Using maps and asking around.

[Edokage]

Problem: Most locations can only be found if you are in close proximity to them (and somehow you know exactly what they are called whenever you do). Without any clue as to their existance whatsoever, finding many places is simply a matter of walking around in remote areas until you either find a location or come to the conclusion that the area really is completely devoid of anything of interest. That is, of course, unless you throw in the towel as an explorer and install a mod that lets you see all locations in the game.

 

Solution: introducing maps and topics that enable players to find all places without actually being there (although doing so does require a lot of detective work to find the right people and a lot of money to pay for maps from merchants.

 

Ideas:

Ayleid ruins/wells: All ayleid ruins contain a map in their innermost chambers with the location of 1-3 other ruins and a few ayleid wells. The maps are big stone slabs so they can't be picked up.

Campsites: Patroling guards or maps found on bandits show local campsites.

Forts: Maps of forts can mostly be bought from merchants. Old signs (different from regular signs) may also lead there.

Landmarks/settlements/inns: Ask the locals; they are almost sure to know something of interest.

Caves/mines: Fighters guild members tend to know these things. Maps, animal tracks, footprints or blood trails may also lead there.

Edited September 12, 2011 by Edokage

[Lanceor]

I usually have this map open in another window (I have dual monitors) or on my smartphone. Would that work even though it's not in-game?

[Edokage]

You mean as an in-game map? Everything but the base map are a bit too modern looking to use an an in-game map.

The maps I'm thinking of are not maps of everything but rather of a single location. There are several ways such maps can be implemented as a mod depending on what you want with it:

Automatic: Adding the location directly onto the map upon reading.

Pros: Easy to navigate and find new places.

Cons: Maybe a bit too easy for those who want more of a challenge finding locations.

Regular manual: A picture of the location on a map.

Pros: More of 'following the map' rather than 'following the GPS'. Adds realism.

Cons: Not very fun if you dislike map reading. Can be difficult to use if the map quality is low.

Cryptic manual: Follow the clues and directions and you find the place.

Pros: People who like treasure hunts are going to love this.

Cons: Everyone else will hate the maps (most users and modders alike since not two locations can use the same clues).

Edited September 12, 2011 by Edokage

[Deleted1848331User]

If I were to do it (I have a bunch of other mods I haven't finished that I'm steadily working on, so I can't help now), I'd do some of all of them. I'd make it so that you couldn't mark it on your map except for a blank icon that says ? that you either have to go inside to find the name of it, or go get it named by an expert who knows what it is. (Someone who knows scripting would know how to do that... Clever enabling and disabling.) But anyways, those are my thoughts on it. I remember someone asked me if it was possible a while back (some five or so months ago now though I think...).

 

If it were "easy", then I'd make it mark it on your map... Without fast-travel enabled, so that you still had to go there to mark it. Then for regular, just make a new texture showing the location of a few places (stone slab for Ayleids, for example, would be a stone slab reused in 3-4 dungeons, because it'd show 3-4 of them if I did it. Just imprint a transparent game map of Cyrodiil into a stone texture used for the slab, save it as a blank texture, and then mark locations on a new texture. Of course with editing around the edge of the map to make it look carved in of course.). Cryptic, of course, would have clues giving the locations.

[ub3rman123]

I usually have this map open in another window (I have dual monitors) or on my smartphone. Would that work even though it's not in-game?

 

Oh hey, I have that as a poster. Use it to mark locations I've modded.

[metricjester]

So would you want to go to the local bookstore, and buy new maps for the surrounding area that automatically add markers for some of the different types of dungeons and points of interests? So say we're in Leyawiin and you go to Southern Books to buy a map, and you buy let's say a Shrine Map, it shows you Nocturnal and Sheogorath's shrines, but if you were to buy the Shrine Map in Bravil, you'd only get Sheogorath's shrine. Or you go to First Edition and buy a Goblin Map and it puts Cracked Wood Cave on the map for you.

 

Is that the sort of thing you are looking for?

 

(My inner programmer is screaming that I've just volunteered to make a billion scripted scrolls. I'm bludgeoning him with rum.)

Edited September 13, 2011 by metricjester

[Edokage]

Something like that. Not all locations can be found in maps and not all maps can be bought, though. Also, the maps that can be bought can not all be bought at the same merchant's so you'll have to look around (I imagine bookstores, inns and general stores are the ones most likely to sell maps unless special map merchants are added to the game).

[forli]

Try this: Maps of Cyrodiil.

It adds maps to enemy and merchants.

When you activate a map, it add a new random map marker to your map, in "unvisited state" (you can't still fast travel here).

All you have to do is take your horse and travel there to fully discover it.

 

They works like treasure maps.

[Keirgarth]

That actually sounds like something I might load up heheh. I have been running around with no purpose in the wilderness looking for any and all places to find and it is getting boring :)