But you say there is a full atlas coming out. Thus, that desire is sated. But this new atlas, it has to be usable. Adding extras to the back, like a nice gridded perforated mat, or a template for ariel battle maps, or templates for temples and buildings of krynn, maps of trade routes, explanations of the various economies and countries, populations, racial breakdowns, languages, dialects, religious leanings, skin tone... You know, things an atlas would have.
I have trepidation talking about this, because I know what i want. And i know that the Atlas I want would be on the level of 1000 pages.
Okay. Here's what i'd want.
And large 8 foldout poster-sized maps of the known world.
this includes Ansalon
Brute/Tarmak Continent
Dragon isles
Spine of Taladas
Taladas
Ice Reach/South pole/Chorane
So...... i can place all the maps up on my bedroom ceiling so i can have a HUGE combined poster of the known world, when i wake up in the morning.
A map of the solar system, ala Krynnspace with all the planets, including Shinare, which is missing from Krynnspace, and how each moon, and planet looks under a telescope.
3 large maps of the moons (like the maps we have of Luna, Earth's moon)
2 spin wheels of the night skies. one pre-Chaos war and one post-WoS. For anyone who's been an astronomer or to a planetarium with a gift shop, there are spinwheels that let you set month and day, so the night sky appears the way it does.
A cosmology map of the prime material plane, Abyss, Celestial dome, Ethereal and Astral realms, (like in DLCS?)
Now we get nitty gritty.
Pre-Cataclysm Ansalon geographical map
Pre-Cataclysm Ansalon Weather/rainfall pattern map
Pre-Cataclysm Taladas geopgraphical map
Pre-Cataclysm Taladas Weather/rainfall pattern map
Age of Dreams - Time of the ogres
-polical map of the ogre lands, and major cities.
-trade route map ala FRCS
Age of Dreams - Time of the Elves
-Military relief map of major troop movements of 1st dragon war.
-political map of nations, including elves and humans
-trade route map ala FRCS
-a migration map indicating which bands of humans fro barbarians trilogy migrated to different regions.
Age of Dreams - Greygem
-political map of nations with elves, humans, ogres, gnomes, kender, dwarves, and minotaurs. Ergoth and regions of eventual solamnia are indicated.
-trade route map ala FRCS
Age of Dreams - Third Dragon war
-military relief map of major troop movements in that war.
-pathways map of huma's journey that eventually leads to the dragonlances (i.e. reread legend of huma).
Age of Might/Right/Light
-Political map of nations, including Istar.
-trade route map ala FRCS
Post Cataclysm map of Ansalon and Taladas.
Post cataclysm weather/rainfall map of Ansalon and Taladas
Age of Darkness
-political map of nations.
-Pathway map of the Heroes of the lance.
-Military migration of troops in the War of the lance.
-military migration of Ariakan's army just before the Chaos war.
-trade route map ala FRCS
Age of mortals -Pre war of souls
-Political map of nations
-Geographical map of Ansalon
-trade route map ala FRCS
Age of mortals -post War of souls
-Political map of nations
-trade route map ala FRCS
Land maps
-basically copy the maps that are shown in the original atlas.
Tourist-point-of-interest-marked City Street Maps (AAA quality. I want the name of the street for Jenna's shop in Palanthas. I want STREET NAMES DAGNABIT! :D )
Flotsam
Haven
Palanthas
Sanction (several)
Solace
Qualinost
Silvanost
Nethosak (Minotaur capital)
Istar
Xak Tsaroth (pre-cataclysm)
Kalaman
Castle Wistan
High clerist Tower
Teyr
Throtyl (look at maps of SSI Champions of Krynn)
Neraka
Nordmaar
Kendermore
Hylo
Each of the 5 towers of high Sorcery
Citadel of light/Schallsea
Academy of Sorcery
Gwynned
Daltigoth
Kern
Bloden
Solanthus
Vingaard
Watermere
Chorane
Dimernost
Dragon Isles
1st Kal-thax
Thorin/Thoradin/Zhakar
Thorbardin
Including Political map of the 5 Thorbardin clans.
(Any major city i've missed.)
Any and all maps from any dragonlance books that the suggested maps above do not cover.
Whew.
Will i get it?
probably not. But here's to hoping.- Please no more 1-1/2 inch borders.
