I’m not the artist, ToothyBJ is. [Source}(https://bsky.app/profile/toothybj.bsky.social/post/3mvijx5k7ck2a)

NGL I’m the kind of DM that makes my players draw their own maps. I also handout character sheets that are also journals for player notes. I stitch them myself and as they fill I’ll bind more pages into their journals.

No digital devices are allowed to be out at my table too.

The players are A LOT more engaged when they do that.

  • FiniteBanjo@feddit.onlineEnglish
    13·
    5 hours ago

    I always included maps for the players to purchase. They werent always complete or accurate, some were outright scams, one region actually forbade their sale.

    • Gormadt@slrpnk.netOPEnglish
      4·
      5 hours ago

      My man!

      Who can forget the sketchy treasure maps that the players will find/buy?

      It’s a great opportunity for some fun

  • k0e3@lemmy.ca
    5·
    6 hours ago

    I’m drawing maps as I play the original Phantasy Star. I find it oddly calming and relaxing.

    • taiyang@lemmy.world
      6·
      5 hours ago

      Yes, it’s the best way to play that and a few of those other 3D exploration games like Shining in the Darkness.

      I like the DS games Etrian Odyssey, they use the touch screen and force you to draw your own maps. The HD remakes are ok but that’s by mouse and don’t feel the same, lol.

      Edit- funny I didn’t see the other comment mentioning it too, haha. Funny they’re all SEGA now (even if EO is Atlus, lol).

      • k0e3@lemmy.ca
        2·
        5 hours ago

        Ooh I didn’t know about the touchscreen function inEtrian Odyssey. I’ll have to give it a try. Thank you!

    • Gormadt@slrpnk.netOPEnglish
      1·
      5 hours ago

      Different strokes for different folks.

      Some quality of life stuff is fine but maps, notes, and inventory tracking are very important at my table.

  • Echo5@lemmy.world
    161·
    8 hours ago

    For DnD this might be cool but for video games I’m playing to unwind not work and I need my QOL upgrades haha

    • Gormadt@slrpnk.netOPEnglish
      3·
      5 hours ago

      Different strokes for different folks.

      Sometimes I’m looking for a gritty note heavy experience, sometimes I’m looking for an easy and fun romp.

  • username_1@discuss.tchncs.de
    341·
    11 hours ago

    What is “UNC”? I’m old enough to remember Eye of Beholder or Lands of Lore computer games where I was forced to draw maps manually. It wasn’t fun even then.

    • FuglyDuck@lemmy.worldEnglish
      502·
      10 hours ago

      It means “uncle”,

      In DND, an uncle is some one that enjoys the classic rules, and makes you actually play the game. Like mapping it as you go.

      (Though I use terrain tiles that are progressively revealed. Once you’re out of the dungeon, though, it’s on you to remember what was in there.)

      Ignore the other guy, people have always used words like “uncle” or “ mom” sarcastically for people who behave in a certain way. It’s not causing the fall of civilization or anything.

      • Zarobi@aussie.zoneEnglish
        13·
        10 hours ago

        One time I made a naïve ranger cartographer (basically a boy scout) and drew maps every session to keep my ADHD in check

        The DM handwaved all travel and navigation rules making my character completely useless lol

        • skulblaka@sh.itjust.works
          81·
          8 hours ago

          The DM may have handwaved all travel and navigation rules specifically because the party contained an overgrown boy scout

          Like yeah, this is normally a problem that needs to be worked around, but you guys straight up don’t have to worry about it because Eratosthenes over here always knows where you are and where to hunt food

          You may not have had to roll dice to feel useful but you were still useful in that you removed a food clock from the game by virtue of existing. It’s a lot harder to credibly make travel and food an issue when the party brings a ranger, that’s kind of the ranger’s whole class identity.

          • cloudshouter@lemmy.zip
            2·
            4 hours ago

            That should be a question for the character. Do you want to constantly roll the day to day stuff that your character does with advantage or just assume that they’re as capable as you designed them to be? Assuming it’s not a survival struggle campaign.

          • Zarobi@aussie.zoneEnglish
            4·
            7 hours ago

            Theoretically yes, but this DM just didn’t bother with that stuff ever, even when I played different characters. There’s a difference between specifically saying something like “the ranger leads the party safely through the forest”, which would have at least felt helpful; and just not saying anything at all by fast-traveling to the destination

    • Skullgrid@lemmy.world
      1215·
      10 hours ago

      the fall of the west is now being documented through the new use of linguistic features.

      Unc is short for uncle, and in the east, uncle is a common shorthand to refer to an elder who is about your father’s age, but not a member of your family. It can be used to refer to strangers “I gave the food to that uncle over there” or, as a nonspecific respect marker “Uncle John went to the market”.

      Here “unc-mechanic” refers to a mechanic an older person might enjoy.

      EDIT: One might be familiar with Ojisan from hentai anime
      https://japanphraseadventure.com/ojisan-or-obasan-be-careful-how-to-call-middle-aged-people-in-japan-without-offending-them/

  • jtrek@startrek.website
    1·
    9 hours ago

    I’m more of a case by case basis for mapping. Most of the time, I’m not running a maze where mapping will reveal interesting information (eg: these lengths don’t add up - maybe there’s a secret passage).

    One time in recent memory where I did run something like that, I had the players map it and it was super effective.