2-D maps or 3-D terrain?

[Wombat]

My feeling ...

... the fewer the maps, the better.

If I wanted to play a miniatures battle, I'd pick up some serious miniatures rules.

I want to play an rpg. Therefore I try to minimize maps and minis.

I got into D&D (back in 1975) to get away from miniatures battles, thankyouverymuch!

 

[TheAuldGrump]

My feeling ...

... the fewer the maps, the better.

If I wanted to play a miniatures battle, I'd pick up some serious miniatures rules.

I want to play an rpg. Therefore I try to minimize maps and minis.

I got into D&D (back in 1975) to get away from miniatures battles, thankyouverymuch!

Whereas I got into D&D (back in 1975) because I enjoyed miniatures battles, thankyouverymuch!

There is no one right way - minis or no minis, 2D, 3D, 2.5D or no terrain at all can each make for fun games. Me, I like having a bunch of hobbies that all link together in RPGs. The main reason I build terrain is that I like building terrain - being able to play games with it is just the excuse I use for building it. Pretty much the same holds true for miniatures.

Most of the players that I have run games for do prefer having terrain, or at least well drawn battle maps. I tend to save the 3D terrain for special occasions, with the really big builds for the climax of a campaign (or at least campaign arc). I have a box of 3D furniture and what not that I plunk on the table when needed, and often the walls are just lines drawn with transparency pens on the vinyl battlemat.

On the other hand being able to put the lighthouse that is serving as a wizard's tower on the table can be a lot of fun too, as can a battle in a railyard, with the train idling at the siding. I use toys, cardstock, and foamcore - each has their appeal.

The Auld Grump

 

[Zaukrie]

This is what I think:

http://www.hordelings.com/forums/postView.php?post_id=120338

 

[Emirikol]

I've got the following thing that I use EVERY NIGHT (hopefully can upload a picture):

1. Battlemat (duh!)
2. model railroad trees and shrubs (CHEAP FOLIAGE)
3. A few sticks and rocks from the yard (and some rocks with fossils that I've collected from dinosaur ridge nearby..because God made fossils to be played with, not stared at in a museum). I keep flat sandstone rocks around because it's best if you can set miniatures on them. The archers always want to be up on them playing sniper.
4. Black dominoes for corridor walls rather than markers
5. Cardboard Doors: now these I got from some old D&D products (kidnapping of princess arlena and revenge of rusak)
6. Cardboard buildings from various products.

Other stuff:
* Modelling clay
* Dungeon Tiles (Wotc just put out some nice new ones). These can be anything from trapdoors to tables, chairs and candelabra. They are cheaper than the plastic ones and still work well.
* Hard foam painted up to look like cliffs (get some ideas from warhammer)..this was kind of fun ot make. I just pulled some crappy ugly leftover paint out of the garage, painted the hard foam and sprinkled some very fine sand and dirt on it.
* Trinkets, clear plastic, and odds and ends. You'd be surprised what you can use to make tiny props out of. They don't have to be perfect, just representational.
* CASTLE WALLS: I highly recommend that you purchase the old product "Castles" for AD&D. It has a crapload of stuf fyou can use. If there's one thing that you need, it's castle walls. THere are always encoutners where goblins are shooting off of crap or things for the rogue to climb up to.

3D has made our game a LOT more interesting beyond the primitive old days of 2d markers on a battlemat..or worse..staring at 0-D on a computer screen...gaaak.

Oh, one more thing: we have picked up a few ideas from the LARPers. We keep some traditional design stoneware/mugs/jacks to drink out of and for theme. Everything helps: http://www.tokheim-stoneware.com/

jh

 

[frankthedm]

Both

I print dungeons out on 11x17 paper while at work, use toys and stones for obstacles and even have some honest to goodness wargaming terrain as well.

http://www.terragenesis.co.uk/ an awesome web site for 3-d terrain.

 

[FATDRAGONGAMES]

Here's some pics of our latest few sets to give you an idea of what the 2D tiles with 3D props look like:

 

[Emirikol]

Oh, those are good looking chests. Mine are just plain box crates. Anything is better than nothing but thos elook pretty good. Considering all teh boxes and crates to check in the typical computer game, it probably behooves a DM to pick a few extra up to stick on the battlemat.

jh

 

[Treebore]

I've been getting Fat Dragon stuff for years now. Really increases versatility and I am looking forward to the 3D sets.

I also have the stuff from WOTC and Paizo's Game MAstery. Other than not looking the same, they allow me to do what I want. Combined with the building sets I have and the dungeon dressing sets I have bought from Dwarven Forge and Fat Dragon Games I can pretty much do a good "mock up" of every encounter I have set up for.

 

[FATDRAGONGAMES]

Oh, those are good looking chests.
jh

Thanks!