Hussar
Legend
Well, I would think that perfect information would include the relative distances of the combatants, the locations and relative distances of any features that could affect the combat, lighting effects, possible obscurement effects and the relative size and health of the combatants.
All of which should be present in either a verbal description of the scene or in a battlemap representation of it.
I know you keep going on about how different inputs will result in different experiences, and, to a degree, I agree with you. Playing an entirely verbal game or playing with a battle map will be a different experience. In the verbal game, I will sit passively while the DM describes the scene and then perhaps ask for clarification of various points. In a battle map game, I will sit passively while the DM describes the scene, draws the scene and places minis, and then perhaps ask for clarification of various points. So, yes, there's an extra step in there, so there is a difference.
However, that's not the point of this thread. The point of this thread is, will that difference, that extra step, somehow prevent or inhibit role play? To me, I think it's utterly ridiculous. Why should my playing suddenly change because I see a visual representation on a map that should correspond very closely to the verbal description the DM is providing?
So, yes, there is a difference in the experience. However, I deny the idea that it will have any effect on roleplay. Which has been my point all along.
All of which should be present in either a verbal description of the scene or in a battlemap representation of it.
I know you keep going on about how different inputs will result in different experiences, and, to a degree, I agree with you. Playing an entirely verbal game or playing with a battle map will be a different experience. In the verbal game, I will sit passively while the DM describes the scene and then perhaps ask for clarification of various points. In a battle map game, I will sit passively while the DM describes the scene, draws the scene and places minis, and then perhaps ask for clarification of various points. So, yes, there's an extra step in there, so there is a difference.
However, that's not the point of this thread. The point of this thread is, will that difference, that extra step, somehow prevent or inhibit role play? To me, I think it's utterly ridiculous. Why should my playing suddenly change because I see a visual representation on a map that should correspond very closely to the verbal description the DM is providing?
So, yes, there is a difference in the experience. However, I deny the idea that it will have any effect on roleplay. Which has been my point all along.