DMing terrain well

[The Shaman]

The World Wildlife Fund website has an excellent section describing 825 different ecoregions - most come with at least one or two photographs. You can click on a map of the earth then select the ecoregion that most resembles the terrain you're trying to describe, and even show your players a picture if you like.

As LordMelquiades mentioned, I also rely on National Geographic, Canadian Geographic and the lot for ideas - the real world is often freakier than anything I can imagine!

 

[the Jester]

I find that I make better use of terrain with a battlemat. I tend to draw in various features and then just use 'em. I think the fact that it's so visual really helps. A tree? Use it for cover. A cliff? Hmm, does my monster have Improved Bull Rush? And so on.

Think of movies and tv scenes, too- for instance, a battle between two consummate warriors is one thing, but it takes on a whole extra layer of urgency when it takes place over a river of molten lava. That keeps erupting at them.

 

[Arrgh! Mark!]

I find that my descriptive passages tend to be better after I've gone somewhere.

While it's nothing special, there's often small walks around cliffs pretty much anywhere, often with some pretty nice views. Here's an anecdote of my geeky ways.

I was wandering up a hill on a path five feet wide, not enough room to walk two people due to the fact to your right is a fall through about fifty meters of scrub into a river if someone gets bumped. to your left is a steep embankment that you'd need a decent amount of luck to get up with no skill (DC 13) Everywhere is trees and scrub, and you walk up and down natural steps, basically hopping from one platform to another in case your foot gets caught int the little breaks in the path.

And I thought, "Jeez, if there was an adventuring wandering along this path..."




Fighting over lava is good. But I really try to make every place the characters go to a different one, and whatever attacks them isn't always the most dangerous problem.

Later that week, they were wandering along a treacherous mountain path in single file....

 

[der_kluge]

I'll second the use of pictures. I have a small collection of pictures of various terrains that, if the need arose, I could print off and say "this is what you see".

 

[TheAuldGrump]

A fractal terrain generator such as Vista Pro or Terragen can also be a huge asset. Most allow you to modify the terrain, which will enable you to create realistic views of in game terrain. Or, for those who are less particular, just pick a picture that looks about right.

The Auld Grump

 

[The Shaman]

I find that my descriptive passages tend to be better after I've gone somewhere.

Yep - lot and lots of places I've visited make it into my games.

Fighting over lava is good.

Now I haven't gone that far personally...

 

[D-rock]

Once in a while I will draw a picture. About half way through it, I always find stuff that I should add. Not only does it let you think about discripions, sometimes you will think of stuff that should be there, but you never would of though about had you just imagined the place in your head. You don't have to be a great artist either, sometimes a simple sketch will give you insperation. If you are a good artist, well then, you have something as a bonus to show your players.

 

[Ogrork the Mighty]

The problem with 2D maps is that they often don't emphasize different levels of terrain well enough, especially slopes.

I've been toying with the idea of getting a small box/bin (maybe shoe-box size) and filling it with a couple inches of dirt (I thought about sand/gravel at first, but they won't hold shapes as well and I don't want to be adding water). I'd then use it as a 3D aid to show players what the terrain really looks like (e.g. the hills and valleys of elevation, where the river is, where bluffs/plateaus are located, sight lines, etc.). I don't want it to become too large and bulky, and obviously I wouldn't take it with me on the road, but for games at home it might be a neat idea to convey what terrain really looks like.

Good thread. This is something I've been having problems with as well. Especially when the party is going into the mountains and says "Oh, mountains. No big deal, my Climb check is good"...