I'm looking for suggestions on how to approach creating a map (or set of maps) for interactive fiction (IF). These are (typically) text adventures (remember Zork?).

Most IF developers have a planning map (like this one for Zork 1):



The question is, how this could be converted to a more artistic map. IF is built on the idea of areas (rooms) connected by directions so they can be mapped out like the referenced map, but follow no real scale...so two areas could be meters apart, or 100's of meters apart.

I am just looking for ideas of how this could be mapped, similar to the map in a conventional book - to provide a "world overview" for readers without out giving away critical plot information/secrets....In a way, it might be more similar to a RPG players map... I don't really know.

So - suggestions, thoughts and comments are welcome!

-Rob A>