I love Dyson Logos’ cartography and coil-bound gaming books, so the Dodecahedron 2015 Cartographic Review is right up my apple cart. It more than earns its starred entry on my big list of Lulu RPG recommendations.
The Cartographic Review is a big book of maps, running close to 90 pages with a map per page. Some maps span multiple pages; most are fantasy, but there’s some sci-fi (and otherwise repurposeable) stuff in there as well.
If you’re familiar with Dyson’s blog, Dyson’s Dodecahedron, you already know what his work looks like. But if not, you’re in for a treat. Here’s one of my favorite maps from the book:
Most pages look something like that one, featuring a map and a few paragraphs of text related to the dungeon/environment. Some include exterior views, like this spread:
And some are isometric:
Alongside a host of dungeons and buildings, there are also a set of hex maps that make me wish I had a whole book of these. Here’s my favorite:
Flipping through it, I didn’t come across a single map I couldn’t see myself using at some point. Crypts, caverns, weird towers, sprawling dungeons, crumbling manors, temples, settlements — these are the bread and butter of fantasy gaming, and the Review is packed with them.
As a physical artifact, the book is fantastically useful. Being coil-bound means it will lay flat at the table, and being printed on non-glossy paper means you can key these maps in pencil (or pen, etc.) on the fly, as you need them. Of course, you can also prep them in advance, but I hate prep and love improv, so doing it during play appeals to me.
The Dodecahedron 2015 Cartographic Review is a steal at $16 (remember to always check for Lulu coupons before ordering — those discounts come out of Lulu’s end, not the creator’s). I look forward to the 2016 edition!