Well, we all know the geography of the Long Lake. The Running River comes south from Erebor, the Forest River flows east from the halls of Thranduil, they meet at Long Lake, pour over the falls at the southern end, and the Running River continues to Dorwinion. Something like that, anyway.

But when I look at the TOR map, I find it really difficult to reconcile this with what I see. it's almost as though the Long Lake has a huge island in the middle! Can anyone explain??

Probably an error, I think you just ignore the island

E

Maybe Esgaroth is sooooooo HUGE now it appears to be an isthmus on overhead maps!

Yeah, the map artist just didn't ink it in.

I suppose it must be that simple. I'm an editor by trade, so I know how too well how things go wrong when you're trying to hit print deadlines.

Still, it seems a really weird thing to overlook, given as how it's the default starting point of the game, more or less.

I hope I do not sound on the defensive, but many Lotr maps out there represent the Long-lake in the same way (a quick Google search will show many examples). I do agree now that it looks a bit weird though...

Francesco

Thanks for the response Francesco. No big problem - I was just briefly worried that it might represent the river splitting in two, or something else strange. The ring around Esgaroth doesn't make it any easier to interpret!

Most maps that I have found seem clearer on the subject, but I expect we're finding different ones. There are quite a few in existence.

If it's of any help, I have taken the adventurer's map graphic into Photoshop, and lightened it for better laser printing, made it greyscale and filled in the lake, so that I can give my players disposable maps to scrawl on, if only A4 (my printer goes no larger). I wouldn't distribute the resulting PDF without your permission, but equally I'm happy to make it available if that would be helpful.