One of my players got cartographer's tools at the end of last session saying "oh these might be useful".
Problem is, I have NO idea what they can do with them.
The next session will drop them into a twisting, maze-like cave system that they will have to navigate their way out of. Is there a way for cartographer's tools to come in useful here?
I've read the blurb "Proficiency with a set of artisan's tools lets you add your proficiency bonus to any ability checks you make using the tools in your craft.", but.. how are they used?
As far as PHB and DMG are concerned: "Tools? Obviously you can use them for things that require tools."
Eventually, WotC got the idea that in a game with rules, players and DMs might like some examples so XGtE gave us this:
Cartographer’s Tools
Using cartographer’s tools, you can create accurate maps to make travel easier for yourself and those who come after you. These maps can range from large-scale depictions of mountain ranges to diagrams that show the layout of a dungeon level.
Components. Cartographer’s tools consist of a quill, ink, parchment, a pair of compasses, calipers, and a ruler.
Arcana, History, Religion. You can use your knowledge of maps and locations to unearth more detailed information when you use these skills. For instance, you might spot hidden messages in a map, identify when the map was made to determine if geographical features have changed since then, and so forth.
Nature. Your familiarity with physical geography makes it easier for you to answer questions or solve issues relating to the terrain around you.
Survival. Your understanding of geography makes it easier to find paths to civilization, to predict areas where villages or towns might be found, and to avoid becoming lost. You have studied so many maps that common patterns, such as how trade routes evolve and where settlements arise in relation to geographic locations, are familiar to you.
Craft a Map. While traveling, you can draw a map as you go in addition to engaging in other activity.
Cartographer’s Tools
Activity
DC
Determine a map’s age and origin
10
Estimate direction and distance to a landmark
15
Discern that a map is fake
15
Fill in a missing part of a map
20
It isn't nothing, but still not a whole lot... It basically boils down to "Well you can make maps, these are the things you use to make maps, you can study and scrutinize maps, remember things you've read on maps, and guess what a map of the area will look like. Did we mention you can make maps? Here is a chart of map things you might use once per 20 level campaign."
So... Uh... Maps. Use your best guess for details or anything else. And yes, this is the entirety of all the "improved" rules for this tool.
In addition to the above, I found / made some additional uses:
-
you can create a map without rolling for it.
- you can draw your map while helping with navigation. You can assist the navigator and give them advantage on navigation checks.
- you need to spend 1 hour a day at the end of travel finalizing and putting details into your map.
- you can roll a Wisdom check against a set DC (10+half the number of people in the party - in our case it will be 13) at the beginning of travel to increase your speed from slow to normal, or normal to fast while still retaining the benefits from traveling at the original pace.
- you roll a survival check at the beginning of the day to re-orient yourself in relation to the map.
- in your downtime, you can re-create a map to sell if you wish. small maps take less time, larger maps take more time.
One of my players got cartographer's tools at the end of last session saying "oh these might be useful".
Problem is, I have NO idea what they can do with them.
The next session will drop them into a twisting, maze-like cave system that they will have to navigate their way out of. Is there a way for cartographer's tools to come in useful here?
I've read the blurb "Proficiency with a set of artisan's tools lets you add your proficiency bonus to any ability checks you make using the tools in your craft.", but.. how are they used?
Note that finding a cartographer's kit doesn't make the character PROFICIENT with the kit.
So while its a nice set of tools, the PC probably doesn't know what to do with them.
XGE spells out several perks. two are spot hidden messages in maps and give you a better understanding of geography which makes it easier to find paths to civilization and predict where terrain might be
but that's if you're proficient in the tools...not if you just have them.
so i'd say he can make crappy maps is about it - without knowing how to use the tools
if i find a sextant in the goodwill store tomorrow...pretty sure i won't be able to actually do anything with it...except hold down some scrap paper.
One of my players got cartographer's tools at the end of last session saying "oh these might be useful".
Problem is, I have NO idea what they can do with them.
