Battlemats - do you draw as you go?

[caudor]

I'm trying to figure out the best way to use my battlemat during play (I currently have a chessex). To keep players from seeing parts of the map/dungeon they have not explored, I draw areas as they are entered. This really slows down game play though.

I've thought about drawing the whole map before the session and somehow hiding sections that are not explored. Drawbacks: figuring out how to hide areas. Also, fitting the entire dungeon on one battlemat is sometimes impossible.

So how do you use your battlemat?

 

[Christoph the Magus]

I draw (poorly, lol) as I go. I try to keep talking while I'm drawing-giving them more details about they dungeon, enemies, etc. If there are creatures in the new room and combat is starting, I have them roll initiative, etc. Anything to keep them from sitting there, twiddling their thumbs. I've often asked them to draw portions as well. For example, I'll block off a room and ask them to draw the walls, etc.

 

[IronWolf]

I tend to draw as I go. On occasions where I have enough fore-thought and time though I have predrawn (using Tact-Tiles which makes this pretty convenient) and it does save a fair amount of game time. Even when I draw during the game though I try to be quick about it to reduce game time lost drawing the map.

 

[KB9JMQ]

I usually draw as I go but if it is very detailed I will do it in advance on my Tac-Tiles and place them down during play.

 

[EdL]

I draw as I go, as do most of the other GMs I've played with. On rare occasions however, say when a building/campsite will cover most of the mat I might draw the outline, or more, in advance. (This requires that the PCs have seen it and intend to investigate at the end of the previous session.) And I also leave whatever's drawn on the mat for a week or two (haven't had any problems errasing (sp?) stuff after that long) if it is still current.

 

[the Jester]

Adding to the apparent consensus here- I draw as I go.

 

[Jeremy E Grenemyer]

Sometimes I'll describe a room to my players and have them draw it out, instead of me just drawing as I go. Sort of like how things were back in the day when players were supposed to make their own hand drawn maps on graph paper during play.

But this can be tricky sometimes because even with four players it's possible for them all to misunerstand what I say and not draw things correctly. However I only correct obvious errors.

I also like to draw as much detail as their characters can reasonably see. My players have learned to "focus in" on an area, either by moving their character's mini to a point on the map or declaring they'll spend an action observing an area more closely, at which point I'll roll spot or search checks and draw more (if necessary) while I'm explaining what they see.

Note for this to not bog things down I have to preplan to the point of (mostly) memorizing details of rooms, so that I don't have to switch from drawing to reading text aloud to drawing some more.

Having multiple dry erase colors is good for differentiating between castle walls, moats, pools of lava, etc...

Ooh, having a 'designated map eraser' is good to, because that way the DM can go get pizza while the players do map cleanup in preparation for the next scene.

 

[S'mon]

Draw quick sketch of battlefield area right before initiative is rolled.

The important thing is not to try to draw out the whole dungeon on the battlemat, only the combat area when combat is about to start.

 

[Romnipotent]

draw as I go, poorly too sometimes
if I get the cash I may buy another one and pre draw a roll out style dungeon with annotations for bends and distances. I just bought MageKnight walls and scenery so I might be on a shopping hiatus till after I get my poker chips, another bookcase, and Unearthed Arcana.

 

[Thanee]

So how do you use your battlemat?

I don't draw maps usually, only if it's required for orientation and then on a sheet of paper.

I use the battlemat (chessex as well) purely for combat situations, where the surroundings are then provided. This is also only really used when orientation is required, i.e. in bigger battles or those with a somewhat complex terrain.

Bye
Thanee