D&D 4E So who is going to measure distances in 4E rather than use the grid?

[Davelozzi]

We mostly eyeball it but will break out a ruler if its handy and there is a reason. I will continue to do this in 4e. The only time we generally use a grid is if we are using a pre-printed map or my Dwarven Forge pieces, which are come gridded.

 

[Pygon]

At one point in 2e I used to measure distances, but ultimately, in complex fights, a grid helps me figure out exactly where AoO's occur and what fireballs engulf, etc.

 

[Woas]

I've always wanted to go gridless. Give the players a string that was the equivalent of the characters move speed so they could measure out distance, even around objects by bending the string. It would also be cool to get a plastic disk of some sort that were 3' diameter wide. Place the mini in the center of it and anyone moving through the disk is in the AoO range. I guess that works for small/medium creatures. You would need larger disks for bigger creatures.
Do they sell gridless wet-erase battlemats?

 

[frankthedm]

Do they sell gridless wet-erase battlemats?

YES! It is called Upholstery Vinyl. Available at just about any fabric store by the yard in varying colors. Holds up better than the chesses mats to red wet erease marker too!

 

[Woas]

YES! It is called Upholstery Vinyl. Available at just about any fabric store by the yard in varying colors. Holds up better than the chesses mats to red wet erease marker too!

I did some searchs on the net... found this site selling PreFixx stuff. ANd guess what, It's urine stain resistent! MUST BUY!!!

 

[Tarek]

The grid is a convenience that makes things faster to draw on the battlemat and quicker for movement.

I'd have no problem getting rid of the grid and just going to the freeform movement typical in wargames, but it would drastically increase my prep time and the amount of money I spend on scenery, since I now have to either draw out/print out large maps ahead of time, or spend money on stuff like Dwarven Forge's tilesets, or make my own terrain from foamcore, glue, and flocking.

If I had the time and the money, I'd do it.

 

[Varianor Abroad]

The grid is a convenience that makes things faster to draw on the battlemat and quicker for movement....or make my own terrain from foamcore, glue, and flocking.

Making your own terrain is awesome even if you still use the grid! I like to make pieces that I still put down on the grid for three-dimensional effect. Having squares to count is often handier than reading a ruler or getting people mucking about with strings. So I'm gonna keep my Tact-Tiles, but still measure off distances and whatnot with rulers and strings when it makes play faster.

 

[Ranger REG]

[IMaGel]http://img520.imageshack.us/img520/176/nogridgm5.png[/IMaGel]
Ever since 2E, my group tended not to use the grid much, we'd use it to eyeball short distances, but we usually reached for a ruler rather than counting squares. Small critters took up 20mm, larger critters took up whatever thier base was, etc... It happens in almost every game we play and I wonder who else plays like this? And will your group continue to ignore the grid and measure into 4E?

No-grid is better than square grid.

Square grid is better than hex grid.

Sometimes we eyeball if it is a short distance. Oftentimes we'll use a ruler (or a soft measuring tape used by tailors and seamstress) to measure long distance (like when charging). The mini's base is important and should be according to one's facing or face (see PHB). For no-grid, I prefer circular base.

 

[Klaus]

I'll definitely stick with a grid--a *hex* grid!

BTW, I don't suppose that your counter set is downloadable?

You can buy Counter Collection Digital, with over 2000 unique counter images from Fiery Dragon Productions.