H1: DDM and Dungeon Tiles friendly? - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

H1: DDM and Dungeon Tiles friendly?

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
falcongk81
Apr 08, 2008 15:24:34 So, I've been away from D&D for a bit, but the news about 4e has gotten me excited about playing again. I am getting everyone fired up about it, and I'm going to pick up a copy of H1 and start running it ASAP.

I don't have any D&D Minis yet, and I have the first version of Dungeon Tiles. I'm thinking about buying some more of the Dungeon Tiles, and getting some minis to run the game with.

My question is this: Does anyone know if the H1 (and H2/H3/P1...) was designed with the Dungeon Tiles in mind? Will the maps in the book be Dungeon Tile friendly? I've had experience with mods in the past, and I bought the first set of Tiles, but then found that I just couldn't use them to do everything that I needed, and had to resort to my handy battlemat and markers. I'd love to be able to run the module with Dungeon Tiles, so I'd like to know if it was designed with the Tiles in mind, and if so, if there are specific sets I should look to pick up.

Likewise, is there any chance that we can get some tips on what types of D&D Minis to pick up for the monsters? I want to have the D&D minis, as I think they are beautiful, but I haven't been collecting them. So, I figured if I could get a head start ordering the ones that would be needed for the mod, that would be wicked awesome. I understand that this may go a little overboard in the spoiler department, so there may not be any info on this.

I don't know if this information is out there, and if it isn't, whether or not a WotC person can even comment on this, but I figured I'd ask. So WotC, if you're out there, I'd love to know how well Dungeon Tiles will work with H1 (and the others), which Tiles I should make sure to have if they were designed with DT in mind, and any info about Minis you can recommend. Thanks!
#2
tragicmagic
Apr 08, 2008 19:22:30 I can't say for certain whether the modules were designed specifically for use with the tiles, or vice versa, but I doubt it. My players and I, too, have been using a battlemat and markers, and they've worked well enough. Recently, I picked up the Dundjinni software, and it has helped tremendously with creating a visually striking game. You could use it to recreate battlemat sized wilderness and dungeon maps from those given in the modules. Dunjinni cost 40 bucks, which you could easily spend on just a few sets of dungeon tiles.

I also don't know what minis will be appropriate for the new modules, but I've got some advice on this, as well. Miniaturemarket.com sells individual minis from all of the sets, allowing you to buy the ones you need, rather than having to buy booster packs and hope for the best. Their prices are good and delivery is less than a week.

And as long as you're spending money like a madman, aleatools.com sells stackable, magnetic markers (1" diameter) of differing colors which make it easier to keep track of conditions. Bloodied (red), ongoing fire damage (orange), ongoing cold (blue), ongoing poison (green), etc. They come with thin metal disks which stick to the bottom of the minis, so they'll stay together in spite of handling and moving, and with a bottle of rubber cement, you can move the metal from mini to mini, as needed. If you're able to buy 'em, they'll be a huge help.

Nothing specific, but I hope this helped. And no, I don't work for any of the aforementioned companies or receive any type of kickbacks. Damn lobbyists.
#3
Phobos
Apr 08, 2008 19:35:27 Unless DDM 4.0 has changed from 3.5, and I'd bet my soul they have not, this is a futile wish.

DDM is RPG friendly, but only in so much as you can use monster x to pretend it's monster y, and "oh ya these 5 [monster name] are really [other monster name]"

I buy what I can and often in groups off ebay, but even some of the most common things are just not there. Because they are random and collectable, there is little chance you will normally find what you really need without spending a fortune and still substituting.

Now, after all that bashing, understand that I love the DDM, and try very hard to get what I need, but I wanted to give you a realistic approach to them and RPG.
#4
LFK
Apr 08, 2008 21:41:31 Tiles: this is a concern for me (I have lots of tiles) but at the same time we don't have to worry. It's coming with three (!) full colour poster maps.
#5
falcongk81
Apr 08, 2008 21:42:56 I've used a Battlemat for a long time, so I fully understand how awesome and user friendly they are. But I just LOVE the way the Dungeon Tiles work, ever since I got the first tiles at I've been dying to use them. The problem is that I haven't really used them to design my dungeons, I tend to draw the dungeons first. And once I do, I realize that the tiles aren't exactly friendly to what I've designed.

That is why I'm wondering if the writers of H1 used the Dungeon Tiles as they designed the adventure. It sure would be nice to be able to put these Tiles to use, as I think they are really great looking. So if Mearls, Cordell, or anyone else from WotC knows, I'd really like to know if the adventure was built to use the Tiles, and if so, which sets in particular, because I'm still missing one or two that I'd like to order if they are needed. By far my biggest question is whether or not the adventure modules were designed with Dungeon Tiles in mind. I'd really like that.

As far as the D&D minis go, for D&D RPG play they seem more player friendly than DM friendly. Most of the hero miniatures are relatively cheap from various websites (iconic characters like Drizzt and Raistlin and the such aside). I'm more interested in the monsters from a DM aspect, since I plan on running a 4e game starting with H1. In the past I've had many metal minis (Ral Partha and the like), but I just LOVE the way the DDM look, so I'd like to get into them. It would be nice if they could come up with a better entry system for D&D DMs, who just want 10x Goblin, 10x Orc, 10x Skeleton, etc. I'll go to a website and order any of the other monsters that I need as I need them, but it would make my life so much easier if they made a set of the "riff raff" monsters that I could easily get my hands on. Random Boosters works fine in a miniature war game, but not so much for RPG DMs.

Thanks for the reality check Phobos, I appreciate it. I guess I was just hoping that maybe WotC could come up with a system that would be more D&D RPG friendly. Also, assuming they are available for purchase (and not exorbitantly expensive) I wouldn't mind ordering up the D&D minis that I'll need for H1. I was wondering if we could maybe get some kind of advance notice on what type of minis would be useful.
#6
splotch
Apr 08, 2008 23:13:53 I can't comment on the miniature, but let me just reiterate and perhaps re-explain what LFK was trying to communicate about tiles. The adventure was not designed with any tiles in mind. Instead the adventure is being released with three double-sided poster maps that are appropriately scaled for miniatures. Therefore you do not need tiles. