Cartography skill

[Everybody]

There's a fair, at least, demand for in game maps, but one of my favorite aspects of Planeshift so far is how merciless it is in making you figure things out yourself. I was thinking a good compromise might be that players could level a cartography skill, in which areas they walk through are drawn onto a map, coloring in blankness along the specific path the character walks, and the higher one's cartography skill, the more accurate and/or detailed the map becomes. A map would be a physical item in one's inventory and only one map could be made at a time, to prevent a player walking around with a dozen blank sheets filling them all at once. Perhaps game mechanics could draw the map, but the player would have to do the labeling.

[LigH]

Has been asked before.

Auto-mapping was already rejected. Do it like in real life: Get taught by those who already know it.

How about a study in Yliakography at the Knowledge Seekers university?

[Dracaeon]

If, for some reason you really need a map, ask around.  Generally you can find someone willing to help.  I know the Guilds and Traders Journal people give/sell maps.  If you are really at a loss, buy a blank map and make one!

[Earowo]

Well the point of PS is to be realistic, somthing to be immersed in, auto-mapping, doesnt work with that, if you really want a map, you should make one yourself, on blank paper, i made my own sewer maps, if you want copies ask me IG, but otherwise, make your own. You only have to wander to another town once or twice to memorize it, once you do that, you can make a map fairly easy.
And if the IG paper doesnt work for you, draw a map on printer paper.

[Maisent]

Well the point of PS is to be realistic,

Actually PS is fantasy, not realism

There's a fair, at least, demand for in game maps, but one of my favorite aspects of Planeshift so far is how merciless it is in making you figure things out yourself. I was thinking a good compromise might be that players could level a cartography skill, in which areas they walk through are drawn onto a map, coloring in blankness along the specific path the character walks, and the higher one's cartography skill, the more accurate and/or detailed the map becomes. A map would be a physical item in one's inventory and only one map could be made at a time, to prevent a player walking around with a dozen blank sheets filling them all at once. Perhaps game mechanics could draw the map, but the player would have to do the labeling.

If you want maps, you could buy them from merchants. You could also ask around for directions until you get it memorized.

[LigH]

Of course PlaneShift is not as realistic as real-life physics and economy and so on.

But the development tries to be quite realistic as much as the game mechanics allows it to be, with respect to a fantasy environment with existing gods and magic - but in a limited range. Filling a blank paper with a map magically does not belong to either of the six ways of Settings compatible magic. And giving good map painters a fair chance to sell good maps supports in-game economy.

And for the lazy nerds, there is still that map tool which turns "/pos" messages from system logs into line drawings. But I have seen a lot more creative maps. So if you want to make maps based on that technical result, better use the lines only as template to put Points Of Interest at the right coordinates.

[Everybody]

Hand drawn maps are great - no question about that. I suppose my only argument for automating it is that that's how all the other things you can do in the game work, for the most part. For example, my character can call an ice storm down on people and freeze them to death. I'm glad I don't have to have the ability to do so personally for my character to be able to do so, because, just between us, I can't really cast spells in real life. I can't sword fight either. I can't make potions. I also can't draw. That's more what I was thinking of - the making it something trainable so that in character abilities and player abilities maintain that level of separation. It's like the insanely longwinded Klyros fellow explains in his how to roleplay monologue - separating what you know from what your character knows - I imagine it should go both ways. The specifics of how the finished products are produced is anyone's call, however. I borrowed the autofill concept from the Elder Scrolls series, though I'm sure many games use it. That said, I wouldn't want to ruin anyone's moneymaking niche. It's not that big a deal. There are enough landmarks for me to find my way around. Those rock formations are genius on that front.

[LigH]

The offer remains: The Knowledge Seekers university provides courses for part-time as well as full-time students. So roleplay learning to draw maps, and you will possibly even learn it according to the game mechanics

[novacadian]

Filling a blank paper with a map magically does not belong to either of the six ways of Settings compatible magic.

Only recently was it explained to me that entire books can be copied with a magic spell supported by settings. Seems less of a stretch using a geographical reference to produce maps out of thin air... or get rid of that mention in the Library and help the floundering quill industry at the same time!

- Nova

[LigH]

Well, I am no settings expert. Sorry. 

You are?! 

Let's get surprised then...

[novacadian]

You are?! 

An expert? No.

Yet it is my understanding that all quests need Settings' stamp of approval.

- Nova

[LigH]

Makes me curious which way "Copy" would be then. Possibly Brown Way as it is related to manifestation (Summon).

[Dannae]

Anyone wishing an in-game map is always welcome to buy one from Dannae or commission her to make one. She is currently selling a Hydlaa Sewers Map and a Laanx Dungeon Map.

[Earowo]

I have sewer maps, i can copy em for people.