I found this product to be a wonderful tool for any GM. The scenarios presented with each map set are plenty to start the creative juices flowing, even if you decide to not follow that scenario. I enjoyed the inclusion of the photos that head each map set as well, allowing me a chance to become immersed in the authors vision of the map location.

The maps themselves are great. In a day when many maps seem to go for glitz and glammor - lots of color, cool borders, etc., these maps harken back to the great days when RPGs were in their infancy. The maps are clean and elegant in their simplicity. They become the framework that I, as the GM, can then build my fantasy setting upon.

The maps for the Caverns are wonderful, creating an entire underground complex ready for adventuring. The only complaint I have for these maps is there is no map for the ruined city.

The map for the Temple Tomb does take a minute to wrap your mind about it and understand how it flows, but once you do you realize the uniqueness and creativity of such a map.

The other maps in the set are very simple and basic. They don't have the unique feel that the Caverns and Temple Tomb have, though they are great quality maps.

A great asset for any GM.

Locales Volume 1 is a 46 page pdf product and the first product from a new publisher, The Fantasy Cartographic. This product is a collection of unique maps for interesting and distinct locations that any DM can use to include in his or her game world. Volume 1 of the Locales series offers nine new maps, complete with a large number of plot hooks, story ideas and other bits of useful adventure information.

This product comes as a single pdf file. The product is devoted to maps, and provides more than 30 pages of good quality, detailed, black-and-white maps that DMs can use to create adventures from. The product layout and general look of the pdf is good, and most locations have additional 'stock art' that gives a deeper and more visual addition to the maps themselves. The writing and descriptive text associated with each location shows good creativity and imagination, with some unusual and unique locations presented. The product includes a table of contents, and useful introductory text, although there are no bookmarks. Maps are provided on a single page per map, in most cases with room for making notes on each map.

Locales Volume 1 provides 9 new locations with over 30 pages of maps for use in any campaign world. Most locations consist of multiple maps per location, with a page or more of descriptive text, plot ideas or general adventuring hints and tips. These maps provide a wide range of varied and interesting, even exotic locations, for DMs to use. Locations include The Cavern at S’siyerteresk Falls (a large natural underground cavern with a lake, river, fungus garden and stalactite and stalagmite columns hosting various denizens of the underdark), the Column Fortress of Deep Rushing (an enormous natural column within the aforementioned cavern and consisting of multiple levels), The Temple Tomb of Bgixilidynon (a vast dimensional fortress wrapped around itself), and The Lair of Ancient Malice (a secret lair, the entrance of which is submerged beneath a lake).

The locales offer exciting opportunities for adventuring, and provide promising and challenging locations for novice and experienced adventures to explore. The write-ups and details provided for each location give many new ideas and insightful plot hooks for use with these locations. This is one of the more unique products in this regard, offering something more unique and interesting than the typical product of its kind. I was impressed by the variety and possibilities of the various locations, and well as the creativity that had gone into creating each of the locations presented.

The maps themselves are all in black-and-white, and provide a detailed view of the nine locations presented. The maps don't include any interior details, barring the usual doors and stuff, but things like beds, altars, and other interior furnishing are not included. This allows the DM to create his own unique character using the map provided. The product is not intended as a plug-and-play product, but rather as a collection of maps that would inspire DMs to create something magical from. I generally found the maps very clear and good, although in some instances the detail over multiple levels takes a little more studying to appreciate the true scope of these maps. The map complexity ranges from ten level complexity to smaller maps containing only a handful of chambers or interior locations.

I was pleased with this product. It provides good maps with excellent background supporting material, and is very useful as it doesn't constrain the DM in any way when using this product. If you don't like the story for a particular map, just use the map. If you like the story but would like to create your own map interior, you're free to do that as well. The product offers good versatility, and achieves what it intended to achieve in providing good maps for DMs to create their own adventures from in unique locations. The maps aren't brilliant, but they provide enough to create something memorable and build on the ideas provided. A very good product from the Fantasy Cartographic.