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Maps vs Description

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
Darrius_Adler
Jun 29, 2004 12:10:31 I noticed recently that the description of Levkarest (Borca) in Gazetteer 4 matches the map in the original black boxed set but not the one inside the cover of the RLPHB.

The map in the RLPHB doesn't show the Old Svalich road connecting to Levkarest, instead it ends at Krezk. Its now the Crimson Highway that should pass through Caina to the Luna Ferry. In the end this leaves the Sunset gate going to absolutely nowhere. The Sunrise gate seems to be the continuation of the Crimson Highway as it exits the city, passes Misercordia and heads south to Zeidenburg.
#2
bluebomber4evr
Jun 29, 2004 20:51:00 Unfortunately, I've found most of the 3e maps of Ravenloft to be pretty inconsistant with previous maps, too. The locations of Castle Ravenloft and the Village of Barovia are WAY off.

Your best bet is to compare the gaz maps with the older maps and see what matches and what doesn't, then simply "move" the incorrect cities/landmarks to their proper locations.
#3
The_Jester
Jun 30, 2004 0:04:10 Despite the innacuracies they are still the best Ravenloft maps by far. So much better than the maps in the Black and Red box and with the ones in Domains of Dread.
#4
zombiegleemax
Jun 30, 2004 5:30:06 Given the "morphic" or subjective nature of RL you might even choose to make lemonade out of lemons and incorporate some of the inconsistencies into your style as a GM. I can think of a few reasons why even honest cartographers might make a few errors. Granted you don't want to totally befuddle your players, but think of the adventures that might begin with:

"Sure the Svalich road goes through there, look its here on the map clear as day..."

"Uh guys, I don't think those mountains are supposed to be here in Mordent".

-Eric Gorman
#5
Darrius_Adler
Jun 30, 2004 13:30:34
Originally posted by The_Jester
Despite the innacuracies they are still the best Ravenloft maps by far. So much better than the maps in the Black and Red box and with the ones in Domains of Dread.

The maps in the black boxed set are still my favorate and by far the most usefull. I continue to hope that once the Gazetters for the core are done that they will release a new poster map that is scaled. Or perhaps a general book of scaled maps, both of the over all land and some of the major cities. Expand on the layout of the cities provided in the black boxed set or perhaps taken from later publications. There are four or five cities that are mapped/detailed in the old modules.
#6
friendofreligion
Jul 21, 2004 15:39:50
Originally posted by HvF
Given the "morphic" or subjective nature of RL you might even choose to make lemonade out of lemons and incorporate some of the inconsistencies into your style as a GM. I can think of a few reasons why even honest cartographers might make a few errors. Granted you don't want to totally befuddle your players, but think of the adventures that might begin with:

"Sure the Svalich road goes through there, look its here on the map clear as day..."

"Uh guys, I don't think those mountains are supposed to be here in Mordent".

-Eric Gorman

Sweeeeet....

We tend to forget that today's "accurate" maps are a modern invention and reflect modern needs and philosophies. I heartily commend to the attention of anyone interested in maps and mapmaking Longitude and Umberto Eco's novel The Island of the Day Before, as well as Postscript to the Name of the Rose and Baudolino. As a semiotician Eco pays a great deal of attention to maps and our "reading" of them, and he is helpful in dispelling modern notions of what makes a map "good" -- world maps of today would seem useless to many Scholastic philosphers of the early Medieval period because they don't show the terrestrial paradise and aren't centered on Jerusalem and so do not allow the pilgrim's mind to dwell "on Heavenly things."

A map made in a fantasy setting may have been created with an unexpected cartographic philosophy. For instance, a cartographer may think that it is more elegant for cities to be arranged alphabetically on a map than in the order in which they occur along a road, and he may distort his map's perspective to suit his intentions, not a traveller's convenience. And there are probably thousands of maps which don't have the locations of monster lairs marked, because the cartographers didn't want to risk summoning anything evil to their shops by writing down the names of the monsters. Hehehehehe....

