Improve cartography (former "Disable external mapping")

[DatOneGuy]

How about a mapping kit item, takes just one slot and can hold a bunch of parchments, 5-10l of ink and a couple of feathers?

I just think that it'd be a good thing if inkweed was actually useful, it could be another herb for foragers to trade.

If it only took one slot to do it wouldn't be a problem since it'd be just like having a waterskin instead of a waterflask

Typically I go out with sling+sword+shield+pickaxe when hunting, a waterflask can come depending on whether I'm on ground or not, in these cases I typically want to save as much space for stones as possible and for bear guts and such.

Waterflask+Map Kit leaves me with 30->28, hunting gear brings me to 19 which is enough stones where it's not a big deal.

If I go hunting by land it's typically bucket of water, flask (sword+shield stay equipped so no problem there), and while every space counts this way because I can't bring much back, it's not a huge problem to lose just one.

If you go hunting with sling+ranger's bow then you have a big problem on space, but I think one space should be manageable, although very tight.

[brohammed]

When I go out cartographising, I map my way on foot to the centre of a quadrant, find an abandoned house and set up a forward operating base there. There I will stash lots of inkweed and rabbit skins, and drying racks. When I go out making maps from there, all I take is a boat with a crate and a chair, and an inventory full of skins/ink/feathers. In the crate is a bucket of water in case I need to make more ink. In the rare occasion I run out of inkweed I just backtrack (using my maps) to a place where grass, heath or moor opens onto te river network.

Cartography isn't a bother if you just plan for it and get all the supplies, which are probably the most common set of supplies in the game besides maybe fishing supplies.

Also I think the LP is decent too, for a mid-game player.

[Thijssnl]

When I go out cartographising, I map my way on foot to the centre of a quadrant, find an abandoned house and set up a forward operating base there. There I will stash lots of inkweed and rabbit skins, and drying racks. When I go out making maps from there, all I take is a boat with a crate and a chair, and an inventory full of skins/ink/feathers. In the crate is a bucket of water in case I need to make more ink. In the rare occasion I run out of inkweed I just backtrack (using my maps) to a place where grass, heath or moor opens onto te river network.

Cartography isn't a bother if you just plan for it and get all the supplies, which are probably the most common set of supplies in the game besides maybe fishing supplies.

Also I think the LP is decent too, for a mid-game player.

Take two tile skins (foxes, mouflons/sheep), they still give you 4 parchments.. but maybe you already did that

[Melgui]

Well, seems like the thing is taking shape. I like the map kit idea that Potjeh has said. As DoG has said, I think cartography hasn't to be an exclusive occupation, indeed, with all the stuff expressed in the thread it's still be available for everyone. I'm just defending that cartography has it place somewhere in between "automated" and "exclusive", a secondary skill usefull for those who spend time walking round the world. Also that it has to need some kind of gear (for example, paving needs stones and usually needs a plow), to generate a sub-industry/product-chain, something enough to make it own space so you can combine it with other occupations, but not with all possible occupations.

edit: I forgot to mention Jackard's buff idea, sounds cool for me.

[Oblivior]

Maybe the maps of cartograph should show layers of Quality nodes based on perception on what Q one's you can see.

[Zirikana]

cartography kit = awesome... regardless of anything else they might change for mapping. I'd like to see this in its own right. Maybe make it equippable? Two hands to hold your "field desk" or an easel or something? I like the idea floated about using an equippable object to turn "auto-cartography" on or off. (i.e. if you're holding or have a quill or cartography kit equipped, mapping is "on", otherwise, no mapping, no minimap, no nothing)

[Melgui]

cartography kit = awesome... regardless of anything else they might change for mapping. I'd like to see this in its own right. Maybe make it equippable? Two hands to hold your "field desk" or an easel or something? I like the idea floated about using an equippable object to turn "auto-cartography" on or off. (i.e. if you're holding or have a quill or cartography kit equipped, mapping is "on", otherwise, no mapping, no minimap, no nothing)

I can see this equippable as a belt, so you can wear a quiver or a backpack at the same time, and refillable with ink and quills. That remember me.. quills dissapear too fast when mapping, and in real life you can store 8375763 quills in your pocket, why not use a determinate quantity of quills when creating the mapkit instead of use them as consumables?

[DatOneGuy]

I like the ideas presented but the more I thought about it, cartography would be best if it had a nice base like Avu suggested that 'everyone' can do, automatically. But have a benefit to doing it manually that makes it a good profession and something not everyone can just 'pick up'.

[Mqrius]

As a self-appointed representative of the external mapping community (ignore that ), I actually like the idea of improved ingame mapping, given that it is possible to copy and merge maps, and thus have a possible map-trading economy. Then we could try to make a world map ingame
Also, perhaps a timestamp or some indication of how long ago something was mapped would be convenient.

[ciroth]

Or make it so carto lets you map out caves =P, you wont have a minimap until you map out the full cave =P