Photorealistic maps

[RPMiller]

I think the future for these detailed maps is in the VTT realm, where objects (stamps, whatever) can be moved around, replaced, etc.

This is absolutely correct, and the big reason why I keep bringing them up.

I have in the past, and still do, not even bothered with a map in gaming, but every once in a while they become a necessary evil especially for systems that are more inclined to using strategy instead of just hack and slash. So to that end I've found that VTTs are definitely a huge time saver. At first they are slow, but once you get used to the way they work and all the wonderful tools they actually speed up game play.

What is really nice is when you have VTTs like MapTool that allow you to actually create maps right inside them, you can actually use them just like the old crystal map, but they look cooler and don't make a mess. Then couple that with VTTs like Battlegrounds that allow you to use Flash animations in them and you can have a somewhat dynamic and "alive" map to use.