Which way of playing D&D is best? Theater of the mind (totm), battle mats, universal dungeon terrain (UDT), or 3D dungeon terrain?
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@BrewskiBarbarian
25.09.2024For D&D, full on terrain setups.
For Shadowdark, UDTs
For Call of Cthulhu, theater of the mind.
@boardsandstuff5008
25.09.2024I personally use board game components. Terrain from descdnt secon edition and legends in the dark, tiles and standees from league of dungeoneers, batlle systems as rhey can be folded flat easy to carry and pericle gathering darkness. Those cover most of my gaming needs. When in a pickle just print out some maps, laminate them and done.
@Alresu
25.09.2024I use battle maps (mostly digital ones^^) most of the time, even if there is no combat happening. Theatre of the mind is not a great option for people with aphantasia, I guess…
@Tysto
25.09.2024I grew up playing B, X, 1e, & 2e. We played TotM & with minis on battlemats, but the minis were just for visualizing spaces & relationships. We never counted squares or used a straightedge to determine if you could shoot someone.
That’s partly because the game before 3e used movement almost entirely to measure progress down a corridor. You could move 120 feet in 1 round—which was 1 minute—while checking for traps & secret doors.
Think about it: you can rush anywhere you want in a dungeon chamber in a few seconds. There’s no point counting squares.
@paulfreeman7389
25.09.2024Use each in escalation as the story goes. TotM for a burglary, Battle maps for group fights, 3D for BBEG fights
@tonyfox45
25.09.2024Word for the wise on Chessex Battle Maps.
1. They have a really nasty habit of having "ghosting" occur, especially when you use dry erase. The colors will often stay on the map, even after cleaning them off. You can mitigate this by using wet erase markers (bought mine at Staples, but Amazon and/or any art store should have them) BUT even these will leave marks if you leave them on for very long at all.
2. You can't "clean" these maps very well. I tried using rubbing alchol and also in an extreme case, nail polish remover (yeah, I was desperate) and the Alcohol didn't really do much (dry erase) and (not surprisingly) the nail polish remover actually took ALL of the color (grid & brown coloring) off the mat.
3. IF you end up going this route: they are actually not hard to create a case for since they roll up. You can go the high-end route and purchase an architect's case. (~$50) OR you can run down to Home Depot, pick up a short section of PVC pipe and a couple end caps. Cut to length, glue one cap on (super glue works fine, just be fairly liberal with the application of the glue) and leave the other cap unglued. For those who love painting their miniatures, you can easily sand the PVC (wear a mask) and paint to your hearts content. I've created 4 of these for my players. 2 I made to look like wood w/ brass caps, 1 I made look like the bone from a animal (the player is a big barbarian fan), 1 I made look like a galaxy with planets, comets and meteors. (Watch any of the Black Magic Miniatures for painting techniques…I'm not a miniature painter…but I can faux most things up.) Total cost…~$10-12 if you have the paint materials already. If not, could go up to $25-30 depending on how crazy you want to go. Pro-tip- use a plastic primer ($3 at any good hardware store) and then use acrylic and a a couple clear coats of laquer to protect the paint, otherwise it'll chip like crazy (unless that's the look your going for…)
Just a heads up for those that are interested.
@pluggedfinn-bj3hn
25.09.2024The dnd I've played we used a Go board as a battlemap, the stones for walls etc. and then random game pieces (iirc some mahjong tiles) for different characters.
Had them at the place we went to play at already available so didn't need anything more transportable (although, I do have a leather Go mat)
@mat5320
25.09.2024Using maps and minis and exact distances really pulls me out of the game world and makes me play a board game instead. So usually it's "theater of the mind" or abstract distances/zones for me.
@SgtScourge
25.09.2024How about using digital maps in person?
@richardkirkland6805
25.09.2024The thing about Dungeon Terrain, you can make it youself. There are a lot of D&D craft channels that focus on making affordable D&D terrain that looks good, is playable, and easy to use. My favorite is RP Archive, who uses a modular system for his builds, which is designed to be reused over, and over, and over again. He also makes terrain that's more realistic, such as water that's below the bank line, and rolling hills that are actually realistically sized.
@richardkirkland6805
24.09.2024The thing about Dungeon Terrain, you can make it youself. There are a lot of D&D craft channels that focus on making affordable D&D terrain that looks good, is playable, and easy to use. My favorite is RP Archive, who uses a modular system for his builds, which is designed to be reused over, and over, and over again. He also makes terrain that's more realistic, such as water that's below the bank line, and rolling hills that are actually realistically sized.
