Expert Set (1983) Karameikos, 6 miles per hex
Two years after the release of the previous Expert Rulebook, 1983 saw the release of Frank Mentzer’s revised version. Coming on the heels of the Basic Rules Set, the new Expert Set continued to add to the Known World, and especially to Karameikos, although in fact the 6 mile per hex map remains largely the same.
Without question the biggest addition is the iconic village of Threshold, which now occupies a space in the foothills northwest of the gnomes. Kelvin was also added, with the spelling “Kelven” at this point — and it too is a village. Otherwise, trails were drawn connecting up some of the settlements, and the map was cropped so as to zoom in a bit more, although no new terrain is actually shown.
Replica Map (April 2018)
Sources
- Expert Rulebook (1983) (PDF at DriveThruRPG)
- “Map #1 The Grand Duchy of Karameikos”, page 32
Chronological Analysis
This is Map 14. It was published in August 1983. The updated version of this map has not yet been released. See also Appendix C for annual chronological snapshots of the area. For the full context of this map in Mystara’s publication history, see Let’s Map Mystara 1983.
The following lists are from the Let’s Map Mystara project. Additions are new features, introduced in this map; Revisions are changes to previously-introduced features; Hex Art & Fonts track design elements; and finally Textual Additions are potential features found in the related text. In most cases, the Atlas adopts these textual additions into updated and chronological maps.
Additions
- Trails & Roads — the main addition from the 1981 map is the new trails, which are largely in line with those shown on the 24 mile per hex map. However, that map actually shows far more trails, including one leading from Specularum to Luln and on to Fortdoom, as well as shipping trails.
Revisions
- Caves — the caves paired with all the fauna labels on the 1981 version of this map have been replaced with regular hills.
- Rivers — the tributary east of Threshold, missed out on 1981’s map, has been restored.
- Spelling — Specularum is mis-spelled “Specularium”. Kelvin is spelled “Kelven”.
- Settlements — Wereskalot is still a castle here, despite having changed to a village on the smaller scale map (which appeared on the page after this map).
Hex Art
- Fonts — Baskerville.
- New Symbols — None.
Textual Additions (Expert Rulebook 1983)
The relevant text from the 1981 edition is repeated. Most of the additional text focuses on Threshold.
- Rulers — Duke Stefan Karameikos the Third is once again referenced. in the new text for Threshold he is also referred to as “the Archduke”. Patriarch Sherlane is the ruler of Threshold. (All p. 38)
- Settlements — Threshold, population “400 permanent residents plus over 100 other regular visitors”. However, the same page also states that “The village includes about 500 humans, 50 demi-humans, and many occasional visitors.” It is said to be “on the edge of a small lake”, and p. 31’s Threshold town map indeed shows this lake, as yet unnamed. Highdell is said to be a “small mountain outpost” situated “at the river’s beginnings” on the Specularum-Selenica trade route. This would place it two or three (24 mile) hexes south of Selenica. Tarnskeep is Patriarch Sherlane’s lakeside castle, “just north of town”. (All p. 38)
- Spelling — Kelvin is referenced multiple times, but the spelling is “Kelven”.
- Terrain — Blackstone Heath is apparently the name of an area with “an overgrown field south of town”. The Black Woods lie to “the west of town, about five miles away”. (p. 40)
- Trails — “One trail leads southeast to Kelven. The trade route between Specularum and Selenica passes through Kelven; the well-worn riverside trail leads south (to Krakatos) and north (to the small mountain outpost of Highdell, at the river’s beginnings.” (p. 39) This trail is already marked on the map.
Join in the Discussion at The Piazza
Come and join in the discussion about this map at The Piazza, where I am holding a “read through” of the Let’s Map Mystara project.
