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Message: <blockquote data-quote="OnlineDM" data-source="post: 5230319" data-attributes="member: 90804">Great input all around - thank you!  I'm taking notes.  <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":-)" title="Smile    :-)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":-)" />Festivus and jimmifett: Both of you said not to bother printing maps, just stick with Chessex mats.  Does the fact that I only own one Chessex mat make a difference?  I would have to erase and re-draw after each encounter.  Also, I personally like making maps in MapTool (see what I've come up with <a href="http://onlinedm.wordpress.com/2010/06/30/living-forgotten-realms-dm-preparation-maps/" target="_blank">here</a>), and I don't think it would be especially difficult or expensive to print them out in color (I already have card stock and a good color printer).  Is there a drawback of bringing printed maps like these that I haven't thought of?  Do players not like them?I should be in good shape with monster pogs and condition markers (little colored rubber bands), which I'm excited about.  I like the advice about pre-rolling initiative for the monsters and writing it down - good idea.I love the advice about monster behavior and role-playing opportunities to keep it fun.  I'll try to do as much of that as possible.Thanks so much!  Keep the advice coming, everyone!</blockquote>