Maybe battlemaps aren't so bad...

[nameless]

I'm definitely pro-battlemat. For one, it cuts down on a lot of "Can I do this?" questions. With a representation of the battle scene, the players know exactly where everyone is, and can see where there might be cover, hazards, etc. In addition to added clarity, the battlemat also adds another layer of tactics.

There's nothing inherent to a battlemat that forces the game into wargame-mode. If you want to move your mini 5 squares, you can still declare a "A breakneck charge, ending with a leap and overhead cleave of my axe." The only difference a mat provides is that you know where you start and end your action.

 

[Sanackranib]

battlemats

I started using a battlemat back in 1e. it was the only way to end those pesky "my character isn't over there" when somthing bad happens there arguements.

 

[barsoomcore]

Sign me up for the Battlemat Rally!

But what I REALLY love are those poster-size maps Dungeon magazine has started shipping, with the grid scale and the enivronment printed right on them. #97 has a generic street with alleys and barrels and rooftops... I can hardly wait for next session!

I've started creating my own battlemat supplements -- house interiors done with a 1" grid so I can draw the terrain on the mat and then slap the house down. Saves me having to draw all the interior walls and stuff.

For example, here's one everyone can use: