Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Melkor" data-source="post: 1051810" data-attributes="member: 10786">I've read some arguments about using/not using miniatures with D&D 3.0. Now that 3.5 has come out, and a push towards playing with miniatures has been made, I was thinking on the topic. I recently purchased some Dwarven Forge Master Maze stuff, and a good amount of close out Chainmail minis from SVGames. It's cool and fun, and sometimes it adds a great deal to playing D&D. On the other hand, I really enjoy games that don't require the precision of miniatures for a number of reasons. Sometimes, I don't want to lug all of the stuff around. Sometimes, I like just relaxing on the floor or couch when we play - not having to get up to move my mini, or keep track of what's going on. Mostly, I just like the free-flow of narrative combat instead of the precision of minis. My old DM would try and narrate games of 3.0, and would fudge attacks of opportunity and movement....as opposed to keeping a 'grid map in his head'...This didn't last long, he didn't like the precision that was lost - so we played with minis. Now that 3.5 is out, and my group is starting back up - I am taking on the DM duties, and I asked my players what they thought about the push towards using minis. They agree that they like the precision, and easy visualization that miniatures promote, but they prefer to picture the scene in their head. Since we are going on a camping trip to get away and game, I don't want to cart my Master Maze stuff and miniatures with us. My solution seens brilliant to me, but I'm sure it's a routine thing for anyone who gives it two seconds of thought.....As the DM, I am going to track the positions of everyone on Graph Paper behind the DM Screen. I'll describe the events with narration, and answer any questions about position based on the D&D 3.5 rules, and the grid. If a player says he wants to move 'accross the room to the door', I will move him on the grid. It will help me keep track of things like threatened areas, AoO, and Reach without having to sacrifice the loose feel of narrative gaming for my players....It puts all the work on the DM, but that's not a big deal to me. We'll use minis when we have the inclination, but when we are too lazy, just want a relaxing game, or would just prefer the narrative style of roleplaying that gaming without miniatures promotes - we'll probably use the above method. It's relatively simple, but I'm slapping myself and saying: "Why didn't I think of this before" ??? Any comments/thoughts ?</blockquote>

Verification