Cartography Annoyance
-
- Senior Council Member
- Posts: 243
- Joined: January 22nd, 2008, 9:41 pm
Re: Cartography Annoyance
Wouldn't have to stretch the bounds of the storage medium much, though - the .opq file is really just a .png file, and he isn't currently using the alpha channel for anything, so there's a free byte for every square to store a cartography level in
Re: Cartography Annoyance
Yes after getting Reveal Map i find it strange too. If it boosts your Cartography skill then it means you making map with a higher level of detail.
But then Cartography skill would be useless. I think it should be done this way.
It's not like Reveal Map spell puts surrounding area on paper for you. Actually its more like it forms an image in your mind. And after spell wears off the image is gone. One might say that you can put that image on paper by yourself while spell is still active. And that is exactly where your Cartography skill comes into play.As it is not an easy task to make a good and detailed map.For example: i see a road from my home to work for at least 10 times a week for about 5 years and can form an image with a pretty good detail level in my head easily. But to make a map of that, with correct proportions and distances and angles and stuff...sorry can i have another beer instead? Then we'll have a good use for both skill and spell.
Also i agree that in terms of game design and balance there is a lot of room for improvement. For example i would like to be able to add markers on the map.
I think all this confusion is due to one simple thing, that this definitely great game is missing. Its object description. I like it when objects have general description like this: "This is a common sword.Find something better ASAP"
Fallout 1 and 2 was brilliant in that sense comparing to 3 where they decided to skip item description. And for the spell it is a natural thing to at least describe what that spell do. Of course Fireball is always Fireball, but what about "Sparkling Wonder" or "Gravedigger's Flame"?
Well there is still hope that we can see it in Book III
But then Cartography skill would be useless. I think it should be done this way.
It's not like Reveal Map spell puts surrounding area on paper for you. Actually its more like it forms an image in your mind. And after spell wears off the image is gone. One might say that you can put that image on paper by yourself while spell is still active. And that is exactly where your Cartography skill comes into play.As it is not an easy task to make a good and detailed map.For example: i see a road from my home to work for at least 10 times a week for about 5 years and can form an image with a pretty good detail level in my head easily. But to make a map of that, with correct proportions and distances and angles and stuff...sorry can i have another beer instead? Then we'll have a good use for both skill and spell.
Also i agree that in terms of game design and balance there is a lot of room for improvement. For example i would like to be able to add markers on the map.
I think all this confusion is due to one simple thing, that this definitely great game is missing. Its object description. I like it when objects have general description like this: "This is a common sword.Find something better ASAP"
Fallout 1 and 2 was brilliant in that sense comparing to 3 where they decided to skip item description. And for the spell it is a natural thing to at least describe what that spell do. Of course Fireball is always Fireball, but what about "Sparkling Wonder" or "Gravedigger's Flame"?
Well there is still hope that we can see it in Book III
Re: Cartography Annoyance
Spell descriptions are available in-game. If you right-click on a spell scroll in a merchant's inventory, the description will be displayed. Once you have learned a spell, right-clicking on it in your spell book will similarly display the description.
Re: Cartography Annoyance
actually reveal map increases your cartography skill... so pretty moot point.markel wrote: It's not like Reveal Map spell puts surrounding area on paper for you. Actually its more like it forms an image in your mind. And after spell wears off the image is gone. One might say that you can put that image on paper by yourself while spell is still active. And that is exactly where your Cartography skill comes into play.
i just found out about this crap feature, and i think i'll just not play this game any longer. it's such a stupid design decision i could cry. it's just annoying. plain stupid fucking annoying. i refuse to be annoyed by a SINGLE PLAYER GAME. i got enough of this crap in multiplayer games.
Re: Cartography Annoyance
You are of course welcome to play or not, as you please, but quitting a game because of one questionable spell seems like a bit of an overreaction. A single point in Cartography is all you need to have a reasonably-useful map drawn for you. I admit that I personally never bother with the spell itself, and only use the Amulet-or-whatever if I happen to come across it pretty early in the game.eNTi wrote:i just found out about this crap feature, and i think i'll just not play this game any longer.
Still, to each their own!
- SpottedShroom
- Captain Magnate
- Posts: 1372
- Joined: June 4th, 2010, 6:18 pm
Re: Cartography Annoyance
If it means so much to you, just cheat and give yourself 11 cartography.eNTi wrote:i just found out about this crap feature, and i think i'll just not play this game any longer.