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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Keldryn" data-source="post: 6601646" data-attributes="member: 11999">I like using minis & battle map as play aids when there are a large number of combatants and/or when the layout if the environment really matters.  I used minis much of the time when playing AD&D back in high school, but never really noticed it slowing down the game until 3e.The main difference, I think, was the more abstract 1 minute combat rounds.  We generally didn't need to be too concerned with precise distances when moving, as characters could move most of the way across the table in one round.  There weren't any AOOs, only a free attack if you were engaged in melee and retreated without a cautious withdrawal.This made it very easy to just eyeball distances.  The grid was still useful as a tool for estimating distances, but it never dictated play the way it often did in our 3e and 4e games.  As a DM, it drove met nuts watching players spend the first 30 seconds of each turn counting all of their movement options and checking to see if they triggered and attack -- and not taking their hand off their mini until they were sure, as if playing chess.Frustrates me just thinking about it, actually.  When everybody does this every turn, it adds a up to a lot of time waiting.1 minute rounds have issues, but they facilitate TotM play pretty well.</blockquote>