even magical!) construction methods, and then cannot understand why his players are unable to suspend their "disbelief" when he runs his adventure. Even more tragic is the DM who spends COlll1tless hours on his maps, yet still accomplishes the same, unbelievable end.
Map making is important and the time invested in researching and making clear, realistic, even visually exciting maps is time well spent Making maps that look good and play well does take time. Yet making good maps need not dominate the DM's design time. It is possible to make good maps, even great maps, without having to become a professional cartographer or needing to invest half one's lifetime in their creation.
What follows is an accelerated course in adventure game map making with a particular focus on making maps for AD&O® games. The goals of this course are to teach beginning DMs how to make fun, visually interesting, but most of all believable maps and to give experienced DMs some pointers to bring new life into their campaign worlds through clever, realistic mapping techniques.