Reply to thread

Message

<blockquote data-quote="Magus Coeruleus" data-source="post: 4097678" data-attributes="member: 1704">I DMed BECMI D&amp;D since junior high and moved to 3e when it came out.&nbsp; In all the years before 3e I did not use a grid and miniatures.&nbsp; It was all verbally described and the players trusted me to make quick, reasonable decisions on stuff like &quot;How many can I get in a Fireball?&quot;&nbsp; They could always argue the point within reason if they thought I was off-base.With 3e it seemed more important to use minis and a grid and at first I did that, but eventually both I and a fellow DM (he was a player in my game and I a player in his) wound up deciding on a case-by-case base whether a combat needed a grid or not.&nbsp; Whenever it wasn't necessary, things went much faster and it felt less like playing chess or a board game.&nbsp; We definitely preferred that.&nbsp; But when things were more complex, with many combatants, complex terrain, etc., we usually did use a grid because it was worth it to make sure everyone was on the same page in terms of location.&nbsp; Most often, this was for the big climactic battles where things were not only more complex but more deadly, so that people wanted to make sure they knew exactly where things were going on.My suggestion to you is to start out using the grid for all combats (but not outside of combat, as others have indicated is not necessary).&nbsp; After gaining some experience adjudicating combat, you should be able to get a feel for whether and when you can dispense with the grid (this will also depend on your players' attitudes).&nbsp; Maybe you will always want the grid (maybe we all will for 4e given the emphasis on shifts, slides, pulls, and movement related powers and attacks).&nbsp; Maybe you will never need or want it.&nbsp; Maybe you'll find that you can reserve it for climactic, complicated battles.In any event, good luck!</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Magus Coeruleus, post: 4097678, member: 1704"] I DMed BECMI D&D since junior high and moved to 3e when it came out. In all the years before 3e I did not use a grid and miniatures. It was all verbally described and the players trusted me to make quick, reasonable decisions on stuff like "How many can I get in a Fireball?" They could always argue the point within reason if they thought I was off-base. With 3e it seemed more important to use minis and a grid and at first I did that, but eventually both I and a fellow DM (he was a player in my game and I a player in his) wound up deciding on a case-by-case base whether a combat needed a grid or not. Whenever it wasn't necessary, things went much faster and it felt less like playing chess or a board game. We definitely preferred that. But when things were more complex, with many combatants, complex terrain, etc., we usually did use a grid because it was worth it to make sure everyone was on the same page in terms of location. Most often, this was for the big climactic battles where things were not only more complex but more deadly, so that people wanted to make sure they knew exactly where things were going on. My suggestion to you is to start out using the grid for all combats (but not outside of combat, as others have indicated is not necessary). After gaining some experience adjudicating combat, you should be able to get a feel for whether and when you can dispense with the grid (this will also depend on your players' attitudes). Maybe you will always want the grid (maybe we all will for 4e given the emphasis on shifts, slides, pulls, and movement related powers and attacks). Maybe you will never need or want it. Maybe you'll find that you can reserve it for climactic, complicated battles. In any event, good luck! [/QUOTE]

Verification