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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Sword of Spirit" data-source="post: 7504144" data-attributes="member: 6677017">I'm uncertain which I prefer. In my experience, doing ToTM the way I like it done is harder, but it requires a lot less prep and can be slightly faster.If I could, I'd do all ToTM. The problem comes in making sure that the scene everyone is visualizing is sufficiently similar to work well for everyone. I'm just as irritated as the players when it comes up that I didn't describe some element as clearly as I thought I had and now I have to step my description back a couple of steps to see where I lost them.One of the things I want to do (though I have a hard time remembering it a lot of the time) is describe things in terms of a character's "move" or "dash" or short/long range of their ranged weapon instead of using feet and such. I think that can help the players ask less questions before acting. The more questions that get asked before acting, the less well I feel like I've done my job of describing things adequately.One thing I do in ToTM is assume intelligent positioning decisions. If a player can make it somewhere without taking an opportunity attack, then I assume they do. If they can move forward, shoot, and then step back to get something into short range, I'll assume they do, or let them know that they can do that if there is a reason they may prefer not to.A difficulty on the DM side is that my mental map is of necessity going to be more complex than theirs, because I am a visual thinker and a map in my head isn't optional. This can slow things down a bit, since I do have a rough idea about how many feet things are relative to each other, even if the player don't need the exact numbers.So, the specifics of how it works out at my table are rather complex. I default to ToTM, which I'm always trying to refine, and I use a map when there is a set encounter in some sort of dungeon-like environment.</blockquote>

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