I thought the map is fine... after playing a while I can tell what's what, if a location at an elevated ground and the route to take to get there. It IS difficult to tell the first time you play, but after spending a few hours you'll get used to it

Gotta agree. I miss the maps in Morrowind/Oblivion.

Yea, that.

As for someone stating basically that it's dumb to have a map of a place you haven't been... that's why people make maps. The game should have mapmakers so you could buy details of a section and improve the map, or have the map detail improved as you travel. But to just have some blurry overview with "Oh, this place is over here and that place is over there somewhere" kind of defeats the purpose of what a map should do.

the map is rather beautiful and original though.

I also wish that the map had roads marked clearer and find the clouds annoying when they obscure too much of the map.

I've been able to utilize the map just fine. Stop complaining about something that will not be fixed, and go play.

I agree that it looks lovely, but is pretty useless. Nice that they tried something new I suppose, but hopefully next time round they either make some big changes to it or go back to a more useful model.

[Edit] @pinback686: If developers don't get feedback, they won't know whether something works/is well received or not. I don't think anything will change for this game, but hopefully they might pick up on the fact that most people found it a bit useless and will either tweak or completely change it next time round.

http://www.skyrimnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=253

there, no clouds.

What's the map zoom setting name?

Why is the map the way it is?

Accessibility.

Blame us thicko console owners: the game has been tailored toward console gaming to increase sales, providing a idiot-proof map that shows you where you are, always, and looks shiney is more important than basic immersion or RP appropriateness.

It doesnt really bother me tbh, i generally go cross country anyway, so no-roads aint an issue. Haivng no map, or a old-style 2D map that draws detail as you explore it - THAT would be the best for immersion. But it would drive tens of thousands of gamers away, particularly on the consoles. PC gamers can wait for Mods is probably the Dev's easy answer (albeit an unspoken one).

THe current map feels like a comprimise between the 'want' of catering to us dumb console gamers and not being a perfect GPS system + Ultra-detail of 'everything' i.e. it is vaguely immersive whilst preventing all but idiots from getting utterly and bewilderingly lost.

Welcome to modern gaming, 'neither fish nor foul games'

The map is fine. It's the organic piece of crap sitting behind the keyboard that's ultimately useless.

I agree with the OP. It looks nice but the semi isometric angle and lack of roads makes it more annoying than helpful.

This. I'm a console user and I really really hope they work something out with the clouds and zoom level in an upcoming patch.

get the mod

lol. I read some of the comments from "people" who like the map. What a bunch of trolls.

Lets face it. The Map and the "Character Sheet" (UI) are subpar.

It looks good on paper, but the functionality is terrible.

Luckely the rest of the game is soo amazing, but that also means that these "blunders" look soo much worse.

Show me the roads on http://www.gamebanshee.com/morrowind/maplocations/vvardenfellthumb.jpg

they just render the whole world as a map.
they should get rid of the clouds, maybe add roads.

When that is done i would much prefer skyrim map to oblivion map.

I like the map, no big deal. I use it a lot.

there was a map in the package of my game where i can see the roads, i think there will be a mod for map changing soon

I like the in game map, you can also use the folded map that comes with the game box.

the map is perfect..... leave it be

Roads would make a big difference, at least to ad them as you walk them. I have the prima map and just the roads increase the utility greatly

Other that though i love it

The map, journal and rest of the UI gives the impression that very little time was invested in their design. Although I'm on a PC, a much functional UI could've been designed that would've also work on consoles.
Will be checking the mods for replacements to all..

it gets anoying from time to time tbh... clouds covering stuff, roads not very visible in places, and worst of all, terrain elevation is praticaly impossible to notice... how much time wasted trying to find a path through west side of the mountain to reach high hrothgar, and then how much time after realizing I had a long road trip around it, to find wich of the road actually led there, cuz road was hard to see and went around a huge turn before getting to ivastead.
that was when I first decided clairvoyance was a must have spell, and a horse a must have transport lol (why populate the road with deadly creatures higher level than you? -.-)