I usually do a hybrid myself. In situations where a map doesn't matter tactically (strolling through a new town, walking through the wilderness) I'll just give them a sketch map on paper so they can visually anchor what they're getting in their minds eye from verbal description.
If a combat starts or something important goes down where tactical layout becomes important, I use my trusty old Chessex wipeable map (have a hex version and square version) and sketch out the location they're in. That's again mostly for visualizing the encounter though - we don't slavishly play out combats as tactical miniature combats as if they were a wargame. Plays fast and well - most players I've DM'd need a visual reference point to make good decisions in a combat, and overall I've the reverse conclusion of the blog post - using sketch maps has all of the pros and none of the drawbacks of either pure tactical-to-scale mapping or no map at all.
"Map" does not mean "tactical event". But in the context of this repeated discussion, it often seems to be the assumption.
The only drawback for drawing things out is to the guy that's using the vagueness of Theater of the Mind to always be at the forefront of the action (at the expense of other players).
I usually do a hybrid myself. In situations where a map doesn't matter tactically (strolling through a new town, walking through the wilderness) I'll just give them a sketch map on paper so they can visually anchor what they're getting in their minds eye from verbal description.
ReplyDeleteIf a combat starts or something important goes down where tactical layout becomes important, I use my trusty old Chessex wipeable map (have a hex version and square version) and sketch out the location they're in. That's again mostly for visualizing the encounter though - we don't slavishly play out combats as tactical miniature combats as if they were a wargame. Plays fast and well - most players I've DM'd need a visual reference point to make good decisions in a combat, and overall I've the reverse conclusion of the blog post - using sketch maps has all of the pros and none of the drawbacks of either pure tactical-to-scale mapping or no map at all.
"Map" does not mean "tactical event". But in the context of this repeated discussion, it often seems to be the assumption.
ReplyDeleteThe only drawback for drawing things out is to the guy that's using the vagueness of Theater of the Mind to always be at the forefront of the action (at the expense of other players).