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<blockquote data-quote="Lord Zardoz" data-source="post: 4127574" data-attributes="member: 704">I played without any mini or mat in 2nd edition.&nbsp; I have found that the trade off is not as significant as you thing.&nbsp;- Players will always optimize their combat actions.&nbsp; They will announce an intent to set up a flank.&nbsp; They will declare that the fireball is centered to maximum effect.&nbsp; I do not think that much time is gained by not using a mat / minis.&nbsp;- You will save time by not having to set up a mat.&nbsp; You may however lose time if you end up in an argument about whether or not someone would have cover from another player or obstruction.&nbsp; Or whether or not a players Fireball is really able to hit 8 out of your 10 combatants.&nbsp; A grid inherently resolves all positioning arguments.&nbsp; On top of that, applying positioning based rules becomes easier and much fairer.&nbsp;- The use of a grid makes the use of terrain considerations much easier.&nbsp; For me it helps immersion when a player can chose to run into a nearby building and close the door.&nbsp; Or they can choose to bullrush someone into an environmental hazard (off a cliff, into a fire).&nbsp; Without the visual aid, they wont bother considering it.There are only two reasons I can think of not to use a grid at all.&nbsp; The first is if your gaming space is already cramped.&nbsp; A standard grid takes up alot of space, and if you have already have problems fitting your books, notes, and snacks at the table, you will have a problem.The other reason is simply the cost of the grid and minis.&nbsp; I managed to luck out, since I still have the plastic mini's from a Hero Quest game, as well as a bunch of minis someone left at at my place 10 years ago after college (He just forgot them, and about 6 months later I realized they were still around).&nbsp; Using random coins hurts immersion, and it makes mixed combatants hard to track properly.But if you do not mind the cost, or can work around it (chess pieces work quite well, pawns for fodder, king and queens for big bad), I am convinced that the mini's solve more problems than they cause.END COMMUNICATION</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Lord Zardoz, post: 4127574, member: 704"] I played without any mini or mat in 2nd edition. I have found that the trade off is not as significant as you thing. - Players will always optimize their combat actions. They will announce an intent to set up a flank. They will declare that the fireball is centered to maximum effect. I do not think that much time is gained by not using a mat / minis. - You will save time by not having to set up a mat. You may however lose time if you end up in an argument about whether or not someone would have cover from another player or obstruction. Or whether or not a players Fireball is really able to hit 8 out of your 10 combatants. A grid inherently resolves all positioning arguments. On top of that, applying positioning based rules becomes easier and much fairer. - The use of a grid makes the use of terrain considerations much easier. For me it helps immersion when a player can chose to run into a nearby building and close the door. Or they can choose to bullrush someone into an environmental hazard (off a cliff, into a fire). Without the visual aid, they wont bother considering it. There are only two reasons I can think of not to use a grid at all. The first is if your gaming space is already cramped. A standard grid takes up alot of space, and if you have already have problems fitting your books, notes, and snacks at the table, you will have a problem. The other reason is simply the cost of the grid and minis. I managed to luck out, since I still have the plastic mini's from a Hero Quest game, as well as a bunch of minis someone left at at my place 10 years ago after college (He just forgot them, and about 6 months later I realized they were still around). Using random coins hurts immersion, and it makes mixed combatants hard to track properly. But if you do not mind the cost, or can work around it (chess pieces work quite well, pawns for fodder, king and queens for big bad), I am convinced that the mini's solve more problems than they cause. END COMMUNICATION [/QUOTE]

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