I have an old print of the first edition book and it’s not super clear how we should get out of the dungeon…It seems like we can get out using a map, the pathfinder skill and or the cartographer skill via a roll at the end of a dungeon.
Here is an exemple:
We kill a boss at the bottom of a long dungeon that lasted three sessions. Should we go back all the way re-playing every rooms and random encounters, etc… or we can just go in town right away?
Reading the Pathfinder and cartographer rules it seems like its possible to kinda quick travel in town using a map or a roll…whats the good way to do it?
The players need some table chatter to establish how they are able to backtrack, and this might indicate they are honestly attempting to recall the route and must attempt to move through the spaces. This can be a challenge for a GM to keep up notes how things were left (I had a group start a large fire that had to be noted). Many traps and monsters will have been dealt with or disarmed, but not all. For example, the ooze from the Dread Crypt might make another attempt at prey if the adventurers have been away for a bit.
The players could pause during an adventure, such as camp of town phases, to attempt a cartographer test and craft a map. I’ve had groups do plenty of maps and revisions. It is an important tool (and does not require space in the inventory). The intended use of cartographer is during camp or town phases–when very little could interrupt or interfere with the effort. With a map, the players can move easily between locations successfully described by the map. This is commonly nicknamed, “fast travel.”
During the adventure phase, unless the players are attempting to recall the route for backtracking, a test of pathfinder might be a great way for a GM to move them along more quickly, while retaining some risk, without exact details of each ‘room’ of the dungeon.