The next session will drop them into a twisting, maze-like cave system that they will have to navigate their way out of. Is there a way for cartographer's tools to come in useful here?
I've read the blurb "Proficiency with a set of artisan's tools lets you add your proficiency bonus to any ability checks you make using the tools in your craft.", but.. how are they used?
Tools and knowledge skills are woefully under developed in 5E. A couple of classes and several subclasses have abilities that suffer from this shortfall, as do most of the tools. My advice would be to give the character some kind of benefit to their efforts directly from their selection of this tool. Anyone can make a map in the dungeon, but perhaps the player gets a little DM section of the map for their characters' tool, or at least some DM back seat driving to ensure the map is accurate (kind of like a little legal metagaming). Giving a character advantage on a roll related to the use of the tool is always good. Or even just allowing their character to know or discover something that only a character with this tool proficiency could. I'm thinking of the map of the mountain in The Hobbit and the moon letters.
Tools and knowledge skills are woefully under developed in 5E. A couple of classes and several subclasses have abilities that suffer from this shortfall, as do most of the tools. My advice would be to give the character some kind of benefit to their efforts directly from their selection of this tool. Anyone can make a map in the dungeon, but perhaps the player gets a little DM section of the map for their characters' tool, or at least some DM back seat driving to ensure the map is accurate (kind of like a little legal metagaming). Giving a character advantage on a roll related to the use of the tool is always good. Or even just allowing their character to know or discover something that only a character with this tool proficiency could. I'm thinking of the map of the mountain in The Hobbit and the moon letters.
they didn't select the tool...they just found it. they have absolutely no training in it whatsoever.
Tools and knowledge skills are woefully under developed in 5E. A couple of classes and several subclasses have abilities that suffer from this shortfall, as do most of the tools. My advice would be to give the character some kind of benefit to their efforts directly from their selection of this tool. Anyone can make a map in the dungeon, but perhaps the player gets a little DM section of the map for their characters' tool, or at least some DM back seat driving to ensure the map is accurate (kind of like a little legal metagaming). Giving a character advantage on a roll related to the use of the tool is always good. Or even just allowing their character to know or discover something that only a character with this tool proficiency could. I'm thinking of the map of the mountain in The Hobbit and the moon letters.
they didn't select the tool...they just found it. they have absolutely no training in it whatsoever.
cartography also is used in making maps and navigating on land and water. The one thing that comes to mind with this is also being able to find the shortest route to a place or recognize there is another way to get somewhere. Could be used to cut down on travel time if you say find a better way to get there. roads formed because it was an easy path to walk, heard, drive a cart of goods down. Not necessarily because it was the fastest way to get there.
"hey i found this map, i think i can get us there faster" cartography check DC[.. how much faster do i want you to get there]
also because the party is not taking the path most traveled it give a good excuse to toss in encounters or even plot twists... we are heading to [next town] cartographer finds a faster way... along the way you find some ruins... [insert my really cool dungeon here that i could not herd my cats to]
I searched this subject and found information on crafting. It states "Cartographer’s Tools: This is used for creating maps and wondrous items used for navigation." Which makes me wonder if players can make a magical compass that finds exits/treasures/towns/food/etc. Of course only 1 subject can the compass be drawn to. Perhaps enchanted maps that can track a creature's path.
Then I noticed it has the Homebrew tag and was written by Bklotzbier. If only it were an official guide.
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One of my players got cartographer's tools at the end of last session saying "oh these might be useful".
Problem is, I have NO idea what they can do with them.
The next session will drop them into a twisting, maze-like cave system that they will have to navigate their way out of. Is there a way for cartographer's tools to come in useful here?
I've read the blurb "Proficiency with a set of artisan's tools lets you add your proficiency bonus to any ability checks you make using the tools in your craft.", but.. how are they used?
With this tool, i let my players to make Maps of the dungeons.
As far as PHB and DMG are concerned: "Tools? Obviously you can use them for things that require tools."
