I like that. You could purchase a map which has the roads and towns and shops etc. on it in ink, and as you scout the area, the map fills in with life-like colour. That way, you're not left blind as to which route to take or where unmissable landmarks are, but the things that commoners don't know about are still hidden until you find them. By colouring in the map as you explore, it would also appease those who use the fog-of-war as a guide to where they haven't been yet.
