UPDATED (CURRENT) REVIEW:
In August 2018 the creator updated the map pack. The labelled versions of the maps now contain significant additional labelling, and are much more useful. The unlabelled version is also provided as an option. A printer-friendly grayscale is included, perfect for use as a handout for DMs who aren't keen to spring for the cost of colour. The Elven Tower watermarking has been removed, making the map more immersive. The product is now a solid handout appropriate for use in any game in and around Phlan. On the basis of the upgrade, I've increased my original review score from 3 stars to 4 stars. It's still at a relatively premium price point for a single map, but probably worth it if you're running a game of any length in and around the area.
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ORIGINAL REVIEW, PRE AUG 2018 UPDATE:
A lovely map but a missed opportunity.
The purchase contains a single image of Phlan, in several formats, with or without some labelling.
The image itself is lovely and by far the most attractive map of Phlan I can find on the internet.
However it's compromised in several ways that limit its usefulness.
Firstly, the labelling is excessively minimal, with only a handful of places tagged. The intent might be to make the map usable in any era of the Forgotten Realms, as the tagged landmarks have existed in some form from the days of the Pool of Radiance videogame through to the Tyranny of Dragons adventure path. However, many longstanding landmarks with well-agreed locations are untagged (the Stojanow Gate and the Lyceum are notable examples), making it really only useful as a basis for your own cartography rather than a ready-to-use player handout.
Secondly, all versions of the image have the unattractive Elven Tower logo in the top-right.
Thirdly, it would have been nice to see a ready-for-black-and-white version included, seeing as you're only getting the one image. The colour choices and contrast aren't great for a black and white printing.
All that combines to make it hard to recommend this as a purchase, given that its price tag weighs in as more expensive than a full PDF module. It needs to offer more to the DM or be pitched at a lower price point to be truly recommendable.
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