Maps without Grids (CSC)

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Most of the maps that we use in the "real world" do not have graphs or hex grids. Likewise, grids are not absolutely necessary for adventure maps. Maps without grids, whether they are world, regional, or encounter maps allow the OM to design his world in a free-form manner, giving attention to realistic landforms and believable buildings (believe it or not, the world was not made to fit on a five foot by five foot map grid).
To make a gridless map, the DM must first assign it a scale. The map is then drawn with this scale in mind.
The primary drawback to a grid-less map is that all movement and missile ranges on the map must be measured with a ruler or a scale, rather than the simpler method of just counting spaces on a grid.