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Message: <blockquote data-quote="jsaving" data-source="post: 5929284" data-attributes="member: 16726">Depends on what you mean by "running a game."  There are certainly lots of Diablo-type campaigns that focus primarily on tactical combat and can't readily function without a battle mat.  But there are also a lot of campaigns that focus primarily on role-playing and are happy to resolve combat at a slightly more abstract level than the battle mat, because they just don't care about exact tactical placement and don't want to get bogged down in those details.  Preferring the first style doesn't make you a bad DM by any means, and you should use a battle mat whenever it helps you and your players to have more fun around the gaming table.  But those who don't want or need a battle mat are also not bad DMs/players, and I think the hope is that 5e will provide more support for their playstyle than 4e did.</blockquote>