Title: Mage's Home
Author: Unknown
Download: Here

This map is designed to be the home of some sort of Dark Ages Mage. I wouldn't say he was the sort of Mage you'd find in WoD Mod: Restitution, more your hedge wizard sort. Mainly due to the fact that there's a Tome of Numina in one of the rooms.

This map consist of three rooms, a connecting corridor and two small closet type rooms. The architecture isn't exactly stunning but then again it never usually is on the inside of houses.

My first impressions of this map were that is was very, very bare. Upon entering the map you're confronted with a large main room which doesn't contain a lot and isn't well lit. The two doors that are directly visible as you enter lead to storerooms, one containing wood the other containing barrels of some kind. Probably alcohol, you know how these wizard types like to knock it back.

Adjoining the main room is a corridor which link to two rooms, a library and a bedroom.

The bedroom is lit with eerie green lights and there is something very mystical going on with the fireplace. Any doubts that I had that a mage lives here are well and truly put to rest. If they weren't the magic items collected by the bed would surely help point to the above conclusion.

This room is well constructed with the lighting, despite the poor sarcasm above really reinforcing the feel of the map, as does the green flame in the fireplace. It's the little details that decide whether a map is good or not, and it's the little details that get you in the end.

The library's walls have been textured with a book shelf texture, negating the need for the author to construct bookshelfs themself. A clever time saving tactic.

The library itself contains a desk with a couple of books on it and it lit very well, this is in fact the best lit room in the house. This could possibly be an indicator of frequent use of this room on the owners part.

The lighting in the map is quite spartan in some rooms, namely the main room, but it is never too little and always comes from a source. Regular readers will know that a pet hate of mine is lights which have no source and just look like spots of light on the map.

The texturing on the map is well aligned and their are no noticeable errors in this department. Good sold work all round in fact.

Scoring -

Originality: 2

It's pretty much just a house. Some nice touches do convey that this house has a supernatural owner but it could just be anyone's house.

Artistry: 2

Although the subject matter doesn't lend itself well to detailed architecture the author does a solid job.

Authenticity: 3

I'm going to give this a three due to the fact that it is based purely in the Dark Ages and it would be a struggle to fit it in in a Modern setting.

Technical: 4

Like I said above this is a competent effort with no glaring errors. Good work.

Overall: 11

Extra -

Although this pack is available on it's own I would recommend getting it as part of one of the Maps Galore packs from Mod Haven.