Combat without a Battlegrid [Archive] - Wizards Community

Combat without a Battlegrid [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Romulus LoneWolf
02-11-07, 05:31 PM Just wondering.. Is it at all possible to play D&D's combat system without using a battlegrid?
Millenia
02-11-07, 06:03 PM It is possible, especially with online gaming where you can scroll up. However, in my opinion, it is always a good idea to have at least some sort of map, especially with battles involving mobs.
AT-AT Assault
02-11-07, 08:05 PM Are you talking about not having a drawn out map or not using the concept of squares to dictate combat? Personally I'd like to try measuring out distance, like you'd find in some minis games.
Millennium
02-11-07, 08:29 PM If you're talking about using no map at all, it's certainly possible: this is the way it was done in 2e. I don't know of any official rules that have been published for it in 3e, though.

I've been playing with ideas for a mapless system to speed up very minor combats. My current concept still requires minis or some other abstract tokens, but only as mnemonic devices: instead of moving them on a map you arrange them in groups ('Circles' as I call them). Two creatures in the same circle are in melee range of each other, and two creatures in different circles are not in melee range of each other. Movement just involves going from one circle to another, or breaking away from all of them to start a new circle.

It's still half-baked at this point, and I don't ever intend to replace all or even most of my combats with this system: I prefer tactical combat, and intend to use it for most things. But sometimes you just need something quick and dirty.
bartleby42
02-11-07, 10:40 PM As Millennium stated this was the case in 2nd ed, but it really isn't better, it just adds more axioms to the game.

Now instead of the main axiom being "Every invoker rolls less than average damage"

You get "The fighter's inititive is always too low to count."

Due to the lack of manuvering once combat begins everyone charges and can reach, attacks of oppertunity are pretty much gone, and flanking is a hit and miss. If you really want to go ahead, if you just lack suppiles used graph paper and tictacs.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Romulus LoneWolf 02-11-07, 05:31 PM	Just wondering.. Is it at all possible to play D&D's combat system without using a battlegrid?
Millenia 02-11-07, 06:03 PM	It is possible, especially with online gaming where you can scroll up. However, in my opinion, it is always a good idea to have at least some sort of map, especially with battles involving mobs.
AT-AT Assault 02-11-07, 08:05 PM	Are you talking about not having a drawn out map or not using the concept of squares to dictate combat? Personally I'd like to try measuring out distance, like you'd find in some minis games.
Millennium 02-11-07, 08:29 PM	If you're talking about using no map at all, it's certainly possible: this is the way it was done in 2e. I don't know of any official rules that have been published for it in 3e, though. I've been playing with ideas for a mapless system to speed up very minor combats. My current concept still requires minis or some other abstract tokens, but only as mnemonic devices: instead of moving them on a map you arrange them in groups ('Circles' as I call them). Two creatures in the same circle are in melee range of each other, and two creatures in different circles are not in melee range of each other. Movement just involves going from one circle to another, or breaking away from all of them to start a new circle. It's still half-baked at this point, and I don't ever intend to replace all or even most of my combats with this system: I prefer tactical combat, and intend to use it for most things. But sometimes you just need something quick and dirty.
bartleby42 02-11-07, 10:40 PM	As Millennium stated this was the case in 2nd ed, but it really isn't better, it just adds more axioms to the game. Now instead of the main axiom being "Every invoker rolls less than average damage" You get "The fighter's inititive is always too low to count." Due to the lack of manuvering once combat begins everyone charges and can reach, attacks of oppertunity are pretty much gone, and flanking is a hit and miss. If you really want to go ahead, if you just lack suppiles used graph paper and tictacs.