Miniatures, yay or nay?

[Pilgrim]

I like for my sessions to flow in an even pace, I don't mind having minis when they are used loosely to represent some situations taking place, but I don't want to play an RPG where minis are required or even expected for game play.

 

[Pentius]

I do have to wonder what games require minis. I don't think I've ever played one where the book told you, "And you need these minis. No ifs, ands, or buts." As for games that 'require' minis, the way later editions of D&D 'require' them, I don't think that's a big thing, since it's so subjective. As I mentioned upthread(last page now maybe, is that still upthread?), I 'require' minis for just about any game.

 

[billd91]

You can put me down as one of the people who think minis can add to a game experience but should not be required.

 

[SnowleopardVK]

I can't afford minis. Well, I suppose I could if I didn't spend my leisure savings on rulebooks, but then I'd just have minis and no books to use them with.

 

[baradtgnome]

We have used miniatures, or at least some token representation of character position, in most of our games going back to pre 1st edition. We prefer the battlefield visualization. However, I am somewhat troubled by the thought of a game 'requiring' them.

Don't have the patience or skill to paint them myself, but I will admire and compliment others handiwork.

 

[S'mon]

I like games that don't need minis, and they are the games I play online - I prefer simple PBP/PBEM/IRC to the online visualisation software that minis-based games require.

I like 4e D&D which requires minis (or counters/chits etc). I like acquiring and using minis. I don't find it detracts from roleplay, and will sometimes use them outside combat to aid in visualising a scene. In particular they can help players focus on which & how many NPCs they are talking to. I don't normally find using minis a pain, however I find Dungeon Tiles very hard to use and have not used them recently, relying instead on Paizo flipmats & a marker pen.