(3.5E) Aw, crap...

[Xarlen]

Through what Medium? If you play online on a messageboard like this, you can make use of a grid using excel and any photo program. If your talking about a 'chat' game or some-such, your going to need software, and I don't know what kind.

I game on a friendly Gamer MUCK. The only way you could program that would be Ansii, and that would look something like this:
_ _
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And that would be very tedious to create. I ask people to create battlemaps using Photoshop and post them ont he web, but that's still troublesome.

 

[Mouseferatu]

personally, i reckomend using minis and a battle amt to anyone. sped up our games, everyone always know what was what, and allowed me to concentrate on making the game more exciting.

but like the Col, I can't imagine what they could change to make it more minis orientated.

I've tried. IME, it bogs things down dramatically, encourages math-crunching and rules-lawyering over playing, makes people less inclined to try creative maneuvers in combat, and in general makes combat slower and less enjoyable.

Again, that's IME only, of course.

 

[Mark]

Bah. I think the rules have always assumed you used minis, at least in your minds. They simply plan to be more explanatory about it, which is a good thing whether you use minis, counters, or nothing at all. IMO, of course...

 

[Renshai]

I for one love the idea of using miniatures with D&D... to me it doesn't feel like I'm playing if we aren't using minis.

I also really like the idea of the plastic pre-painted minatures. I don't have the time to paint them anymore so this is a god-send.

Ren

 

[Olive]

I also really like the idea of the plastic pre-painted minatures. I don't have the time to paint them anymore so this is a god-send.

Ren

i'm a bit worried about the collectible idea though.

 

[KenM]

The people I game with have always used a battlemat and minis, I was in one game, the DM did not use them, too much confusion on who could hit who, he also ASSUMED EVERYONE is in the area of effect when a trap goes off.
The thing that worries me is if Wizards says "you can only use offical minis to play DnD" that will be total BS.

 

[Mark]

i'm a bit worried about the collectible idea though.

You keep saying that, Olive, and I have one word for you, "Counters" They're the inexpensive alternative that serve just as well as minis if the funds are low or the deal that a minis' company is out of line, which, IMO, a collectible game is for us common gamers that are not collecting armies or playing such games. Hell. You can even make them youself, as I often do to create the proper size mounts for minis that stand. *shrug*

 

[Numion]

I don't like this news. We don't use minis and never will. It wouldn't suit our style; players sit around the room when we game, not around one central table, so it wouldn't be very useful.

Luckily I've got all the D&D books I need

Damn though, I was waiting for the revisions, but now I'll just have to see then...

 

[DDK]

"If you change facing three times in three rounds, your character becomes dizzy, causing a random 5' step at the end of each of their turns (roll d8 to determine direction), and a -2 to all attack rolls."

Lol! That just opens up the doors for a whole new feat chain too!

Instead of aspiring towards Whirlwind Attack (which arguably could be considered to be dizzying) you could aspire to the feat, "You spin me right round, baby, right round, like a record baby, round, round, round, round..."

I've tried. IME, it bogs things down dramatically, encourages math-crunching and rules-lawyering over playing, makes people less inclined to try creative maneuvers in combat, and in general makes combat slower and less enjoyable.

Although I agree with most of the posters that have said the game is already very skewed towards mini's (AoO, 5-ft. step, movement/range measured by 5's or 10's, etc.), I would also say that having a focus on mini's can distract from the imagination.

Playing an entire battle scene in your mind is quite different than to playing it out on a minimat and in your mind at the same time. Much less visualization and a greater focus on the mat before you and the rules that go with it.

However, I doubt the changes will be huge. I honestly can't see HOW they could change the rules any more to focus on mini's than they already have without changing the entire mechanics of the game which I highly doubt they'll be doing.

I think it's really just a marketing ploy in order to boost interest in their new mini's game/mini's.

 

[Olive]

The thing that worries me is if Wizards says "you can only use offical minis to play DnD" that will be total BS.

sure it will be, but it will also be completely unenforcable except in Wizards run tornaments, and how often do most people play in those? they're not going to be coming round and making spot checks on your games.

anyway, mostly wizards hacve encouraged other companies support. look at d20. while they're not going to give anyone else the liscence (tho i'd like it if they did), i'm sure the rules won't say 'only 28mm WotC minis are acceptable when you play in your living room'.