Dungeon Master Forum

Would you like an Automap to be a standard, always accessible feature of a custom game, or would you prefer it as a special bonus item?

A bonus item. I don't want to play just another Diablo.

I vote standard feature.
If it's going to be available, it should be available.

The maps in CSB/DM2 gave you information for where you were so not as vital to have right away. A true automap not given at the start will annoy anyone wanting to have the whole dungeon mapped, since you'll have to backtrack (assuming you can) to fill in the previous stuff. And the world is just filled with more media these days - I think if you have an automap that people might want, hiding it might just put people off.


Personally I don't care either way, so haven't voted

Automap can totaly ruin gameplay for many dungeons, including the original Dungeon Master and above all Chaos Strikes Back. Finding where you are, mapping the dungeons, matching parts of levels are components of many puzzles.
Automap is OK for fighting oriented dungeons, but the choice of having the feature should be left to the designer and he should be free to hide it as an object in the dungeon if he wants.

^^ But if an automap is available, it's still the player's choice to look at it or not. If you spoil your game by viewing the automap, that's your own fault

But... but... but... the weaker-minded amongst us (like I and... erm... I) wouldn't be able to resist the temptation.

It should not be a standard feature. Or at most should be an option, I agree that some mapping is part of the game.

6 votes for a standard feature, 2 for it to be a bonus. I agree.
I stand by my earlier comment that if it's added as a feature and you spoil your game by using the feature, then it's your own fault, not mine!

I forgot to vote but some thoughts fyi:
the only dungeon mechanisms that get brokn by an automap and which I can think of are SPINNERS.
and maybe invisible Teleporter Spots... I remember placing items on ground to see where and when I get teleported.
automapping arguably destroys the gameplay in these cases.

it also depends on how you plan on means of providing the automap-

will it be restricted in use- an item which must be held constantly in one hand?
Or is it more convinient- a button just like sleeping works?
what features does the automap have?
will there be upgrades to the automap feature,
like showing more than walls and floors- think of wizardry seven here(skillrelated)

I guess it will be an automap standard- easy to access easy to execute and as often as you will like?
what happens when you get attacked while looking at the automap? btw where is the map displayed?

The automap was developed by Parallax -- download it here and add it to a test DSB dungeon if you want to see how it works:
http://dungeon-master.com/forum/viewtop ... 53&t=29415

It's a full screen map and pauses the game while it's being viewed. The download code ties it to an object you need to find, but I would prefer to tie it to an interface button near the movement arrows. Of course, it could also be invoked using a spell or whatever.

I'm not bothered about maps revealing spinners: if you're smart enough to remember to use the map to help you navigate these things, then all power to you

Another idea would be to do what DM2 did - give the Magic Map item at the beginning of the game and force the player to hold it in their hand order to use it.

A suggestion from
Jay

I think, auto mapping spoils too much.
I like the magic map because it lessen the tedious work of manual mapping and it opens more possibilities at making and solving puzzles.
The limited range and magic detection makes the magic map a nice tool.

Extending the magic map capabilities, in game, would be nice.
Getting more range more detection, like levels/ skills.