Dungeons & Dragons Waterdeep: Dungeon of The Mad Mage Maps and Miscellany (Accessory, D&D Roleplaying Game)

I use data from all versions of DnD going back almost 30 years ago. After reading many reviews I was on the fence about ordering this product. I went ahead and ordered it anyway since I was ordering the hardcover book. I couldn't be more pleased. I draw my dungeon out as the players explore and this is a perfect tool and reference for any DM. Not only are there maps of each level but its also numbered for encounters/features (for all levels) and the maps fit when I clip it to the inside of my dm screen. Many people remember the original release and hold everything to that standard when in reality that first set had maps that were way to big to use when running a game and there were only encounters for the first few levels. The 5th edition releases are impressive and contain far more useful info than even the original. I plan on rerunning a 3.5 Undermountain adventure and this is one of the better reference materials that's been made for any edition of Undermounrain. Another thing I realized after reading bad reviews and after receiving these high quality maps, I think people are expecting way to much for a product under $20. People were reviewing this one like it was a $50 purchase. For $19 this is an impressive value and is one of the only editions where the reference material can all be behind the dm screen. The maps are glossed, double sided and on thick cards stock. Don't know what else I can possibly say. Kudos to Wizards.

There are a lot of negative reviews on here about these maps. Wizards of the Coast did an awful job at explaining what these were, so expectations were all over the place. These maps are never intended to be seen by players. Each one is a double-sided, cardstock, dry erase sheet that's the size of a normal piece of paper. You get all levels of the Undermountain dungeon, plus the city of Skullport. These are best used as a GM planning tool. Here's how I use them: As I'm planning the upcoming session, I mark up the map of the level of the dungeon my players will be visiting. I mark and label the location of each enemy, trap, secret, elder rune, and gate. I also draw off sections controlled by various factions (e.g., goblin tribes, bandits, Xanathar's Guild). Then I can use this as a reference as my players make their way through the level. This way nothing is forgotten and I don't have to flip back and forth through my book as they explore. As enemies retreat or re-position themselves, I can update their location on my map easily. After the players leave that level of the dungeon, I have a map that reflects the status of that level as they left it. I may go back and update it as various factions take over if other factions were wiped out. Then I will be ready when the players return to that level in a future session.I think this product makes running an adventure like Dungeon of the Mad Mage much more manageable. You could certainly make this on your own at a copy shop, but that would take a lot of effort and may end up costing more. If you know that you're getting a GM planning tool and not a battle map for players, then I think this is a valuable addition to your GM tool belt.

They are high quality and come with the runes and such on easy-to-seperate sheets to be handed out to players (which I love).Granted, I did want them to be a bit larger, but it beats having to leaf from page to page in the book for me.

The maps in the $50 book are not handy, even a little. Although I regretted buying this initially (thinking I bought a $12 book), I now wish ALL D&D books had the option to spend a few bucks to get maps YOU CAN ACTUALLY READ!!! Most 5e books have tiny maps only young peregrine falcons can read. (That means they have very good eyesight, for sarcasm-deficient readers.)

While I was a bit disappointed that the maps weren't the sprawling, massive web of the 2e era, there is still quite a bit to explore. The maps aren't colorful, and no, you are definitely not going to be using them with miniatures. These seem to be primary complaints with this product, so it isn't for everyone.On the plus side, if you remember playing games in which no map was provided, and you had to try to chart your progress through a dungeon on graph paper hoping that your efforts keep your party from getting lost, then these are a great DM resource.Part of the fun for me in AD&D was those graph paper delves. Miss too many details, and the party could get quite lost. By keeping these maps a DM resource, it allows the DM to deliver the greatest part of any dungeon delve, the aspect of exploring the unknown, as well as the stress and tension of losing your bearings. It also brings back the sense of accomplishment when finding a secret door that might lead to lost riches, or further peril since the players can't see the layout and reasonably assume where the secret doors and hidden chambers are.You could probably photocopy the maps from the book, as well as the cards for runes and secrets, but, I preferred to have these since they're convenient and premade.

As others have said:A) This is NOT the actual Campaign book -- buy that FIRST.B) These maps are for the DM, so there's none of that "laying the book on the copier for write-able copies" nonsense.C) They're dry-erase-friendly - I use Expo ulta-fine tip multi-colors, and they tested fine ( https://amzn.to/3SRHBaX )My crew hasn't finished the previous campaign yet, but I've been reading ahead into Mad Mage. I've got plenty of minis, map tiles, and other kits for the party to handle the hands-on scenes on the tabletop, but these dry-erase DM maps will definitely help me keep track of the rest of the non-combat, non-hands-on activity better.

Like all the new 5 edition modules, this is a great book. I really like that campaigns are hard cover books that span many different levels. In this case 5th through 20. I haven't had a chance to play this campaign or let along read the module. However, based on what I have seen, there is alot here. Can't wait to play this.