I'll post my Atlas wish-list later today... ah... sunny, sunny day. Beach craves for me like damp, mouldy caves pull kender in.
1st - Dont think atlas. At atlas is a book of maps. Yes I would most certainly like to see a large foldout map in the book. Thats very helpful. BUT, I would much rather see the atlas be more along the lines of an ALMANAC! Almanacs are full of useful information on different areas. Give us NEW and useful information we can use in our campaigns! Keep almanac in your minds when working on the project. I want information on the peoples of each region. What they are like, what they wear, customs, superstitions, beliefs. I want to know the interesting things happening in each region, interesting areas to explore and what the weather is like in each region, so on and so on! Give us these things and not just the population breakdowns and maps of regions and the product will be overwhelmingly successful!
2nd - Along with a poster map, I would like to see the addition of a scaled hex map overlay. Any of you remember these from 2nd edition forgotten realms box set? You could lay the clear page (with scaled hexes printed on) over the map and plot your journey from place to place with an erasable marker. The overlay showed you exactly how many days and miles of travel the journey would be (supposing everything went smoothly). It was a nifty little invention.
Anyways thats my 2-cents worth!
I would like to see the addition of a scaled hex map overlay. Any of you remember these from 2nd edition forgotten realms box set? You could lay the clear page (with scaled hexes printed on) over the map and plot your journey from place to place with an erasable marker. The overlay showed you exactly how many days and miles of travel the journey would be (supposing everything went smoothly). It was a nifty little invention.
I really, really, really, really, really like that idea. :D If we don't get something like that I am going to make one. I'll just use the map scale to tell me how big to make the hexes. I'll draw it up in some map program. Print it out onto transparency plastic ... and there I'll have it.
I just hope they don't sacrifice us WoTL people and only show us 5th age crap ... er I mean stuff.
I really liked the first Atlas and if they produce something near to that I will be happy. Granted color would be nice this time. And yes ... big pull out maps would be a huge plus, either in the atlas or in some other supplement.
1) Full map of the world or at least of the continent of Ansalon. This includes a detacheable poster map as well as larger scale maps of all nations. These detailed maps should include:
1.a) Political borders, every settlement of Large Town level and higher as well as individual strongholds and major keeps, major trade routes of road level and higher.
1.b) Special sites, be them reasonably well known dungeons, mysterious places (think white spots in TotL map), or shipwrecks.
1.c) Altitude curves along with climate zones, prevaling winds and currents, terrain type (with as much detail as the FRCS map).
1.d) Map of the night's sky (at least for the southern hemisphere).
2) Maps should be acompanied by continent write ups:
2.a) Write ups at nation level, instead of area level ("Lemish" and "Saifhum" as individual entries instead of part of of "Solamnia" and "Blood Sea Isles" respectively).
2.b) Detailed explanation of government in each nation/city-state as well as the names and brief stats for ruler(s). Example, I expect to know the names, positions, responsibilities and stats of the eight or so members of the Tarsian city council that judged the companions when they were caught.
2.c) Foreign relations with neighbouring nations as well with most powerful nations of the continent. Explanation of ally relations and reasons for enmity with other nations. Contested areas detailed since they are roleplaying breeding grounds.
2.d) A Regular Day at each nation. How do regular people live, what is the nation's primary workforce (slaves, children, women, men, foreigners, golems, etc.) and primary activities (fishing, farming, herding, etc.)
3) Commerce and goods:
3.a) Currency (including names) and local exchange rates (like in Leaves II), imported/exported goods. Any particularly common items/goods produced and the severe shortcomings (if any) in this respect.
3.b) Taxation breakdown, typical loan rates, special holdings of the nation and/or organizations residing there.
3.c) Commercial leverage of the nation including fleet, caravans, tolls (if the nation functions as a commercial cross-roads--Palanthas) and work force (a large percentage of dwarves are merchants as opposed to gnomes).
3.d) Overall nation population. All places marked in the maps should have population sizes detailed. Breakdown of races in population.
4) Military:
4.a) Hierarchy of the nation's militia (if any) and its breakdown (how many persons, for how long must they actively serve, are they armed by the state or must they use their own farming utilities, etc.) and how much they are paid or if they are expected to do so in exchange for noble's protection (feudal states), etc. Do they have a a season (up to before the harvest?).
