"Drawing" Markdown Maps
I rarely participate in an RPG session as a player.
But when I do participate in an RPG as a player, I usually take on the dual role of mapmaker and note-taker, driven by my excitement at finally getting to play, for a change.
In more recent adventures (especially Call of Cthulhu and D&D), I’ve developed a way to remember the maps described by the GM by creating “maps” in the form of Markdown (since we play a lot on Discord), thus combining the two things I was already doing (maps and notes) into one. Isn’t that wonderful?
Here’s roughly how I do it:
### Example (small two-level dungeon)
(With the entrance in the SOUTH)
#### Level 1
**Entrance** (Large Room, Pillars, etc.) > Storage Room, Bedrooms, Hallway, Surface
- ***West Door*** > Storage Room
- ***Door to the East*** > Bedrooms
- ***Door to the North*** > Long Hallway
- ***Door to the South*** > Surface
- ***Central Altar:*** Made of wood, signs of sacrifice (dried blood, chains, etc.).
- ***Secret Compartment:*** On the side. Contained a small *Golden Idol* (now with Gruknar)
**Storage Room** (Boxes, shelves, and barrels. Everything is somewhat abandoned) > Entrance
- ***Metal Cabinet:*** Locked (we don’t have the key).
- ***Old Rugs (in large numbers, might be worth some money)***
**Bedrooms** (Small hallway, six doors (3 on each side), six small bedrooms (bed, chest, and desk. All abandoned) > Entrance
- ***Bedroom 01:*** Nothing noteworthy.
- ***Room 02*** Nothing of note.
- ***Room 03*** Wooden toy on the bed. No one dared to touch it.
- ***Room 04*** Nothing of note.
- ***Room 05*** Nothing of note.
- ***Room 06*** Overturned bed, signs of a struggle.
**Hallway** (leads to a long staircase) > Entrance, Level 2
- ***Stairs*** > Level 2
#### Level 2
- etc. etc. etc.
Which results in:
Example (small two-level dungeon)
(With the entrance in the SOUTH)
Level 1
Entrance (Large Room, Pillars, etc.) > Storage Room, Bedrooms, Hallway, Surface
- West Door > Storage Room
- Door to the East > Bedrooms
- Door to the North > Long Hallway
- Door to the South > Surface
- Central Altar: Made of wood, signs of sacrifice (dried blood, chains, etc.).
- Secret Compartment: On the side. Contained a small Golden Idol (now with Gruknar)
Storage Room (Boxes, shelves, and barrels. Everything is somewhat abandoned) > Entrance
- Metal Cabinet: Locked (we don’t have the key).
- Old Rugs (in large numbers, might be worth some money)
Bedrooms (Small hallway, six doors (3 on each side), six small bedrooms (bed, chest, and desk. All abandoned) > Entrance
- Bedroom 01: Nothing noteworthy.
- Room 02 Nothing of note.
- Room 03 Wooden toy on the bed. No one dared to touch it.
- Room 04 Nothing of note.
- Room 05 Nothing of note.
- Room 06 Overturned bed, signs of a struggle.
Hallway (leads to a long staircase) > Entrance, Level 2
- Stairs > Level 2
Level 2
- etc. etc. etc.
It is essentially a hierarchical structure of topics, with certain symbols indicating specific elements—in particular, > to indicate links to other locations, : for descriptions, and a series of parentheses for details.
I don’t want to establish any kind of set-in-stone formula here, though. I just want to share the way I’ve been taking notes on maps for some time now. I think this kind of “system” develops in a way that’s unique to each person.