Project: Stonetop Map Printing

After printing my own copies of the Stonetop books, the next thing I wanted were full-size maps. Printing them on standard paper just wasn't the same, especially when everyone at the table wanted to see them.

I decided to try the FedEx Office Blueprints & Architecture, Construction & Engineering Prints service. It was inexpensive, the quality was better than I expected, and they've become one of my favorite additions.

Printing the Maps

FedEx offers architectural prints in 18×24, 24×36, and 36×48. I went with 24×36, and I think that's the sweet spot.

They're big enough that everyone around the table can see what's going on and point to locations without having to pass a book around. I considered 36×48, but that's getting into "where do I put this thing?" territory. If you have a smaller table, 18×24 would probably be fine, but I'm glad I went with 24×36.

Which PDF to Use

The Stonetop download includes high-resolution black-and-white map PDFs in 8.5×11, 11×14, and A4 sizes.

I compared the proportions of those files to the three sizes FedEx offers. If you want the closest match without unnecessary cropping or empty space, use:
18×24: 8.5×11 source
24×36: A4 source
36×48: 8.5×11 source

Since I'm recommending 24×36 for the maps, I'd use the A4 high-resolution black-and-white PDF.

There's no need to resize the files yourself. Just upload the appropriate PDF and let FedEx scale it to the print size.

The Settings I Used

For my maps:
Source: A4 high-resolution black-and-white PDF
Print Color: Black & White
Paper Size: 24×36
Paper Type: Standard White Bond Paper
Binding: None
Orientation: Horizontal

I had all five maps printed for $23.83, which came out to about $4.77 each. I paid another $9.99 to have them shipped to my house, bringing the whole order to $33.82.

If you have a FedEx Office nearby, you can pick them up and skip the shipping.

How They Turned Out

For less than $5 each, I really didn't know what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised.

The maps look great at 24×36. Stonetop's black-and-white line art works especially well with this type of printing, and I don't feel like I'm missing anything by not having them printed as more expensive posters.

The paper is thin. These are architectural prints on standard bond paper, not heavy posters. They'll curl if you store them rolled up, and they're obviously not something I'd hang on the wall and expect to last forever.

But that's actually part of why I like them.

At around $5 a copy, there's no reason to be careful with them. I can put one in the middle of the table and let everyone write on it. We can add notes, mark locations, draw routes, or add whatever else comes up during the campaign.

Over time, the map can become that group's map instead of something I'm trying to keep clean.

And if I run Stonetop again with another group, I don't have to erase anything or worry about what the previous group wrote on it. I can spend another five bucks, print a fresh copy, and start over.

The Giant Steading Playbook

I also tried something a little different with the Steading Playbook.

Instead of printing it at its normal size, I uploaded the seven-page PDF to FedEx and had the whole thing printed at 18×24, with top-edge binding. The result is basically a giant seven-page Steading Playbook.

It sounds a little ridiculous, and it kind of is. But I really like it.

The Steading Playbook is something the whole group uses, so having a large copy that can sit in the middle of the table works surprisingly well. There's plenty of room to read everything, write notes, and make changes as the steading develops.

My settings were:
Source: Steading Playbook PDF
Sides: Single-Sided
Print Color: Black & White
Paper Size: 18×24
Paper Type: Standard White Bond Paper
Binding: Top Edge
Orientation: Horizontal

Just like the maps, I don't worry about keeping this copy clean. It's there to be used. Write in it, add things, cross things out, and let it change along with the steading. If I run Stonetop again with another group, getting a fresh blank copy is cheap enough that I can just start over.

I don't have the invoice from my original order anymore, but I recreated the same order through FedEx in August 2026 and it currently comes to $18.66 before tax or shipping.

Would I Do It Again?

Absolutely.

This is probably the easiest Stonetop project I've done. Upload the files, pick a few options, and FedEx does everything else. In my case for an additional $9.99 they brought the finished copies right to my front door.

For the maps, I'd stick with 24×36 using the A4 high-resolution files. They're big enough for everyone at the table to use without being completely ridiculous, and at around $5 each they're cheap enough that everyone can actually write on them.

I'd also do the 18×24 Steading Playbook again. I originally added it to the order mostly because I was curious how it would turn out.

I ended up liking it almost as much as the maps.