@DragonDM369
24.09.2024Battlemats are king forreal. Ive played every way UDT and all…..although it looks cool ifs way easier to get up and scribble something with a marker
@TheOneAndOnlyTotti
24.09.2024"left their brain home – it does happen" 😅😂🤣
Made my day, thanks 😆😄😁
@thetabletopskirmisher
24.09.2024For actual minis and terrain… Yeah if it's only for D&D then making and storing it is a hassle.
But if you also play tabletop minis games … Instant win-win 😊
@GrunkyMcSaucy
24.09.2024I use theater of the mind when the encounter is small or the terrain isn't import, like one monster in an open field or a couple bandits along a road. I use mats for generic encounters or when there is a terrian obstacle that is important (like a broken bridge or a ravine.) I use tiles Dungeon crawls (building the combat rooms as we go). I use 3d modules for dramatic fights. Boss battles or a big set piece. If I'm going to do something showmanshipy like mess with the lighting I'll use full terrain models.
@Dyundu
24.09.2024I have always held that the best way to run D&D is the way that is immersive enough for your group, easiest enough for you to use, and least expensive for everyone involved.
@floydputnam1999
24.09.2024So tired of videos about "the best…" what is best is what ever works for you and your players. In short… THERE IS NO BEST OPTION! and every video like this reiterates this. So can we just call this horse dead and leave it be.
@kallisata1895
24.09.2024The 3D terrain looks really cool, but it has made my games a living hell. I feel enslaved to them. I changed to using battle maps with pictures I print at home, which is much more fun and easier to run. It saves so much time and space. Now, I'm stuck with my terrain, trying to sell it all. XD
@koppadasao
24.09.2024What nation is the imagi nation?
@DXTheGamer
24.09.2024I use modular terrain for the dungeons and the tavern, It's very cheap for me because I draw my own characters, monsters, PC's and terrain in blender, plus I print/craft them at home for cheap!
For large areas like fields, woods or other larger areas or just exploration , I have a TV inside an enclosure I made to put on top of the table with an acrylic piece n top so it wont get damaged.
So basically I use most of the options listed besides UDT, since me and my friends run our games at my house due to having more space and noise isn't much of a concern.
And no I don't go to conventions because in my country, they are too expensive to enter WHEN THEY HAPPEND which is almost never!
@2OldGeeksTalking
23.09.2024We use Dungeon Terrain. Since we don't get together more than once a month it gives plenty of time for awesome designs.
@johnnyrebel4real166
23.09.2024"Combat in Totm is faster" good luck having a fight vs 15 goblins and remembering where everyone is and the damage done
@RandomGuyOnYoutube601
23.09.2024We are just starting but so far I just print out the maps, cut the paper and then add pieces on the table as the players explore the dungeon.
@Gnarlf
23.09.2024I used to play a lot of Vampire the Masquerade and Werewolf Apocalypse. There we always played with theatre of the mind.
However when I got to play DnD for the first time, I got killed almost instantly by a fireball from a friend, because he had no idea, that I would be in the blast radius.
I'm convinced, that wouldn't have happend, if we had a map at our disposal.
Ever since then I'm a strong proponent of using at least a battlemat.
That kinda resulted in me going, … a bit overboard, when I started to dm myself.
My players enjoy the 3d terrain, that I print/build for them and I tremendously enjoy to do so myself.
Since I made it modular, we ended up using it in other campaigns as well.
@ceetee2001
23.09.20243d terrain for boss battles or specific key battle scenes. Battle mats for everything else. Only play at my house.
@Insert_Bland_Name_Here
23.09.2024I personally prefer stuff like Battle Mats, or pre-made high-quality Maps. I'm not a good artist myself, so drawing out a dungeon by hand is less ideal for me, but I'll do it if I can't find a good map online that semi-accurately depicts the scene I have in mind.
@slycooperscane
23.09.2024UDT doesnt really make sense to me since couldn't you just always stay in the ranged circle. Since that makes you immune to melee damage. If you do go to the melee circle your not guaranteed to be able to melee since the enemy doesnt need to go inside the circle.
@evilstratton
23.09.2024My opinion: I don’t think there is a single best method as, each is method is useful for specific situations. I’ve found that scatter terrain is super useful with battle mats / Cheeses mats. It can provide obstacles, elevation, interesting features, etc. I would sumise that a mix of options provides the greatest flexibility for gameplay. Ultimately, it boils down to what is the method most compatible with the DM’s comfort and style.