Eventually, WotC got the idea that in a game with rules, players and DMs might like some examples so XGtE gave us this:
It isn't nothing, but still not a whole lot... It basically boils down to "Well you can make maps, these are the things you use to make maps, you can study and scrutinize maps, remember things you've read on maps, and guess what a map of the area will look like. Did we mention you can make maps? Here is a chart of map things you might use once per 20 level campaign."
So... Uh... Maps. Use your best guess for details or anything else. And yes, this is the entirety of all the "improved" rules for this tool.
In addition to the above, I found / made some additional uses:
-
you can create a map without rolling for it.
- you can draw your map while helping with navigation. You can assist the navigator and give them advantage on navigation checks.
- you need to spend 1 hour a day at the end of travel finalizing and putting details into your map.
- you can roll a Wisdom check against a set DC (10+half the number of people in the party - in our case it will be 13) at the beginning of travel to increase your speed from slow to normal, or normal to fast while still retaining the benefits from traveling at the original pace.
- you roll a survival check at the beginning of the day to re-orient yourself in relation to the map.
- in your downtime, you can re-create a map to sell if you wish. small maps take less time, larger maps take more time.
DM - And In The Darkness, Rot: The Sunless Citadel
DM - Our Little Lives Kept In Equipoise: Curse of Strahd
DM - Misprize Thou Not These Shadows That Belong: The Lost Mines of Phandelver
PC - Azzure - Tyranny of Dragons
Note that finding a cartographer's kit doesn't make the character PROFICIENT with the kit.
So while its a nice set of tools, the PC probably doesn't know what to do with them.
Thanks everyone! I've got some ideas now.
Is the character proficient with Cartographer's Tools, or did they just obtain them?
XGE spells out several perks. two are spot hidden messages in maps and give you a better understanding of geography which makes it easier to find paths to civilization and predict where terrain might be
but that's if you're proficient in the tools...not if you just have them.
so i'd say he can make crappy maps is about it - without knowing how to use the tools
if i find a sextant in the goodwill store tomorrow...pretty sure i won't be able to actually do anything with it...except hold down some scrap paper.
Guide to the Five Factions (PWYW)
Deck of Decks
Tools and knowledge skills are woefully under developed in 5E. A couple of classes and several subclasses have abilities that suffer from this shortfall, as do most of the tools. My advice would be to give the character some kind of benefit to their efforts directly from their selection of this tool. Anyone can make a map in the dungeon, but perhaps the player gets a little DM section of the map for their characters' tool, or at least some DM back seat driving to ensure the map is accurate (kind of like a little legal metagaming). Giving a character advantage on a roll related to the use of the tool is always good. Or even just allowing their character to know or discover something that only a character with this tool proficiency could. I'm thinking of the map of the mountain in The Hobbit and the moon letters.
they didn't select the tool...they just found it. they have absolutely no training in it whatsoever.
Guide to the Five Factions (PWYW)
Deck of Decks
Oh. LOL! Tell them to take it to a pawn shop.
cartography also is used in making maps and navigating on land and water. The one thing that comes to mind with this is also being able to find the shortest route to a place or recognize there is another way to get somewhere. Could be used to cut down on travel time if you say find a better way to get there. roads formed because it was an easy path to walk, heard, drive a cart of goods down. Not necessarily because it was the fastest way to get there.
"hey i found this map, i think i can get us there faster" cartography check DC[.. how much faster do i want you to get there]
also because the party is not taking the path most traveled it give a good excuse to toss in encounters or even plot twists... we are heading to [next town] cartographer finds a faster way... along the way you find some ruins... [insert my really cool dungeon here that i could not herd my cats to]
I searched this subject and found information on crafting. It states "Cartographer’s Tools: This is used for creating maps and wondrous items used for navigation." Which makes me wonder if players can make a magical compass that finds exits/treasures/towns/food/etc. Of course only 1 subject can the compass be drawn to. Perhaps enchanted maps that can track a creature's path.
Then I noticed it has the Homebrew tag and was written by Bklotzbier. If only it were an official guide.