MM1 Maps and tools of the trade

MM1 Maps and tools of the trade

Your MM1 Maps will cover 5 Towns, 9 Caverns, 6 Castles, 15 Dungeons, and 20 outdoor areas. VARN challenges players with locked doors, teleport tiles, spinner tiles, dark areas, and one-way passages, therefore, mapping is one of the many keys to survival.

“In uncharted realms, a detailed map isn’t just a guide; it’s the thin line between triumph and oblivion.”

The Cartographer
Reveal Map Details

ES refers to Encounter Size and larger number indicates potential for larger encounters with more foes.
MG refers to Monster Group and this indicates which Foes may be encountered. Foes are placed in encounters based on their Index value. Generally, higher MG number means more difficult foes. You can see the Index value for a Foe in the Foe List here.
Teleport, Town Portal, or Surface spells are blocked from use by unknown forces in some dungeons and castles.

IndexMap NameESMGTeleportSurfaceTown Portal
0Sorpigal51TownOKOKOK
10Sorpigal Dungeon8310' UOKOKOK
46C-2153SurfaceOKBannedOK
12Crazed Wizard Cave8410' UOKOKOK
28A-11510SurfaceBannedBannedOK
68Castle Doom1510CastleBannedOKOK
30A-2158SurfaceBannedBannedOK
32A-3158SurfaceOKBannedOK
34A-4158SurfaceOKBannedOK
42B-4157SurfaceOKBannedOK
40B-3153SurfaceOKBannedOK
20Caves at the Korin Bluffs15310' UOKOKOK
2Portsmith103TownOKOKOK
14Portsmith Dungeon15410' UOKOKOK
8Erliquin83TownOKOKOK
16Erliquin Dungeon15410' UBannedOKOK
6Dusk158TownBannedOKOK
18Dusk Dungeon15610' UOKOKOK
4Algary107TownOKOKOK
82Stronghold in the Enchanted Forest - L115610' UOKOKOK
84Stronghold in the Enchanted Forest - L215920' UOKOKOK
86Castle White Wolf156CastleBannedOKOK
38B-2154SurfaceOKBannedOK
26Medusa Lair15710' UOKOKOK
78Warrior's Stronghold - L115510' UOKOKOK
80Warrior's Stronghold - L215720' UBannedOKOK
36B-1154SurfaceOKBannedOK
72Castle Blackridge South153CastleBannedOKOK
74Ancient Wizard Lair - L115710' UOKOKOK
76Ancient Wizard Lair - L215920' UOKOKOK
44C-1153SurfaceOKBannedOK
48C-3153SurfaceOKBannedOK
50C-4156SurfaceOKBannedOK
58D-4154SurfaceOKBannedOK
56D-3155SurfaceOKBannedOK
24Cave of Square Magic15510' UBannedOKOK
54D-2158SurfaceBannedBannedOK
52D-1156SurfaceOKBannedOK
60E-1158SurfaceBannedBannedOK
88Castle Dragadune - L1156CastleOKOKOK
90Castle Dragadune - L215710' UOKOKOK
92Castle Dragadune - L315820' UOKOKOK
94Castle Dragadune - L4151030' UBannedOKOK
62E-2156SurfaceOKBannedOK
64E-3156SurfaceOKBannedOK
98Castle Alamar1510SurfaceBannedOKOK
66E-4156SurfaceOKBannedOK
70Castle Blackridge North153CastleBannedOKOK
22Volcano15710' UOKOKOK
100Fabled Building of Gold - L115710' UOKOKOK
102Fabled Building of Gold - L215820' UOKOKOK
104Fabled Building of Gold - L315930' UBannedOKOK
106Fabled Building of Gold - L4151040' UBannedOKOK

Tools for MM1 Maps

Real-time mapping can be fun with the right tools. Feel a sense of accomplishment after meticulously mapping a dungeon or castle. Explore the dungeon as it was intended, one square at a time. Manual mapping can add incremental reward while otherwise an adventure is just endlessly confronting enemies.

Graph Paper

You only need some graph paper, a pencil, and the Location spell to craft functional maps. As you take steps and turn corners you simply right it down. Notate doors, stairs, secret doors, elevators, sign clues, NPCS, while understanding all maps are 16×16, that should get you going.

Software

Gridmonger

If you don’t want to use graph paper and pencil then go for a free mapping tool such as Gridmonger. This is a truly exceptional tool and I highly recommend it. Read the online manual it is very well written and clearly explains what you need to know. This tool is designed to use keyboard entry which makes it quite simple to Alt+Tab between the Game window and the Gridmonger window to map as you play, never needing to touch the mouse. Exceptional tool with themes and support for dungeon or overworld maps.

https://gridmonger.johnnovak.net/

Where are We?

Another exceptional tool is the Where are We? application. This is companion software that runs while you are playing Might and Magic I from GOG. Real-time maps reveal as you explore and display an arrow for your party that moves around the map in step with your in-game movements. Check it out.

https://www.eskimo.com/~edv/lockscroll/WhereAreWe/

Attribution

How to obtain a copy of this game:

eBay link PC and C64 versions (1986)
GOG link – Digital PC version (includes games 1-6)