maps – guide — data
Wizardry 3 maps challenge players with complexity featuring teleport tiles, spinner tiles, dark areas, and one-way doors coupled with an unforgiving combat system all to discourages aimless exploration. To navigate more safely, it’s essential to map out your route using graph paper and a pencil. While mapping might require multiple traversals of each dungeon level, it offers the opportunity to grind XP. Utilizing spells like DUMAPIC is crucial for understanding teleports and spinners.
Maps. Without them, we are blind in the Maze, wandering without direction. With them, the path ahead becomes clear, and the journey takes on meaning.
Master Ninja
Tools for Wizardry 3 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 DUMAPIC spell to craft functional maps. The first thing you draw is the staircase up to the Castle. As you take steps and turn corners you simply right it down. When you change floors cast DUMAPIC to get your loc and then draw your entry point. Notate doors, stairs, secret doors, elevators, sign clues, etc. Each map in Wizardry 1 is 20×20, 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 Wizardry 3. 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
Official Manual is here.
How to obtain a copy of this game:
eBay link – Ultimate Wizardry Archives PC CD-ROM version (1998), includes Wizardry 1-7
eBay link – SNES cartridge version (translated)