Theater of the Mind and VTTs: Oh Brave New World...

[Cergorach]

Using Theater of the Minds and art/images is a bit contrary imho. But I get you want to get away from the tactical combat element. I get that, while we use tactical combat in our D&D 5e game, I do want to use more images as the thing we're looking at instead of constantly a combat map.

As you're already familiar with Foundry, have you looked at Scenescapes?

Again, more work then a static image, but something different from a combat map...

Also landing pages are more interesting for times between two images/scenes, like this:

 

[Thomas Shey]

I suspect for some people, "Theater of the Mind" is more about managing all the action in their heads than not having any extent visuals at all.

 

[aramis erak]

I much prefer mapless play if I'm forced to be behind a (computer) screen. It's so much easier for everyone to just imagine what the GM says, instead of listening to what the GM says, and then waiting for what happens on the VTT to match it perfectly, and then debating why it doesn't.

Not everyone can visualize. (Seriously - I’ve a friend with aphantasia, and I know of a few without a total who cannot envisage from TotM play.)

 

[Thomas Shey]

Not everyone can visualize. (Seriously - I’ve a friend with aphantasia, and I know of a few without a total who cannot envisage from TotM play.)

That's what I referred to earlier. My ability to keep track of positioning and the like in my head approaches the nonexistent.

 

[LordEntrails]

Consider using a range chart rather than a map. It's kind of like a swim-lane diagram. Enemies on one side and party on the other with just a few "zones" like "Far", "Ranged", "Melee", "Melee", "Ranged", Far".

 

[Thomas Shey]

Consider using a range chart rather than a map. It's kind of like a swim-lane diagram. Enemies on one side and party on the other with just a few "zones" like "Far", "Ranged", "Melee", "Melee", "Ranged", Far".

That's fine if you don't care about terrain at all.

 

[GMMichael]

Not everyone can visualize. (Seriously - I’ve a friend with aphantasia, and I know of a few without a total who cannot envisage from TotM play.)

It's a good thing that I went on, in the same post, to recommend showing a map briefly when players have problems.

That's fine if you don't care about terrain at all.

Terrain doesn't cease to exist just because it's not on a map.

 

[Thomas Shey]

Terrain doesn't cease to exist just because it's not on a map.

Great if everyone can keep track of it without one, and that poster had made that comment right after I mentioned that, so....

 

[LordEntrails]

That's fine if you don't care about terrain at all.

Great if everyone can keep track of it without one, and that poster had made that comment right after I mentioned that, so....

I think the take-away from this discussion is that different tools and processes work differently for different groups. If detailed battle maps don't work for your group and you want more TotM like the OP, then my suggestion is aimed at them. If you don't like TotM, then my suggestions certainly wouldn't be for you.

 

[aramis erak]

I think the take-away from this discussion is that different tools and processes work differently for different groups. If detailed battle maps don't work for your group and you want more TotM like the OP, then my suggestion is aimed at them. If you don't like TotM, then my suggestions certainly wouldn't be for you.

It’s not even a matter of like/don’t like for some, it’s can’t do TotM due to specific brain disfunctions, either memory or visualization.