Expert Set (1983) Legend
While 1981’s Expert Rulebook contained a surprisingly modern legend, 1983’s revised Expert Rules Set presented a much more contemporary set of hexes, bringing together most of the symbols actually used on maps at that time. It also detailed two new symbols: the unfilled circle for villages, which until that point had never been shown on the same map as towns, and so had been represented by filled circles; and the circle with points for module location.
There was also one major revision: the symbols for Castle and Ruins were switched, so that the filled square became Castle, while Ruins were now represented by an empty square. This would soon become the norm, although unfortunately it was not reflected in the other maps in the same set — all of which continued to use 1981’s definitions.
Replica Map (May 2018)
Sources
- Expert Rulebook (1983) (PDF at DriveThruRPG)
- Page 31
Chronological Analysis
This Legend falls between Maps 14 and 15 in the chronology. It was published in August 1983. For its full context 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.
Hex Art
- Fonts — Baskerville.
- New Symbols — Village (unfilled black circle). The filled black circle is now only Town. Module Location (unfilled black circle with eight points radiating outwards).
- Revised Symbols — Castle (filled black square) and Ruins (empty black square). Up until this Legend, these two were the opposite way round.
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.
