# Moldvay Basic D&D - Mapping using Charater Movement Rates

I'm dusting off the Moldvay Red Basic Rulebook (1981) and taking a stab at figuring out some of the rules that I, frankly, didn't fully understand when I was a kid.

On B19, under the MOVEMENT section, he writes, "All characters are able to move 120' in one turn when exploring a dungeon."

Also on B19, under the TIME section, he writes, "A character may explore and map an area equal to his or her movement rate in one turn."

So lets say I've just entered a large cavern, maybe 300' by 300', for the first time, and so I've just started mapping this area. If my movement rate happens to be 120', does that mean I can explore all the area within a 120' circle around me? Or does it mean I can explore one 10'x10' block at a time, in any direction, changing directions at will, up to 12 blocks total?

This was never fully explained in the rulebook, unless I missed it. As kids, we ended up putting this rule aside and just saying 'you can explore this room during this time.' But it always bothered me a little, knowing we weren't following the intended rules.

Does anyone know the right way to follow this rule?

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