(3.5E) Aw, crap...

[tleilaxu]

never used minis before 3e, now i can't imagine how i ever played without them.

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

I doubt this really makes a significant change -- the rules as written more or less assume you're using minis. Aside from adding some facing rules (which I'd argue against -- too complicated), what are they likely to do?

I never used minis before 3E, and now that I have I wouldn't go back -- things are much clearer, and I don't find that it impedes the drama of the game at all.

Then again, I'm a wargamer from way back, and like the tactical aspects of 3E combat with minis. I really doubt, though, that anyone is going to break into your game session and force you to use them if you don't want to!

 

[JeffB]

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.

Exactly the same experiences I have had.

I'm quite dissapointed by this news...I was really looking forward to the new books, but this puts a BIG damper on my enthusiasm.

Oh well....good thing my players enjoy other versions of the game as well as other games.

 

[nameless]

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

I can't fathom this. It's not like a Wizards lawyer will be standing over your shoulder. We use extra dice most of the time for our minis. Between different colors, sizes, and which number is up, it makes tracking things a breeze. Sure, real minis are nice, but they're a lot of work and money.

I applaud this, if only for clarifications in things like areas of effect on the grid, or rotating uneven faced creatures (like horses).

 

[DDK]

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*

Another, relatively, inexpensive method is the various cardboard cutouts (Ooh, I wonder if this new focus will mean they'll redo Strongholds and Castles!) and PDF's of buildings and whatnot like Dirt Cheep Dungeons (www.microtactix.com).

And I have fond memories of making mini's up at the table. In one session we played as a once-off (I got a random dungeon from Jamis Buck and ran it that day... god it was awful, fun, but awful!) there was a giant spider that caused MUCH havoc and stress for the party. Great encounter. They burnt it, shot at it, hacked, got poisoned, ran screaming and eventually used a command word stone door and a lure to crush it to death... several times It was the deadliest piece of blu-tak they had ever faced!

 

[Psyckosama]

I use rulers and mini's already. Not going to do much for me.

 

[Snoweel]

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.

I think KenM was kidding. BTW, how was your trip to Sydney?

As for minis and battlemats, WotC doesn't need to make a cent. How many of us have (a) chessboard(s) or, better yet, an old box of Lego lying around the place?

Wow. And here I thought the current rules were about as miniatures-oriented as you can get.

Hi Tiefling!

 

[Olive]

I think KenM was kidding. BTW, how was your trip to Sydney?

possibly. i find it hard to tell sometimes with people. Sydeny was nice. ate real well (bodhi, near St mary's, has the best vegetarian yum char i have ever had), did some touristy things and got tattooed. went to tin solider and was real impressed myself. lots of old stuf at reasonable prices.

 

[Yuan-Ti]

So, does this mean that WotC sees $millions to be made in the mini business? I thought Chainmail would have taught them a lesson or two...

 

[Mark]

Hi Tiefling!

LOL! That never gets old, does it?