Map Log Book and Mini-Maps

Oops, posted this to the General forum. Should have been here, so here it is:

I've been exploring the 'Rural Areas' around Dohral for the last several sessions - sometimes with a Bard Henchman, sometimes without. I try to fully explore one area before moving on to the next (fill in the Mini-Map completely). When moving into a new area, I consult the Map Log Book. It normally says: "You are ignorant of this area. There is a complete map of this area in your Map Log Book." There is? Where is it? I still have to fully explore the area to get the 'complete' Mini-Map. That is not of particular concern to me, and I don't mind having to physically explore an area to get the map. I even leave 'pins' on the interesting things that don't show on the explored Mini-Map (like the handy Campground near the North Chondra area - Free Wood and Tents). I also notice that when the server saves my character, it might say something like: "Character Saved. 19 Map Pins Noted". I'm assuming here that my maps are being stored into the Map Log Book, along with their pins.

Now, when I re-enter the very same area on my next session, I can only see the immediate area around me on the Mini-Map. Consult the Map Log Book, and it says: "You are ignorant of this area. There is a complete map of this area in your Map Log Book." There is? Where is it?

I'm assuming that the Map Log Book is supposed to keep a Permanent Record of Areas explored, rather than keeping the record on the Character's 'Skin' as in the OC (again, assuming that is where the record is being kept). If my assumption about the Map Log Book is right, then the system isn't working. If my assumption is wrong, then of what use is the Map Log Book, what is it supposed to do?

Curiouser and curiouser, said Alice.

Roger Dodger

Friend Roger_Dodger,
Excellent questions and observations.

I will let Eriniel give full details (as much as she is willing to disclose) on the matter, but basically, the Map Log Book (DohralMLB) is not ready for "prime time" yet.

The DohralMLB has partial functionality at this time, as you have discovered; yielding a text message regarding the current Area. Note that the more you visit an Area, the more your PC learns about it through observation over time, and the text you are able to access changes correspondingly, sometimes revealing clues about secrets of an Area that a casual observer may not notice. Part of the DohralMLB is missing on your computer, because we have not released it to PLAYERS nor DMS yet. When completed the DohralMLB will feature an OPTIONAL hak that allows your PC to display/exchange maps of Areas the PC has mapped. The optional hak pack is also a work in progress, when we are satisfied it is working reasonably well, we'll release some copies to our PLAYERBASE - though I cannot say when this will be.

MAP PINS you place - I will let Eriniel comment on that as I'm a little foggy on the technical details, iirc the data gets stored on your computer locally - but I'm not certain if Eriniel modified or extended the system any, so again, I'll default to Eriniel's more full and up-to-date understanding of these particulars.