Minis and Grids, do you use them?

[ThirdWizard]

I use minis in my campaign because I don't want mommy and daddy to fight anymore.

Best reason ever. XD

I use the battlemat for non-combat situations. Using a dry erase board means I can draw (or have a player draw) an interesting area, have the PCs move about the area and encourage them to tell me where they're standing and why. It encourages everyone to interact with the area more, especially anyone who is normally shy and just hangs in the background in situations where their PC isn't well defined/integrated.

For certain areas (like dungeons and other such areas) it can add some ambiance as I use five or six colored markers and draw out various things; it encourages me to never have a "generic" area and to always add something interesting and different, even if unimportant, to the map.

Lastly, battlemats are fun.

EDIT: The trick is to describe the area while drawing it out. You can't draw it out and then describe it, and you can't describe it then draw it out. The first makes the PCs draw conclusions about the area and dilutes your descriptions, IMO. The second way leads to inattention of the players while you draw it out, IMO. You gotta be able to learn to draw while talking about it for full effect.

 

[Rodrigo Istalindir]

I'm surprised - but I guess we're different. I run D20 Modern, and the characters who use melee outnumber those who use firearms.

We don't play d20 Modern when I do 'modern'. Historically, we've used systems with high levels of lethality where firearms are involved (eg Aftermath, Recon, etc). Melee comes into play (sneaky knife attacks, for instance), but in most stand-up fights, you either shoot first, take cover, or die. Closing to melee range doesn't come up often.

 

[the Jester]

Almost but not quite always.

 

[the Lorax]

I have been using minis and a battle mat for about 7 years now.
That being said, recently I've been running some sessions without referance to the mat and minis as a method of speeding things along especially when the enemy is a single, opponent or there is a signifigant difference between the characters level and their enemies (ie mopping up the weenies).

 

[sniffles]

If I had my way the table would be covered with minis on a mat, the right mini for every monster/NPC, and props for everything else from trees to inn furniture.

But I realize that this can slow things down and also block the view for players unless they want to stand up all the time, so I accept that some scenes will just be described verbally.

I'm with Fusangite, though. I just can't keep an accurate mental map, or at least not one that will agree with the mental maps of all the other players. I think minis do a lot to decrease confusion when our mental maps don't match.

 

[Agamon]

I've been using 'minis & grids' ever since I started playing the game 22 years ago. The eraly years were mostly me raiding my parents' board games for game tokens to use as minis. The grid was sometimes a plain table with a ruler for measuring distances, but I had a friend that had a table permanently grided out, too.

Now I have hundreds of pewter and plastic minis, and I'm working on my 3rd battlemat. I'd love to get my hands on a set of Tac-Tiles, but the company that sells them doesn't ship to Canada.

 

[Jeremy E Grenemyer]

I use them for big fights or complex placements only, not by default

I use mini’s and a grid because it’s proven to be a practical approach that keeps play going, keeps “you’re in range/no I’m not” arguments away from the table, makes combats more fun and is very easy to implement.

I have been and continue to be fortunate enough to have several friends who enjoy painting miniatures, have huge minis collections and are nice enough to lend minis to the games they participate in. They’ll even custom paint figures to fit the characters in the group, which is cool.

So I’ve used mini’s and some form of a grid to simulate big battles, small battles, chase scenes, etc.. since minis and grids were available.

For as long as I’ve been gaming, all but one DM I’ve gamed with regularly uses miniatures.

J. Grenemyer

 

[Pants]

They can pry my 3.0 cover and concealment chart out of my cold, dead hand.

This shouldn't be long... since you're not using the most current rule set, the WotC police will be beating down your door, in 5, 4, 3, 2....

 

[Brottor Dankil]

I've been using 'minis & grids' ever since I started playing the game 22 years ago. The eraly years were mostly me raiding my parents' board games for game tokens to use as minis. The grid was sometimes a plain table with a ruler for measuring distances, but I had a friend that had a table permanently grided out, too.

Now I have hundreds of pewter and plastic minis, and I'm working on my 3rd battlemat. I'd love to get my hands on a set of Tac-Tiles, but the company that sells them doesn't ship to Canada.

They do sell Tact-Tiles to Canada, as well as many other countries as indicated on their website "Contact Us" page. And from what I understand from some of the message traffic in the past, they have at least one FLGS in Canada. You may want to email them and ask.

 

[Arnwyn]

We always use a grid, and have always done so even in previous editions.

We don't, however, follow to the letter of mini/grid rules found in the 3.5 books (3.5 cover/concealment, silly "lines", and space - I'm looking at you!).