Battlefields versus the 5' dungeon.

[Rune]

how do you determine where everyone is once the grid comes out and combat starts. Can I do it randomly, within reason (i.e. "You were searching the east half of the room, so we're going to roll a d4 for which N-S axis square you're in and a d3 for which E-W axis square)? Do I let the player's pick? Before or after the enemies or whatever are revealed?

Consider placing PCs and monsters on the map in reverse initiative order (within reason, of course--hidden creatures should not be placed and a PC should usually start within a certain number of squares of the entrance to a chamber). This provides a fair structure to the placement and also adds a little incentive for the PCs to have high initiative modifiers, as creatures with higher initiative get to be placed in reaction to those with lower initiative.

 

[LostSoul]

I don't use a grid.

Going into "grid mode" at the outset of tactical movement and combat makes sense to me then, but as usual I am trying to preemptively figure out what the problems would be that I don't see right now. One big one is -- how do you determine where everyone is once the grid comes out and combat starts.

If I don't know - in the wilderness or wandering monsters - then I make a random roll to determine encounter distance. (Part of my wandering monster check determines if the monsters are ready for battle or not; if they're ready, they're probably in their own marching order, otherwise they won't be.) PCs should be in marching order; if not, then I assign random positions.

 

[Thagdal]

I often have a dungeon tile (you can make yourself easy enough) with minis as default marching order. Its often the shape of a corridor, so I just move it to the batte map in an appropriate place (eg doorway) and let the PCs move from there

 

[Bullgrit]

I've always used minis on a battlegrid, since I started D&D in 1980. I used minis on a battlegrid with BD&D, AD&D1, AD&D2, and D&D3, plus pretty much every other RPG I've run.

I do it for pretty much the same reason as S'mon:

I default to 'minis always on the board'. In the context of a busy, loud pub Meetup it really helps me and the players to have something non-auditory to focus on. I often do it even for pure RP encounters, again in order to provide focus.

Even with a smaller, private group, it is good for focus and clarity.

I got the idea to use minis on a battlegrid from the BD&D and AD&D books. They supported and suggested using them, and I immediately liked using them.

Bullgrit

 

[Corathon]

I use the "battlefield" method. I go to a grid when combat starts. The initial location of PCs is determined by circumstances. In most cases the group's specifed party order determines where everyone starts, but if the group was searching a room, I would place them according to what area they said that they were searching and common sense.

 

[dogoftheunderworld]

I've used different methods. Lately, I've been drawing out a "mini-map" 1"=50' type scale to show progress through a dungeon/manor/section of wilderness.

PCs use minis to keep marching order (usually the same order, but they sometimes change it up based on conditions).

Once combat starts, I draw the standard 1"=5' map and place minis based on marching order, or relative conditions (as others above: if someone was searching a more specific area). This keeps things moving (I don't have to draw out ever 5' of travel) and let's me focus on describing things more "organically".

 

[gamerprinter]

Well considering I'm a pro RPG cartographer, would you consider me not using a gridded map?

We have a regional map that can be used to determine path going from point A to point B. Anything that is not an encounter is usually described in words, not maps. When the planned encounter shows up, I have prepared battlemaps for each one.

If a random encounter determines there needs to be combat where I hadn't made a battlemap, we use a gridded blank laminated sheet and I draw in the terrain onto existing squares.

We have to use a grid for all our combats though, issues like Reach, movement, AoO, etc make a grid necessary for our games.

 

[Reynard]

The next session of my Jade Regent campaign is on Monday, so I think I have time to draw up a few of the remaining "definite" battlefields before then. Getting back to descriptive exploration will, I think, help me feel less like I am running a board game for the group, and will also hopefully allow me to concentrate more on actual description and interaction with the environment.

 

[Reynard]

Tonight I am trying an experiment: not only am I going with "battleground" I have also decided to eliminate the grid -- I redrew the potential nbattlegrounds on blank paper. They are still "to scale" for 1"=5' but I am hoping no squares and using tapes for measuring when necessary frees us up a little.

 

[DnD_Dad]

Have you ever considered doing movement in the manner of tabletop wargames? One inch can still equal 5 feet (or whatever scale you decide upon) without requiring a grid. This allows a freedom of movement which is not bound by the square (or hex) structure of a grid while still maintaining the same common scale of movement which everyone is familiar with.

We follow this method in games we play. We just just a grid board to know generally how far we can move in main directions. I hate how DnD turned into chess with ridiculous rules by keeping movement to squares... Ugh.