4.b) Active military might, quantity. Spread and major military strongholds in the nation. Degree of protection of each army as well as types of weapons commonly used. Breakdown of a typical regiment into cavalry, infantry, spellcaster and archer units. Names and brief stats for top military commander.
4.c) Responsibilities of the standing army (do they only fight when needed or do they help patrol the nation, tend to fires and other calamities, etc.).
4.d) Level of protection in rural and urban centres. Degree of corruption in lower and upper levels of the society. How well prepared (arms and armor as well as funding) and what character level are typical constabularies and sheriffs.
5) Magic:
5.a) Temples and description of any nuances of worship in each particular nation. Which gods are revered, tolerated, banned, as well the overall reaction to clerics of other nations. Special practices (national holidays?) and ceremonies (king's coronation?) that involve the churches of the land. Same for mystics and druids.
5.b) How are arcane spellcasters viewed, particular sanctuaries (Jenna's shop in Palanthas). Magic items shops (VERY LOW number please), availability of components in the nation, special laws/taxes governing magic.
5.c) Can the nation/city face a party of reasonably high level wizards bent on wreacking havoc? How are the relations between nation and the Conclave (this should be further explained in 2.c).
6) Physical book:
6.a) 320 pages, hardcover, stitched instead of glued (but I'm not holding too much hope for this).
6.b) Please no more 1-1/2 inch borders.
6.c) Font size 9 (or 8, like the FRCS, if need be but 8 is a little too small for prolongued reading IMO).
Other than this (heh "there's more?" I hear you ask) I'd prefer if it was focused on the present. If anything I'm a 4th Ager but I still prefer to have more content for a single age than less content in several time periods. Having said that, if there's enough space, I think what Weldon pointed out for information on specific periods of other ages would be a great help for those wanting to run a different DL campaign.
Of course we DO need that fold out map of the continent of the Current Age with as much (if not more) details as the 4th Age fold out map. :D
The older DL Atlas was one of my favorite resources to use while reading through the Chronicles trilogy. I remember carrying it around with me everywhere, along with the particular book of the Chronicles trilogy that I would be reading at the time.
What do you all think?.
- Map of dragon lairs (has been covered, so I won't go into that)
- A chapter on each country, with cultural, political and geographical information. Like the file on Dragonlance Nexus webiste.
- A chapter on the major organisations like the KoS and KoT, WoHS etc. and their tracking through time. (iv'e seen some great projects on the tracking of the Knights Templar through history, and it would be nice if that was done for the DL organisations.)
- Local area maps of each country (one page maps would do)
- Maps of the most commonly used and largest cities. (Solace, Xak Tsaroth, Qualinost, Silvanost, etc.)
Can't think of more right now.
Roses & Lilies: A sourcebook detailing Solamnia and the Dragon Empire of Nereka.
Dueling Empires: Northern and Southern Ergoth
Surf and Turf: A sourcebook detailing the Blood Sea region. ;)
As for the Atlas, If it looks like what Richard Connery is suggesting, I'd be very happy. It looks reasonable, and contains all the information I'd require. I'd still like the location of all the dragon lairs though (with red, white, black etc. dots) as its own map. I know dragons aren't the center of dragonlance anymore... but they'll never never be an unimportant part.
;.;
'soon as we have the layout we're gonna go with and are able to post it, we'll give y'all a heads up on what will actually appear in the Atlas ;)
'til then, I'll keep an eye on this thread.
Christopher
Seriously though, all this should tell you something. We want a detailed atlas REALLY REALLY BADLY.
too damned long has dragonlance followed in its own footsteps like raist in legends.
i want to break out.
but i'm only a fan. You, chris, are the kender with the device.
Originally posted by Halcyonn
I have the old dragonlance atlas and I like it a lot, but it of course has holes because it only details what was in chronicles and legends. Now the Kingdoms of Kalamar atlas that wizards put out was spectacular. I really wish that they could combine the two. I mean, I want detailed maps of everything, not just where the Companions went. But I gess we all want that....
For those of you that don't know why this atlas is so good (the Kingdoms of Kalamar one), here's a link -> reviews here.
Originally posted by Mucknuggle
For those of you that don't know why this atlas is so good (the Kingdoms of Kalamar one), here's a link ->
It's a shame the setting itself is so lacklustre! It's got amazing production values but that's like professionally detailing a 1986 Toyota station wagon. I considered Kalamar for my campaign when the campaign sourcebook came out, but it seemed so much like a teenager's homebrew (with half-hobgoblins and a "Sorcerer Supreme") that I had to back slowly away from it.
