The Legend of Ykesha expansion has brought us many things... dyes, frogs, and a confusing map system.  This is a guide that will cover the basics of the LoY map system!  It's a little long, but a once-over is all you need!

First off, you need LoY in order to use the map.  Next, to open the map, you can use the 'Window Selector' bar, most likely on the top of your screen (the button fourth from the right oin the bar), or simply press your Backspace key.  You can also configure this to some other key through Options -> Keyboard.

Depending on what zone you're in, you'll get a pre-made map or a blank one.  If you're in a safe zone, such as a city, you will most likely be welcomed to a pre-made map which includes zone and merchant locations.  Most of the time, however, you'll have a blank map in places where you'll need help the most.

There are several ways you can control the map and the map window.  First, you can adjust it's transparency by right-clicking anywhere on the map window, as shown below (NOTE: this also works for a majority, if not all of the windows in the game).

Move your mouse to 'alpha', and you'll see another submenu for 'Normal Level' and 'Faded Level'.  'Normal' is the transparency of the window when it's in use, meaning that your mouse cursor is over it or you've just opened the window.  'Faded' is how transparent the window is when it's not being used or targeted.  Click on one of the two choices, then you'll be able to adjust the slider or change the number from 0 to 100; the higher the number, the more solid the window is, and vice versa.  For example, if you're on the run a lot and you need to use the map at the same time, you'll want a fairly low number so that you can see the map, but still see where you're going.  Contrary to popular belief, trees do not disappear or move out of your path when your map is up.

Click on the picture above to see a full-sized version of it (200KB)

When you open the map window, you'll see the name of the map on the bar heading.  Next, you'll see four directional arrows on the top right of the window.  Press these to scroll the map over in the direction you press.  A faster way of doing this than button-mashing is by left-click and holding while on top of the map, then drag it in the direction opposite of the area you want to see (that may be confusing, but this is a pretty minor detail to worry about - just remember to click and drag, and you'll be fine after brief experimentation).

Below the directional arrows are two more buttons with arrows, and a + and - sign.  These zoom in and out of the map.  + is greater magnification, while - is less.  A very quick way of zooming in and out is by using the mouse wheel if you have one on your mouse.  Scrolling toward you zooms out, and away from you zooms in (again, this is not difficult with some fast experimenting).

The 'Layers' area of the map window are something I don't pay attention to, and you probably won't need to unless you're a map-maker.  Even then the need isn't that great, as far as I know.  Make sure, however, that if you're looking at a map, the 'Base' button should be pressed.

Below 'Layers', you'll most likely want the 'Labels' button to also be pressed.  This activates the zone and merchant labels on your map, as well as the labels you make yourself (which will be explained shortly).

The 'Height Filter' button should NOT be pressed, that way you will ignore the variations of elevation on the map - otherwise you can lose details if a label is too high above or below you.  An example of this can be found below: the lower picture is the ideal one, where the button is not pressed - you can tell because the lower picture shows more details, while the upper map left areas and labels out.

Button has been pressed Button has NOT been pressed

If you press the 'Height Filter' button, the next two areas (Low and High) become relevant, as they are the boundaries of your filter, but as we're not using it, we're not going to discuss it.

On the bottom right of the window is the cartography button to open the 'Map Toolbar'.  A picture of the toolbar can also be found with the large main window photo above.  This is the tool used for those who want to make their own maps.  Here is a brief explanation of what the tools do and which ones you'll want.

'Start Line' - creates a line, starting from where you are, and ends when you use 'End Line'
'End Line' - see 'Start Line'
'Add Point' - adds a point on the map where your character is
'Remove Line' - removes a targeted line you've made on the map
'Set Line Color' - changes the color of the line
'Join at Intersect' - extends two lines that you choose and joins them, or adjusts only the first selected line if you hold the Control key down
'Automap' - this is the tool I use the most, as you'll soon see
'Add Label' - you can make your own label on a map with this (NOTE: the label appears where you currently are on the map, and I don't know if it can be moved manually)

For the next three tools, you must click on a label before using.  The best way to do this is to zoom in on the label first to get a lock on it.
'Edit Label' - edits a label, by color or size
'Move Label to Me' - a targeted label will be moved to your current location
'Remove Label' - removes a label from the map

'Set Current Color' - sets the color of the next line that you will draw
'Clear Map' - clears all lines and labels on a map (NOTE: do NOT save a pre-made map if you clear by mistake, simply zone and it will come back)
'Clear Active Layer' - clears the layer that is set on the main menu window
'Save Map' - saves any changes you've made to the map

If you forget what these do in game, you can hold your mouse cursor over the particular tool name and a small description will appear.

Below is an example of maps in the Plane of Tranquility.  The gates to the many planes are obviously missing from the previous large map, though the vendors are there.  So we'll have to make our own labels.  I moved Relaris to the windmill, used 'Add Label', chose a color and with a large label (I strongly recommend LARGE labels, because I could barely read the small or medium ones, and they don't change size based on magnification), and called it 'Windmill - PoI'.  Now, whenever I open the map, I'll have no trouble remembering where the zone to the Plane of Innovation is!

'Automap' is a tool that creates a line, starting from where you are, and ends when you tell it to.  As you move, the line draws itself and follows your movements with straight lines.  This means you could follow all of the walls in a zone and make a perfect map of it.  This can prove difficult, however, especially if you don't have invisibility.  You could instead use this tool to draw a route between two points.  Let's say I was on a raid to Solusek B, raiding the Efreeti Camp (which I have done, and it is also shown below).  I can start the 'Automap' at the zoneline to Lavastorm Mountains and end the line when I read the camp, labeling the zone as I come in (or do so at a later time), and making sure to label the map again when I reach the room.  Then a simple save (don't forget to save!), and it's done.  I can now lead my own raid to the room anytime I want.

The 'Automap' tool does seem to have two noteable problems, however, if you use it incorrectly.  I noticed several times after I turned it on that I had made straight lines connecting from where I started it to where I was, and the reason was because I closed the map.  If you are going to use this tool on a raid, naturally you will not want the map in your face all the time, but do not close the map window.  Instead, use the 'circle' on the top left of the main window map to minimize the window and it will work fine.  If you forget and close the map, everything you made till you closed it will still be there, however you will have to start the 'Automap' tool again from the moment you closed it, or it will make the straight line and stop mapping.  As a final note, it's okay to close the 'Map Toolbar', just not the main map window - the drawing will still work otherwise.

The other problem with the 'Automap' is that you have to remember it records every movement, including backtracking and running in circles (as you'll note that I did in some rooms on the map above, and also notice the unusually straight line on from the zone to the south area where I presumably closed the map window).  As you use it more, you'll get the hang of it.  Like all good things, it takes time.

I hope this guide is of some help to fellow EQ'ers.  Perhaps in the future I will go into more detailed map-making methods, if I can ever figure them out for myself.  Thank you for reading, and good mapping!

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