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Message: <blockquote data-quote="ExploderWizard" data-source="post: 4772021" data-attributes="member: 66434">This point is crucial and should be stamped on the brain in permenant ink. Nothing is worse for the feel of the game than: " You creep forward in the dark tunnel toward the sound of the the deep pounding noise. Just ahead, the tunnel opens into a huge cavern. In the center of the cavern, a large ziggurat rises above the floor. The place is lit by many torches along the walls. Standing in the cave are dozens of humanoids in hooded robes. Atop the ziggurat are several more robed humanoids. One of these humanoids is pounding on a large drum. " ...tension builds, dice are rolled............ " One of the humanoids on top of the ziggurat points in your direction!Roll for initiative!" The DM then proceeds to break out the marker, and sketch the cavern in exact detail. After this is done the miniature case is opened and he begans digging for suitable minis. Several players wander off to refill beverages and an involved conversation about the movie that just hit theaters begins. Fifteen minutes later the scene is set and the players refocus thier attention to the game...........gradually. The feel and the tension of the scene is lost.<img src="http://www.enworld.org/forum/images/smilies/cry.png"  class="smilie" loading="lazy" alt=":.-(" title="Cry    :.-(" data-shortname=":.-(" /> That scenario comes from personal experience and it sucks. I have had good results with the battlemat/plexiglass/prepared map combination of map tools. You can get a large pad of 1" square paper at most office supply stores. Use these to prepare detailed maps of known encounter areas before the session. You can make them as simple or complex as you feel like depending on available prep time. You can fold them up and store them in a folder. At the table you can put down your battle mat. Get a sheet of thin plexi-glass to lay over the mat. Most markers will work ok on plexi-glass. As an added benefit, it protects your mat in case a perm marker is used by mistake. I use the mat for ad-hoc drawing of things like random encounters. The best part is when you get to the planned encounter area, you can describe the scene, unfold your prepared map, and slide it under the plexi-glass. Your scene is instantly set in as much detail as you want. Having your minis pre-selected and kept in an easy to reach place means that the combat can be ready to go in under a minute. You can preserve all that drama that was building before the map came out. In general, I don't reveal a tactical map or break out minis until action that requires them starts. Nothing spoils a suprise encounter like having the players move minis on a map with no immediate danger present. Its like getting a megaphone and announcing a countdown to a trap or ambush. Its a good idea to get a set of standard marching orders from the party for narrow passages, standard movement, outdoor travel, ect. That way, when the action does start, you will have a good frame of reference to the initial positioning of the PC's.  Good luck and welcome!</blockquote>

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