@AidenGreen-re5tj
23.09.2024man, imagine leaving your brain at home before your dnd session 💀
@dungeonview1143
23.09.2024My preference depends on the table. At ome table I have a guy who's prone to teleporting so battle mats for them I have another table that is more fluid in combat so mind theater is the way to go
@bradleypotts9865
20.09.2024I use a Chessex battle mat with paper minis. The minis are becoming an issue because they are super cheap and east to make, so I have way more than I have anyplace to keep them. Bowls of them, boxes of them, bags of them. Finding the ones I want becomes an issue. The PCs are buried someplace in this bag of 120 draconians I swept up off the table last week… I'll try and go through and pull out the ones I am most likely to need before a session, but if the players go someplace unexpected, I may be digging through the stacks to find that monster I hadn't prepulled. A lot of mapping is done on the mat. Dungeon layouts or outdoor maps are often sketched out by me or the players right on the the mat, often to be wiped off because a big chunk of mat is needed for a combat all of a sudden or a different game is played between sessions. Player beware if you are relying on that DM draw map on the mat, because it might go away. I provide the players with a pad of graph paper. Their fault if they fail to take notes.
@patricianorwood1075
20.09.2024For years the group I played with, because of financial consideration only played theater of the mind, occasionally someone had a mini for their characters. Recently I made a couple of those udt things and we are going to invest in miniatures and perhaps some like battle mats as well. It makes visualization easier in the middle of battle.
@corbinyoung5997
20.09.2024Then there’s me, who uses my Lego for dnd minis and terrain XD
@AJHaydenTV
20.09.2024I like to scribble out a map and just kind point, like "yeah, the three goblins are grouped up over here and you are in this other corner, behind a table." Then I don't bother with the map after that, I just leave it there in case someone wants visual aid.
@notgerheinz
20.09.2024Sorry, I usually like your take on things, but this one had a click-bait-ey title (I should have known better) and no real content. Unsub. Though I appreciate it is hard to come up with fresh and interesting things. And btw, you missed a fifth option, which is drawing free-style on a whiteboard, which lies somewhere between battle maps and theater of the mind.
@PhantomPhoton
20.09.2024UDT assumes combat between many players and a single opponent. It breaks down as soon as you introduce group combat or multiple opponents. Fighting five goblins? Better hope those goblins have some sort of tactical reason to stay grouped together in the center of your UDT. It's def useful in some instances, but I think people focus on strengths without ever acknowledging the weaknesses.
@KorumEmrys
20.09.2024There Is No "Best Way". I don't have many minis so most of my game has been Theater Of The Mind for 49 years now as DM. I do use the minis I have with other figures on a battle map, graph pads, and hex pads. I also use score of photos of landscapes with additional verbal descriptions.
@sheldonisnumberone
20.09.2024Can you imagine playing chess with theater of the mind.
@mikepalmer2219
20.09.2024It’s a balance and one is not better than the other.
@PatrickOMulligan
20.09.2024It all depends on the type of game I am playing. CoC for example is best with theatre of the mind.
@nothomelessonyoutube
18.09.2024I feel like the best games have three or all four of these things. A mat with just some terrain will look crazy to new players. You will also always need some theater of the mind.
@JeffDrennen
18.09.2024Theater of the mind works best for horror.
@JeffDrennen
18.09.2024I put UDT in what I call Implied representative role playing . Were Battle maps, terrain, and models I would call direct representative role playing.
@brewski4758
18.09.2024Cheap alterntive to mini's
Print out on card token icons. Cut them out and then use card stands to have them stand up.
@Subject_Keter
18.09.2024I like battle maps and "i dont got art degree and here a map" sketch up.
@ho8ojoe8
18.09.2024I really don't like theatre of the mind, in my last campaign the dm would randomly decide this combat will be theatre of the mind because it shouldn't be very difficult. He then lines is all up and hits us all with a breath or line attack
@hggpi
18.09.2024i usually run theater of the mind then i sketch something in roll 20 for combat just to calculate range.
Digital maps just take years to set up and find on the internet, or at least they mostly dont fit.
@RickBomhof
18.09.2024the problem with my players is that some of them can't imagine that well and really need to have visual representations in order to stay focussed on the game. Like they want to do strategic planning and hide and sneak and want to know how far they can shoot things and so on. So my solution is that i do the entire story and dungeons in our minds with little DND battle maps from D&D's Dungeon Tiles, and for the big boss battles i craft my own big battlegrounds. Now, for the mini's its more difficult.. perhaps i'll order some from Etsy or something..
@arnelarboleda2870
18.09.2024Theater of the mind is cool, it's all about ignoring the rules that you've paid for.
@theDMLair
18.09.2024⭐ CzePeku | Thousands of high-quality digital maps for your RPGs! Website: https://www.czepeku.com/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/czepeku
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