Review of Country of Arduin Map
Measuring a full two feet by three feet and printed on faux parchment, the Country of Arduin map from Emperor's Choice is nothing less than a work of art. Having said that, this beautiful map is as functional as it is gorgeous. Derived from works by David Hargrave, drawn to scale, and accompanied by an extremely detailed legend, this map gives both newcomers to Arduin and longtime fans the first truly thorough cartographic representation of that fabled land. At once a gaming aid and a piece of art, as well as an instant Arduin collectible, the Country of Arduin map is truly remarkable.
I've seen a lot of maps in my time that were designed to look antiquated, but the Country of Arduin map is in a class of its own. While the faux parchment is a nice touch, it is the inking process and colors used to render the map that are truly noteworthy. Incredibly reminiscent of color maps produced by cartographers in the early 17th Century, the Country of Arduin map is painstakingly detailed and looks as though it was rendered by hand. Lou Iannone of Asage Design is to be commended for his attention to both detail in geography and the recreation of a traditional cartographer's stylistic flair.
In addition to boasting the elegant style of 17th Century hand-inked maps, the Country of Arduin map also boasts the sensibility and function of a modern Rand McNally publication due to the wickedly thorough legend that borders the left-hand side of the map. This awesome legend identifies all of Arduin's notable geographic features from its many woods and mountain peaks to individual river fjords - that, my friends, is detail found in precious few maps created for use with fantasy roleplaying games (in fact, to be perfectly honest, I've never seen this level of detail in any other map created for use with a fantasy roleplaying game).
Finally, while not a feature of the map itself, it is worth noting that every geographic feature showcased on its faux parchment surface is thoroughly detailed in the mammoth World Book of Khaas, the official atlas of Arduin and its environs. This kind of clever product tie in not only greatly boosts the utility of the map itself, but also the utility of the World Book, elevating it from the status of a simple world guide to that of a fantasy travel atlas. It is here, in this support capacity, that the map shines specifically as an Arduin product.
The only criticism that I could see somebody honestly leveling at the Country of Arduin map is that the faux parchment it is printed on lacks the weight of the opaque paper that most maps designed for use with fantasy roleplaying games are printed on. This is, of course a minor criticism, and it's obviously a trade off that had to be made - it was either heavy paper weight or atmospheric simulated parchment. Personally, I prefer the latter, but I'm aware that some folks would rather have an extremely durable map rather than an extremely pretty one (and for these folks, the parchment's paper weight may be a deal breaker).
In the end, although my Country of Arduin map was a complimentary copy provided by the publisher, I think that its retail price of $19.99 (US) is not only fair, but a very good deal for what you're getting. I've paid well over twice this amount for somewhat lackluster reproductions of 17th Century European maps boasting far less detail and much less impressive use of color than the Country of Arduin map. Given that the Country of Arduin map is not only handsome, but functional and the first thorough cartographic representation of the legendary land, you should certainly own a copy of this impressive product.
[Note: You can get a better look at the Country of Arduin map here, at the Emperor's Choice website. Although this small picture does not do the map's detail justice, it will let you appreciate some of the map's 17th Century influences where both color and presentation are concerned. Do note that the map's legend is not visible in this image.]
I've seen a lot of maps in my time that were designed to look antiquated, but the Country of Arduin map is in a class of its own. While the faux parchment is a nice touch, it is the inking process and colors used to render the map that are truly noteworthy. Incredibly reminiscent of color maps produced by cartographers in the early 17th Century, the Country of Arduin map is painstakingly detailed and looks as though it was rendered by hand. Lou Iannone of Asage Design is to be commended for his attention to both detail in geography and the recreation of a traditional cartographer's stylistic flair.
In addition to boasting the elegant style of 17th Century hand-inked maps, the Country of Arduin map also boasts the sensibility and function of a modern Rand McNally publication due to the wickedly thorough legend that borders the left-hand side of the map. This awesome legend identifies all of Arduin's notable geographic features from its many woods and mountain peaks to individual river fjords - that, my friends, is detail found in precious few maps created for use with fantasy roleplaying games (in fact, to be perfectly honest, I've never seen this level of detail in any other map created for use with a fantasy roleplaying game).
Finally, while not a feature of the map itself, it is worth noting that every geographic feature showcased on its faux parchment surface is thoroughly detailed in the mammoth World Book of Khaas, the official atlas of Arduin and its environs. This kind of clever product tie in not only greatly boosts the utility of the map itself, but also the utility of the World Book, elevating it from the status of a simple world guide to that of a fantasy travel atlas. It is here, in this support capacity, that the map shines specifically as an Arduin product.
The only criticism that I could see somebody honestly leveling at the Country of Arduin map is that the faux parchment it is printed on lacks the weight of the opaque paper that most maps designed for use with fantasy roleplaying games are printed on. This is, of course a minor criticism, and it's obviously a trade off that had to be made - it was either heavy paper weight or atmospheric simulated parchment. Personally, I prefer the latter, but I'm aware that some folks would rather have an extremely durable map rather than an extremely pretty one (and for these folks, the parchment's paper weight may be a deal breaker).
In the end, although my Country of Arduin map was a complimentary copy provided by the publisher, I think that its retail price of $19.99 (US) is not only fair, but a very good deal for what you're getting. I've paid well over twice this amount for somewhat lackluster reproductions of 17th Century European maps boasting far less detail and much less impressive use of color than the Country of Arduin map. Given that the Country of Arduin map is not only handsome, but functional and the first thorough cartographic representation of the legendary land, you should certainly own a copy of this impressive product.
[Note: You can get a better look at the Country of Arduin map here, at the Emperor's Choice website. Although this small picture does not do the map's detail justice, it will let you appreciate some of the map's 17th Century influences where both color and presentation are concerned. Do note that the map's legend is not visible in this image.]
