That's a shame because real caves would make for some fantastic adventuring environments. The path through the Luray Caverns, for example, loops back on itself several times and there are always these surprising lines of visibility to other areas.And there is so much verticality. I kept imagining actions scenes throughout the tour.
I guess what I was hoping for is something you'd get out of a topographical map,yet that also could display areas that cross over or under the primary path. Anybody know of any good real-life maps of caves?
***
In other news, I'm going to try to start scanning the 1975-1977 D&D artifact today. Hopefully, the office scanner doesn't make it too difficult.
13 comments:
This is a good book with interesting maps
http://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Deep-Deadly-Descent-Treacherous/dp/0446527092
Bear in mind that there is no better solution to the problem of such a complicated map as a 2d plan view coupled with an accurate profile or vertical map. This coupling is superior even to the fancy 3d software engines used in games in my view. Accuracy and detail are key.
I have tried to inject some topography into the dungeon environment HERE:
http://somekingskent.blogspot.com/2010/11/augmenting-megadungeon-map-now-conduit.html
I haven't included my random tables which alllow me to generate a profile map with greater detail at any point.
I come to the same conclusion everytime I visit the Moaning Caverns or the Lassen Lava Tubes out here in California.
I think the assumption in RPGs is that most dungeon caverns have been roughly hewn and carved from the rock along with a mix of natural tunnels to make them inhabitable for humanoid life forms.
True cavern systems are so awkward that not much more than things that can climb walls should be able to live there.
BTW Things that can climb walls is the name of my new OSR module. ;-)
Want to see some actual cave maps:
Check out Cavemaps.org
check the surveys for detailed maps of caves.
here's another set of maps
http://www.jonjasper.com/CavingResources/CaveMapGallery.html
http://www.floridacaves.com/ginnie.htm
cIf you haven't seen it, checkout this interactive cave map from National Geographic.
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2011/01/largest-cave/largest-cave-interactive
Dude, great post. I've been to mammoth a couple of times. One of my favorite things to do is grab the online maps of various caves and turn them into modules. I don't tell anyone... that is until now.
I have been to a few caves (and mines) in my life and I can say that they would be terrifying if there were things in there willing to kill you. I simply cannot imagine heading into them. The fear alone of going in and losing a light source is bad enough to keep me out. Ever been in one when the lights go out? Terifying!
@Kent: Good point and thanks for the link to your augmented map post. That's very much along the the lines of what I was thinking about.
@thwaak: True. But a cave system that is fit to host tours of families is certainly a good candidate for inhabited dungeon. :)
@JDJarvs: Shiny! I wasn't able to find these in my lunchtime googling. Your Google Fu is strong. :)
@A3: oo, I remember that link!
@Dylan: I think using real maps is a fantastic approach!
@Matt: I totally agree. I've been in caves when the lights were doused but since we knew they'd come back, it wasn't that bad. But getting caught underground w/o light would be absolutely terrifying.
Here are links to one in my neck of the woods: Lehman Caves.
http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/North_America/United_States_of_America/Nevada/Great_Basin_National_Park-836553/Things_To_Do-Great_Basin_National_Park-TG-C-1.html
http://www.flickr.com/photos/85781794@N00/157255546/
The second one is better, because it has a side view. The first one, though, brings up an interesting idea. Has anyone thought to look at the Dept. of the Interior website? or related resources?
OK, a few more I lucked into:
http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images?_adv_prop=image&fr=b1ie7&va=cave+survey+maps
http://www.nottinghamcavessurvey.org.uk/index.htm --maps and digital "fly through" of caves
Google (or Yahoo) search under "cave survey maps"
@Boric: I think that Nottingham site wins. I remember seeing it a while ago but totally forgot about it. great stuff.
While it's not caves:
http://www.thebanmappingproject.com/
is a wildly interactive site about the Valley of the Kings. It does include some very sophisticated maps as well as high tech ones. There's great fodder here, even if it is off topic.
@Chris: Oh yes, the Theban project is awesome. First time I saw that I wanted to run an Egyptian archaeology game.
I zipped up a bunch of the Florida cave maps a while back if you want a time saver...
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