Cheers,
Cam
Originally posted by Stormprince
*eyes all the maps desired and cries, his fingers already hurting from the thought of all the sketching he is going to have to do*
There, there, Chris...it'll be okay.
By the way...how will you be drawing all the maps? By hand...or would you be using CC2 or something similar? If ya need any help with maps...I'm sure there are plenty of us here who would be more than willing to help.
Originally posted by Stormprince
*eyes all the maps desired and cries, his fingers already hurting from the thought of all the sketching he is going to have to do*
;.;
Christopher
Heh. Well, I KNOW all the things I want won't be in the Atlas. IF it means anything, I have access to AAA, and i religiously ask for maps, maps, and more maps. For example, living the in the bay area, I asked AAA to give me street maps of every city in the SF/Bay area. One entire set for my car, in case i get lost, and then another set for home use.
When it comes down to it, Chris, I'd also like a Mapquest-like search engine/computer-atlas web enhancement.
i know that i have wallpapered my room with ansalon and otherlands and taladas maps before, and i know granak has as well =)
hell, i bought a second totl cause the map of my first one was messed up.
i need a new totd though. my taladas box has seen better days.
Originally posted by Cam Banks
It's a shame the setting itself is so lacklustre! It's got amazing production values but that's like professionally detailing a 1986 Toyota station wagon. I considered Kalamar for my campaign when the campaign sourcebook came out, but it seemed so much like a teenager's homebrew (with half-hobgoblins and a "Sorcerer Supreme") that I had to back slowly away from it.
*chuckles* That mirrors my experience with Kalamar exactly.
Originally posted by Goathoof
it would have to be (or at least I would like it be) a boxed set consisting of: Hardcover Atlas; Supplemental Pamphlet with misc. info; hex lay-overs, and plenty of poster maps!
*meeps* That would cost a small fortune... easily a 70-80 dollar product!
Christopher o.o;
After all, the rules-heavy DLCS and Age of Mortals will receive the heavy thumbing and constant use at the game table. The geography-based atlas would only be used by DM's planning adventures and writing up fan-based articles.It isn't going to happen. I know you want info on Taladas, but Time of the Dragon is pretty much the final word on the subject. If you want info on what has happened in the 30 years since, you'll have to do it yourself.
Originally posted by ferratus
If you have to sacrifice something, sacrifice the hardcover.
I think I would prefer it to be a paperback like the original atlas. It would be much easier to open up.
I've already discovered that for the big maps in the DLCS (North Ansalon and South Ansalon) it is very difficult to open the book far enough to be able to see into the spine...and it would be damn near impossible to photo copy that with any real accuracy for use in a game (if it needs to be marked up or anything).
I just think all around, a paperback would be much more effiecient. I mean, my Atlas has seen a lot of use...and it's still good as new (well...it's not falling apart anyway)
Honestly if the Atlas had good general information with good maps it would be worth it to me. To get the content alot of people want you're going to have to do smaller sections in in depth detail. Think of the recent Core Worlds book for SWRPG. Add in a big map that folds out with a see threw measuring device (like some were talking about earlier) and I think you'll have an excellent book.
In all honesty to do the product right it should be a box product NOT just a book. Folded maps, measuring devices, a main book. Hell with maps it would be good to have them in a binder format that people can take out and photocopy. BTW the idea someone had of a map of the stars pre and post WotS is an AWESOME idea.
If you cover Ansalon in sufficient detail to have the Atlas be worth the cost of purchasing it, it will already be a fairly sizable book. If you include the info on Taladas you would have to double the size.
Not at all. I realize that the focus of the atlas has to be Ansalon - no one expects anything else. But including a single-page map of Taladas with an accompanying page of text would not, I think, break the budget. You could probably squeeze small maps of the Dragon Isles and Spine of Taladas onto a single page also, with text sidebars on the same page. Very cursory stuff of course, but enough to indicate that there is more to Krynn than just a single continent. Would those 3 additional pages really be so detrimental to the commercial success of the product?
Or if the above is too difficult to implement, simply include a single page mercator-type global map, showing the additional continents, island chains, polar regions etc. In which case you only pad out the atlas by one more page!