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4th Edition WITHOUT minis

Crymson

First Post
Is it possible?

Looking at the rules we have seen so far, it looks like it will be nigh on impossible to play 4e without minis or, at least, a battlemat with tokens or something. My group and I prefer not to use minis in RPGs, but it looks rather difficult to achieve...
 

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Incenjucar said:
I would recommend graph paper.
yeah I have used graph paper with DnD since I started on the Red Box. However I am buying LOTS of minis for 4E just cos it will look better than graph paper...and I have the money:)
I wouldn't want to play DnD of any edition without graph paper but that is just me
 

mach1.9pants said:
yeah I have used graph paper with DnD since I started on the Red Box. However I am buying LOTS of minis for 4E just cos it will look better than graph paper...and I have the money:)
I wouldn't want to play DnD of any edition without graph paper but that is just me
I am waiting on buying more minis. Since I am hoping what with the VTT having all the MM Monsters converted to tokens for it, there will also be some method of printing them out.

So I simply print them out on cardstock, cut them out and got all the tokens I need.
 


Fallen Seraph said:
I am waiting on buying more minis. Since I am hoping what with the VTT having all the MM Monsters converted to tokens for it, there will also be some method of printing them out.

So I simply print them out on cardstock, cut them out and got all the tokens I need.

Yeah either that or make your own cardstock mini's/tokens which is what I'm looking into. What amazes me is that since Mini's are so popular - that people don't exploit the cheaper option of paper minis. Not only because they come in at a fraction of the cost, although clearly they are no way as substantial as having physical miniatures, and also because they can be easily distributed and printed via pdf's.

Ab
 

I've been doing a pre-session using Verys Arkon's rules.

You don't need miniatures.

But they make measuring distances easier.

What you do need though is players that are willing to ask questions. Say you as the DM describe, "You come into a room, and see a hobgoblin archer off to the left, and two warrior-types off to the right"

Basically, you just have to be fair and accurate, not down to the nth degree, but seriously, things like "You're engaged with this guy, moving away is going to draw an Opportunity Attack".

Another example that comes up is that players want to catch as many enemies as possible in an area of effect. Obviously, they can't measure that out, so they want to ask how many they can affect with their fireball (or whatever). You have to explain "You can get 3 guys easily, but you could nail 6 if you included this party member", giving them decisions like that.

Obviously, everyone's mileage may vary, but you need miniatures just as much as you needed them before, which is not at all. Just enhance communication all around, and you'll be fine.
 

A funny alternatives to D&D-minis might be to use a chess board with chess figurines. There are 32 modells, after all. And you will only need to use 10-20 of them. :D
 

FunkBGR said:
Obviously, everyone's mileage may vary, but you need miniatures just as much as you needed them before, which is not at all. Just enhance communication all around, and you'll be fine.

Unless you are extremely good at describing exact positions for everyone I just don't see it. There are so many forced movements abilities in 4e, that unless you have a way to track that on the board you will likely:

1) Do it wrong, meaning your powers are unpredictable.
2) Have the dm kind of wing it, meaning your powers are now dm fiat.
 

I think that 4E is going to require a battlemat as much as 3E does... which is to say: "its not required, but its recommended"

Now as for the minis themselves, I use colored glass beads for most monsters, with an impromptu playdoh sculpture for bosses

As for PCs, we use Fimo/Sculpey to make our own minis, as described here:
http://cerise.theirisnetwork.org/?p=17

We find it a lot more satisfying than the "buy minis in a closed box, pray you get anything usable" thing... I mean, the reason I quit playing Magic 5 years ago is because I got tired of the randomized booster thing.
 

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