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Darrius_Adler Jun 29, 2004 12:10:31	I noticed recently that the description of Levkarest (Borca) in Gazetteer 4 matches the map in the original black boxed set but not the one inside the cover of the RLPHB. The map in the RLPHB doesn't show the Old Svalich road connecting to Levkarest, instead it ends at Krezk. Its now the Crimson Highway that should pass through Caina to the Luna Ferry. In the end this leaves the Sunset gate going to absolutely nowhere. The Sunrise gate seems to be the continuation of the Crimson Highway as it exits the city, passes Misercordia and heads south to Zeidenburg.
#2 bluebomber4evr Jun 29, 2004 20:51:00	Unfortunately, I've found most of the 3e maps of Ravenloft to be pretty inconsistant with previous maps, too. The locations of Castle Ravenloft and the Village of Barovia are WAY off. Your best bet is to compare the gaz maps with the older maps and see what matches and what doesn't, then simply "move" the incorrect cities/landmarks to their proper locations.
#3 The_Jester Jun 30, 2004 0:04:10	Despite the innacuracies they are still the best Ravenloft maps by far. So much better than the maps in the Black and Red box and with the ones in Domains of Dread.
#4 zombiegleemax Jun 30, 2004 5:30:06	Given the "morphic" or subjective nature of RL you might even choose to make lemonade out of lemons and incorporate some of the inconsistencies into your style as a GM. I can think of a few reasons why even honest cartographers might make a few errors. Granted you don't want to totally befuddle your players, but think of the adventures that might begin with: "Sure the Svalich road goes through there, look its here on the map clear as day..." "Uh guys, I don't think those mountains are supposed to be here in Mordent". -Eric Gorman
#5 Darrius_Adler Jun 30, 2004 13:30:34	Originally posted by The_Jester Despite the innacuracies they are still the best Ravenloft maps by far. So much better than the maps in the Black and Red box and with the ones in Domains of Dread. The maps in the black boxed set are still my favorate and by far the most usefull. I continue to hope that once the Gazetters for the core are done that they will release a new poster map that is scaled. Or perhaps a general book of scaled maps, both of the over all land and some of the major cities. Expand on the layout of the cities provided in the black boxed set or perhaps taken from later publications. There are four or five cities that are mapped/detailed in the old modules.
#6 friendofreligion Jul 21, 2004 15:39:50	Originally posted by HvF Given the "morphic" or subjective nature of RL you might even choose to make lemonade out of lemons and incorporate some of the inconsistencies into your style as a GM. I can think of a few reasons why even honest cartographers might make a few errors. Granted you don't want to totally befuddle your players, but think of the adventures that might begin with: "Sure the Svalich road goes through there, look its here on the map clear as day..." "Uh guys, I don't think those mountains are supposed to be here in Mordent". -Eric Gorman Sweeeeet.... We tend to forget that today's "accurate" maps are a modern invention and reflect modern needs and philosophies. I heartily commend to the attention of anyone interested in maps and mapmaking Longitude and Umberto Eco's novel The Island of the Day Before, as well as Postscript to the Name of the Rose and Baudolino. As a semiotician Eco pays a great deal of attention to maps and our "reading" of them, and he is helpful in dispelling modern notions of what makes a map "good" -- world maps of today would seem useless to many Scholastic philosphers of the early Medieval period because they don't show the terrestrial paradise and aren't centered on Jerusalem and so do not allow the pilgrim's mind to dwell "on Heavenly things." A map made in a fantasy setting may have been created with an unexpected cartographic philosophy. For instance, a cartographer may think that it is more elegant for cities to be arranged alphabetically on a map than in the order in which they occur along a road, and he may distort his map's perspective to suit his intentions, not a traveller's convenience. And there are probably thousands of maps which don't have the locations of monster lairs marked, because the cartographers didn't want to risk summoning anything evil to their shops by writing down the names of the monsters. Hehehehehe....