Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Caul 08-14-04, 11:32 AM	So, one of my players asked if he might purchase a map for his character, and I was wondering how other people handle this, here are some of my ideas: Maps are usually produced by House Orien showing major trade roads, rail lines, and known cities and settlements. However, there is little mass production, and though one might get a member of the house to make a copy (which woud take time) and sell it, it would be rather expensive (I'm thinking 25 - 50 gp for a regional map, 100 + gp for a continent map, depending on accuracy). Ideas?
ieattrollsforbreakfast 08-14-04, 12:06 PM	I think its fair to assume House Orien would have plenty of maps down at their local establishment or even at Lightning Rail stations. Afterall, people would almost certainly like to know where their journey is taking them, and maps for businesses that details all trade routes would be a good thing. That said, I wouldnt limit the business to House Orien, there are probably plenty of cartographers about, especially those exploreres of old who have hung up their adventuring gear for good. As for prices, I think your suggestions are fair if the adventures plan to hang on to the map.
Zen Storm 08-14-04, 01:51 PM	Maps are usually produced by House Orien showing major trade roads, rail lines, and known cities and settlements. I would be more inclined to think that they would have had maps made by cartographers for this purpose. Cartographers guild perhaps as an off-shoot of House Sivis. However, there is little mass production, and though one might get a member of the house to make a copy (which woud take time) and sell it, it would be rather expensive Here however I must disagree. With any other D&D world I might tend to agree with this, but this is Eberron. I would point out that House Sivis has a pretty good business when it comes to copying document. (Ref. pg. 237 last paragraph) Also the advancement in mass produced paper media is far and away more pronounced in Eberron. Take a look at pg.133 The Korranburg chronicals is a great example of mass copied/produced paper, but not the only one. I'll also point out that Zilargo and the library there is the home of House Sivis (pg.212) The houses have been known to work together for mutual benefit. I think mass produced mapping would be not only beneficial to the house and their profits but I'm sure govornments would want this service as well. But the great thing about Eberron is it's magic-advanced society. To this end you, to quote Yoda "You must unlearn what you have learned". Now don't get me wrong, a map is probably out of the reach of the common folk as far as price is concerned (and why would they need a map anyway) but, to the adventurers and heroes general maps of citys, regions and even the continent are probably very easy to obtain and most assuradly less expensive than you might think Consider this, I have played Forgotten Realms for 15 years. In the sorce book Silver Marches pg.63-64 they refernce maps and prices. There is a "map store" pg. 64 called A Hand Full of Stars, They sell *hand drawn* maps of anything and everything for averaging 40gp drawn on good vellum. There is also Candlekeep a large library, it cost you an average of 100gp to copy *magical* scrolls. Also in the DMG market price for a 1st -2nd level arcane scroll is 25-150gp. Those are just my examples of the cost when running a *traditional* D&D world. Worlds with verry little in the way of mass production. So with Eberron you have a world that has the capability to mass produce items. This keeps the cost low but also the availability quite common. Just my thoughts anyway.
Zen Storm 08-14-04, 03:01 PM	Don't want to beat this horse, but I just saw this in the "Ask Kieth Bker Thread" Originally posted by Galen_Michael How common (and how detailed) are maps of Khorvaire? Could someone purchase a map of the entire continent at the local "Map Shoppe"? If so, how detailed would it be? If not, how could one procure such a map, and how much would it cost? How accurate would it be? How available and detailed (and accurate) are maps of individual nations/geographic areas? ------------------------------------------------------------------------ In a major city, it would be easy to come by a map of Khorvaire. Zilargo in particular is noted for its cartographers. I don't know that there would be a literal "map shoppe"; I'd be more inclined to make it a book store (Galifar has a good system of education and literacy, so the idea of such a thing doesn't seem too far fetched). I imagine that a few crowns (cp) would get you a simple map, up to a few sovereigns (sp) for a more detailed map or gold for a beautiful work of art. Now, detailed maps of unusual areas would probably be harder to come by and more expensive; you won't find a map of the Mournland in the bookstore, though you may find a map of old Cyre. Maps will also vary based on national interests. For example, some maps won't show Droaam at all; the land would be split between Breland and the Shadow Marches. An Aundairian cartographer might spitefully refuse to acknowledge the Eldeen Reaches. As for detail of individual countries, you can probably feel comfortable sharing the maps in the book. Note that those maps don't show every village and thorp; basically, the greater the level fo detail, the more you should pay. But a gold piece should certainly get you a fairly decent map of most places. __________________ Keith Baker Eberron Designer So I guess that would be more official than me, anyway. Hope that it helps