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.

  • TurgidSturgeon@piefed.zipEnglish
    7·
    23 hours ago

    Not exactly D&D, but I remember playing the Ultima games as a teenager and mapping out every 8-level dungeon on grid paper. Loved it!

    • zod000@lemmy.dbzer0.com
      3·
      22 hours ago

      I remember doing that in a bunch of PC dungeon crawlers and Zelda 2 on the NES as well . I have no idea how you’d navigate the last level of Zelda 2 without making a map, that place was infuriating.

  • forgetfulmeat@lemmy.world
    3·
    19 hours ago

    Never really played TTRPGs. Getting my feet wet with One Shot Dungeon after work. Got my grid paper and dice ready.

  • FiniteBanjo@feddit.onlineEnglish
    39·
    1 day 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
      11·
      1 day ago

      My man!

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

      It’s a great opportunity for some fun

  • username_1@discuss.tchncs.de
    482·
    2 days 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
      723·
      2 days 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
        19·
        2 days 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
          141·
          2 days 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.

          • FuglyDuck@lemmy.worldEnglish
            2·
            15 hours ago

            For the record, I usually name my rangers Legolassie. and yes, the himbo tagging along is non-optional and totally useless.

          • Zarobi@aussie.zoneEnglish
            14·
            2 days 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

          • cloudshouter@lemmy.zip
            3·
            1 day 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.

    • BlaestEgnen@feddit.dk
      5·
      1 day ago

      Unc is older than a zoomer, but younger than a boomer.

      Mentally, nothing to do with physical age. Just how you present yourself mentally

    • Skullgrid@lemmy.world
      1322·
      2 days 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/

  • Echo5@lemmy.world
    211·
    2 days 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
      7·
      1 day 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.

  • k0e3@lemmy.ca
    8·
    2 days ago

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

    • taiyang@lemmy.world
      8·
      1 day 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).

      • audaxdreik@pawb.socialEnglish
        2·
        1 day ago

        I’m actually playing the Remakes entirely with a controller and I was skeptical of the control scheme at first, but it’s really grown on me. I played through the first one a few months ago and then took a break before digging into the second. The controls came back to me almost immediately now that they’re burnt into my head.

        Sure, nothing is going to beat the tactile feeling of drawing with a stylus, but lacking the ability to do that or emulate it beyond a mouse, I think they pulled it off well and I hope they continue with the remakes (albeit at a more reasonable price, debuting at $40 apiece is fucking nuts; they’ve gone on sale a few times now though (or easily emulate through Switch on Eden >_>)).

        • taiyang@lemmy.world
          2·
          23 hours ago

          Oh, I did play the first HD one and I agree that it works well enough. And the games are good in general, too. Sales are the only way to go though, I do recall they also get included with Humble Bundles and stuff, too.

      • k0e3@lemmy.ca
        2·
        1 day 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·
      1 day 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.

  • jtrek@startrek.website
    3·
    2 days 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.