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If you are using a good star chart then you will not have to worry about different "join the dots" in different books. It all comes down to being able to read a star chart properly.
I use 2 charts; one chart gives me a basic outline and most importantly, the Greek Bayer letters of each star in the constellation and the second chart gives me a quite detailed map around those stars that have Bayer letters.
The whole point being, the Bayer letters allow me to correlate between the charts. I use the basic chart to observe the constellation with the naked eye and this means I have a pretty good idea as to where I should point the scope and in what direction I need to move it.
Once I centre the scope on a known star then I can look at the detailed chart and start to pick up simple star patterns nearby. I mean things like, an elongated triangle, a string of 4 stars in a slight curve, 2 stars VERY close together, things like that. This helps you define a direction when you are looking through the eyepiece.
An example:
You look through the scope and you see your main star and a square of stars just to the right. You check back to the chart and swivel the chart around to match what you are seeing in the scope. Now you can see that you need to go to the left...away from the square...to get to your object. So you gently nudge the scope so the view goes away from the square and then you check your chart again to match what you see through the scope to what you see on the chart.
In this way you will "star-hop" to your intended object.
Ignore the "join the dots" images when it comes to hunting down objects with your scope. Use the Greek Bayer letters to recognise stars and to move amongst them.
Remember, if your scope has digital setting circles, a computer, etc. then one night the unthinkable will happen....the electronics will go KAPUT!! If you have relied on the computer to show you things then you will have a perfectly functioning telescope ( in that you can still look through it) but you will not have a clue where to point it.
Learn how to read a star chart and then you will always be able to find those illusive but amazing deep sky objects.
Peter.
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