d100 – Treasure Map Minutia & Cartograph Complications

Representing a full fourth of the Random Results when Scrolls are generated as Magical Treasure in most of the earlier presentations, Treasure Maps can sometimes end up making quite frequent appearances. B/X even recommends that the Referee prepare several in advance for this reason. I always endeavored to have a few handy, tucked away in the binder, just in case.

In world artifacts that get used in Play like this are wonderful things, and I know over the decades I’ve made many a Map replete with those slightly scorched edges, strategic tears, and even the requisite tea-staining in order to pass them out to the Players. I try not to get too precious with them these days, mostly because I want to encourage Players to write on them and make them “their own.” But these kinds of “In World” Maps will always serve as a wonderful way to Telegraph Dangers, Disseminate Rumors, and foster interest in other areas in a Setting. I’ve compiled some ideas for dressing them up a bit or making them a bit more memorable below. Hopefully some of these can serve as a springboard when the need arises to try your hand at making a few Pre-Prepared Treasure Maps for your game, even if some prove a bit impractical for “physical props!”

If you tire of typical Parchment, Paper, or Vellum, see the Form column of my Atypical Scrolls of Protection & Assorted Aegides post for some other ideas for surfaces they may be scrawled upon.

d100 - Random Rivers

For this Quick Table I decided to take the same approach that I embarked on for my Some City Streets Table. Naming things is something I’m very fond of, because they often make those Rumors/Hooks/NPC Directions a lot more interesting when they are tied to a Place. Places with Names have an easier time earning Reputations, let Maps do a little more work, and are sometimes a little more memorable than their anonymous counterparts.

So, here’s a handy source of Names for Creeks/Streams/Brooks and Rivers, alongside a few additional inspirational details that can be sprinkled into those riparian routes.

MKhexgrid

Just a quick note about some lovely software I stumbled across while trawling the internet for Numbered Hex Maps:

MKhexgrid - a hex grid generator

The following spec.txt file seems to be working really well to generate a full page of decently sized, numbered hexes:


columns = 30
rows = 20
hex-side = 30
grid-grain = v
output = png
outfile = tut3.png
antialias = true
coord-bearing = 90
coord-distance = 18


Numbered hexes are the only way to map, and stocking all the hexes on Index Cards means that adventurers are never wont for adventures.