Help with 3D underwater environment

[Diplomat123]

I'm planning an encounter which will take place underwater. The basic setup is the players are in a flooding Dungeon and have to swim out, fighting off some monsters and breaking down some doors to escape.

I have considered a skill challenge approach, but i really want to let the players show off their cool movement and combat abilities in a different environment. I am happy with how long they can breathe underwater, how some powers may work differently etc. The bit i am having difficulty with is how to display it on the battlemap.

Currently my best thought is to have the grid represent across in one direction and up in the other, and just fudge side to side movement. Has anyone got any brilliant thoughts on how to make this work more elegantly?

 

[webrunner]

I'm planning an encounter which will take place underwater. The basic setup is the players are in a flooding Dungeon and have to swim out, fighting off some monsters and breaking down some doors to escape.

I have considered a skill challenge approach, but i really want to let the players show off their cool movement and combat abilities in a different environment. I am happy with how long they can breathe underwater, how some powers may work differently etc. The bit i am having difficulty with is how to display it on the battlemap.

Currently my best thought is to have the grid represent across in one direction and up in the other, and just fudge side to side movement. Has anyone got any brilliant thoughts on how to make this work more elegantly?

Get some cheap wooden dowels, cut to various hights, glued onto discs, maybe? or a bunch of regular dowels with clamps or ledges at various heights?

if you want to get really elaborate get a tank of water and adjustable ballasts attached to each mini. If you can pull it off they'd go nuts.

That said, the easiest way is probably something like the dowels or hang them from adjustable strings or something.

edit: take a walk through the stationary, craft, and toy sections of a dollar store, you can get lots of crazy props and stuff for D&D purposes, you can probably find something there you can put together into somethin gto use for your underwater battle.

 

[Mesh Hong]

I don't know if this will help you but my group found the best (and easiest) approach was just to write down the height (in squares) that the creature was at on a small piece of paper and place it next to the miniature. That way when the creature changes height you can cross the number out and right in the new value.

We used that for flying and underwater situations.

 

[Tortoise]

I'm planning an encounter which will take place underwater. The basic setup is the players are in a flooding Dungeon and have to swim out, fighting off some monsters and breaking down some doors to escape.

I have considered a skill challenge approach, but i really want to let the players show off their cool movement and combat abilities in a different environment. I am happy with how long they can breathe underwater, how some powers may work differently etc. The bit i am having difficulty with is how to display it on the battlemap.

Currently my best thought is to have the grid represent across in one direction and up in the other, and just fudge side to side movement. Has anyone got any brilliant thoughts on how to make this work more elegantly?

I can offer this as a suggestion: These are things I'll be using when I run a large underwater encounter. The only one I have not yet purchased is the third one. This list is for folks that can afford and are willing to spend the money.

paizo.com - Combat Tiers Family Pack

http://paizo.com/store/gameAids/other/litkoAerosystems/fantasy/v5748btpy8fl2

ThinkGeek :: Multi-Color LED Lightbulb w/Remote

By mixing the individual Litko pieces with the larger combat tiers, you get a wide variety of 3d movement options, and using the LED multi-colored remote control lighting, you can set the mood (blue for underwater) when needed.

 

[Diplomat123]

thanks for the thoughts. I particularly like the idea of using a mini aquarium. Hmm, may put the players in diving helmets and make them hold their breath while it is their turn.