Would you be interested in a compromise to the miniatures-centric combat of D&D?

[Victim]

Most of it is fairly straightforward. For example, if a human attacks a non-flat footed ogre with a weapon that doesn't have reach, the ogre gets an AoO. You don't need a map to know that.

Unless you were close enough to 5 ft step or were using Tumble which reduces your speed.

 

[Squire James]

My guess is that a less rules-intense miniature combat system is possible, but it's REAL HARD not to tweak it until it looks like the current D&D system. For instance, I feel there is a need to restrict certain actions:

1. Fighters shooting through small gaps in enemy lines to hit opposing wizards without restriction.

2. Wizards sneering at nearby targets and casting spells without restriction.

3. Archers sneering at nearby targets and full-attacking with arrows without restriction.

4. Reach weapons being completely useless.

5. Drinking potions or performing some other delicate operation without restriction in the middle of melee.

And this is just the stuff tied to Attacks of Opportunity...

 

[HellHound]

Until I quit playing D&D last month, we ran D&D3e without minis, and without 'abstracting' the combat system. I've jumped into this discussion a hundred times before, but it is my experience that with good adjudication you can run a fight scene in 3e completely in your head, or if all else fails using a 3 inch scrap of paper and a pencil. Including the wonders of AoOs, flanking, range, reach and so on.

 

[Aaron L]

We use a piece of graph paper in a plastic sleeve, and dry-erase markers to mark our positions. It goes fast and we don't have to spend thousands of dollars or waste our time with miniatures.