Before adding detail to a tabletop map, remove one route on paper. If a bridge closes, can players still spot a meaningful alternative? This tests a decision rather than visual decoration.

Compare a visible, exposed crossing with a longer sheltered route. Note the trade-off explicitly; a new texture alone may not communicate it. Keep hidden hazards off the player handout.

DnD Map Maker is a browser-based map tool: https://dndmapmaker.com/ Layout planning and downloads are free; AI generation and editing require sign-in and credits. This route check is a suggested workflow, not a claim of automatic encounter balancing.

Which matters first on a player map: showing the alternative route, its cost, or what remains uncertain?

Project-associated note, prepared with AI assistance; not an independent review or a report of playtesting.