Thread by @swardley

X : You seem somewhat dismissive about stories for navigation.
Me : Oh no. The Vikings used them. But, there's a reason we use maps. How best to explain this ... ah ha ... let us take a Roman Town

Let us add some points of interest i.e. the amphitheatre, the local temple etc

Now add a handful of residential sites and military posts.

Now, the total number of paths from A to B between all those points is ..

Let's say that we're a bit terse and describe each path with 25 words ... no flowery descriptions. Then that's roughly 10,000 words.

So ... a 10,000 word story or a one page map?

There are 4,416 cities in the world ... you can use either an Atlas or learn 311 Bible's worth of short text.

There's a reason we don't use stories for navigation anymore.

X : We do in business.
Me : Yes, I'm well aware of that.
X : Are you saying they're wrong?
Me : The Vikings weren't wrong to use stories for navigation. It's just how we did things in the past. We're not Vikings anymore ... well, except in business obviously.

Now, of course, once you've chosen your path then you can provide the short description as a story ... let us go to the Temple! Turn left at the oak tree etc etc. Of course, bring the map with you ... just in case you get lost. Or the 311 Bibles ... good luck with that one.