1st. You start as a prisoner as always. And obviously a prisoner don't have any possessions with him.
2nd. You could say there is magic for everything, but I'd say it's a long shot and the least preferebly explanation. Skyrim is after all low-fantasy, and having a map engraved into their brain doesn't sound very fitting.
A map is something factual. Something concrete. Even if you know where things are by experience, you'd need a map for the player to see them. So despite your theory, buying a map is a really good and "immersive" way of introducing the map-system in an RPG like Skyrim.

I want it to be more like the just cause 2 map.

For an actual map and compass as items, I'd like to see them held in the manner that Farcry 2 had them.

http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/fcry2mapbig.jpg

I didn't mind the Oblivion map--it had a sort of old-fashioned look to it that was nice. But I do think they need to put more detail--like some kind of cross between OB and MW maps...

I'm thinking full blown Aerial map would look the coolest. It wouldn't be too realistic but it would look sweet. But from there do little things already mentioned like give us the ability to put custom map markers and notes on the map wherever we need to. And one personal thing that I would like is for the local map and world map to be the same thing, just after a certain distance zoomed in it changes to local. But I would also want them to go as far (Really, REALLY, stretching it here) as to let you see the local maps of dungeons you have already been into, without having to be there. Wouldn't be very useful but it would be cool as hell.

I want to have to find weathered old hard to read maps to find hard to reach places (With riddles maybe?) and then have my main "objective and clean" map updated once I reach said places for easy travel.

From What I gather, the Skyrim map would be like an actual satellite terrain map with additional features to make it more usable and eye candy, so your wishes are granted about the better and varied presentation of towns and other markers.

I pretty much despise the OB map.. but I dunno if it's cuz I just hate the OB fast travel system or because it's bad... I admit I am quite biased when it comes to OB

I heard from someone that it is now an eagle eye of the game world.. The person might have been lying, I have no idea. But a color map is the least they can must do.

The paper map that came with Morrowind is the best game map I've ever seen.

I'm interested in seeing what they do with this topographical map before I can comment on whether I like it or not. It may still have that old pirate treasure map feel but just with a little more pop. We won't know till we see some screen shots, at the very least. I'd love to see the character physically bring out a map from his inventory, but I highly doubt that will be the case.

I honestly need to see the new map before making any judgement calls. I generally prefer a simple Oblivion-style map (Read Dead Redemption's was also similar, and actually a bit better), since it doesn't spoil the sense of actually discovering the land firsthand. However, if the new arial map looks extremely slick, I can see myself growing to like it.

Seconded ! :thumbsup:



That would be the worsed thing I could imaging for Skyrim ... except it would look like it was painted / drawn or even weathered / used. Otherwise it wouldn't fit in a fantasy setting and especially not in a TES-game, imho !

Didn't they say that the map will be a new style? I had thought it was confirmed that the map will be an actual map of the landscape which you can zoom in and out. Which, in my opinion, is waaay better than any graphics they could add to previous maps.

What i'd like is the map to be how it was in Far Cry 2, because that, to look at the map, it was an actually physical item you pulled out and looked at, which meant you couldn't check the map in a middle of a gunfight. Having this feature in Skyrim would add to the realism and immersion.

I'd like something in a style like http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/images/2634-1-1211917584.jpg, or http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/images/1950-1-1193570851.jpg.

I think it will be like the first "this", but zoomed.

hope we can use it in 3D

like the new book feature

I thought somewhere Todd said that the map would be in 3D, and you can zoom in 'n' stuff.

Of course a guard will confiscate your map and compass. What else they have to do all day besides worrying that you're gonna pull a MacGyver with a piece of paper and a magnet. How do we have a map already? How is a Pip-Boy already programmed to the region you're in? I don't want to buy a map from a vendor and suddenly every location is there. We start out knowing where the cities are, since we probably went there before we started the game. Or just go Shivering Isles on us, so we have to discover the cities ourselves. A simple explanation is the best one, and there being a simple "knowing" of a map in a world where magic is prevalent, is a simple one. Although, not quite as simple as a owning a map beforehand. Even if a guard would confiscate a map, once you're freed, he'd give it back...

Edit: And it'd take more time and resources to add portions of maps or having to buy one than just starting out with it. I'd prefer they add content, then just make the existing content more complex than it needs to be.

Although I personally like your idea of having to buy maps, I don't see it happening as they are incorporating the Oblivion fast travel system.

My idea would be to keep the 3d aerial view map, because it sounds awesome. But make it so the map is initially covered by clouds, then you either have to discover locations or buy regional maps to make the cloud cover go away. Just an idea.

Edit: sorry I meant the other guy's idea. Whoever suggested having to buy maps. Also, just because this is a world with magic doesn't mean everyone uses magic, and there's absolutely no explanation of why maps are magically ingrained into people's minds, or that you get a map and compass from a guard. I like a simple explanation, but we don't really get any explanation in oblivion.

I'm not sure myself about the choice of style, but it does have advantages, using that kind of map. If it's taken from the real gameworld (if it's not just a preset) that means that you can see maps of your mods and stuff when you add them to the game. Also, it would probably mean you can zoom in and out and see locations in detail if you wish.

It would probablybe a bit like this map http://uesp.net/oblivion/map/obmap.shtml which I have found very convenient.

This looks (and feels) like a kind of satalite-map of the real game world ... which is / would be certainly very convenient and truely shows the great work of Oblivions world-designers (and therefore has an astonishing beauty of its own, imo), but it wouldn't fit in a fantasy rpg which tries to be as immersing and believable (in terms of fitting in its own fantasy setting and lore) as possible. So far I know, they (Bethesda) want the player to feel like being / living in this fantasy world as much as the fun-aimed gameplay allowes ... and such a map would instead always remind me of "only" playing a fictional and modern computer game and would always pull me out of the (hopefully) generated feel of immersion by the game itself.
Don't get me wrong. Such kind of map could be very useful, imo, (e.g. to look for an exact location / plan a specific route before actually playing the game), but if it would be the one and only map inside the game which would always (technical) "magically" apear when you push / click a certain button, I wouldn't like it. - Maybe exchange some convenience for some more immersion ? This certainly would be what I prefer !

Well, they did say it gave you a birds eye topographical view. So that is my best guess. I doubt you will be able to plan routes before playing though. I am sure it will block out unexplored areas like Morrowind's map did, proably with fog.

I would love to see a 3D rendering in full color of the map...but that may be asking for too much! :whistling: