Map symbols not documented in the rules

This page describes some map symbols which are not documented in the rule books because they are not part of the standard maps, and whether they are added to your maps or not depends on your map preferences selected on the pbem.dk web site.

Unit "dot" markings (fantasy games)

 Normally the presence of units in a hex is indicated by a small mark immediately to the left of the hex number on the map. The shape and colour of the marking indicates your policy towards the unit present which you are most hostile towards.

Here is an explanation of the "dot" markings (on colour maps):
ExampleMeaning
Only your own units are present.
Allied units are present, and possibly also some of your own.
Neutral units are present, and possibly also some allied and/or some of your own.
Enemy units are present, and possibly also non-enemy units (including your own).

Unit icons (fantasy games)

When you chose to have a map produced with unit icons you do not get a small mark to the left of the hex number as shown above. Instead you get up to four shield shaped icons representing the units present in the hex. The position of a shield with respect to the hex centre tells you which policy you have towards the units represented by that shield: your own units are shown upper left, allied units upper right, neutral units lower left and enemy units lower right. On a colour map the shields are also colour coded but on a black and white map you only have the position of the shield to go by (plus of course any nation abbreviation shown in the shield). Here is an example of a hex with all four types of units present:

If e.g. there are only enemy units in the hex only the lower right shield will be present, even if there are enemy units belonging to multiple different nations in the hex.

Here is an explanation of how to read the unit icon shields (on colour maps):
ExampleMeaning
Your own army, mass units of a total size of at least 1 but less than 4 standard units (1 spike). The two digit number is the last two digits of the lowest numbered individual you have in the hex, or of your lowest numbered mass unit if you have no individuals there. When only two digits are shown it means that the unit number it represents is within your normal unit number range (e.g. if your unit number slot is 3100-3199 the unit 3102 will be shown as "02").
Your own army, either no mass units are present or their total size is less than 1 standard unit (no spikes). All digits of the number of the lowest numbered individual (or mass unit if you have no individuals there) is shown because it is outside your normal unit number range, e.g. because the unit is one you have bribed or charmed or because you have recruited so many units you have used up your unit number slot.
An allied army, mass units of a total size of at least 4 but less than 8 standard units (2 spikes). All allied mass units in the hex belong to the nation abbreviated "GE".
A neutral army, mass units of a total size of at least 8 but less than 16 standard units (3 spikes). All neutral mass units in the hex belong to the nation abbreviated "An".
An enemy army, mass units of a total size of at least 16 standard units or more (4 spikes, the maximum). Enemy mass units in the hex belong to several different nations and therefore the shield icon is marked with two asterisks rather than a nation abbreviation.
An enemy army consisting entirely of individuals belonging to several different nations (no spikes, one asterisk). This could typically be some enemy scouts.
 
Units you have spotted during the turn but which you cannot see at the end of the turn are shown at their last known position. To indicate that this is possibly not their current position the unit icons are "dimmed":
ExampleMeaning
An allied army consisting entirely of individuals or mass units of a total size of less than one standard unit (no spikes), not seen at the end of the turn (dimmed). All the units belong to the allied nation "GE". This could typically be a scout.
A neutral army consisting of mass units of a total size of at least 4 but less than 8 standard units (two spikes), not seen at the end of the turn (dimmed). All the units belong to the nation abbreviated "An".
An enemy army consisting of mass units of a total size of at least one but less than 4 standard units (one spike), not seen at the end of the turn (dimmed). All the units belong to the nation abbreviated "Mo".
An allied army consisting of at least 4 but less than 8 standard mass units in this hex at the end of the turn (dark outline and 2 dark spikes) and a further 8 to 16 standard mass units not seen at the end of the turn (3 dimmed spikes). All allied mass units belong to the nation abbreviated "GE".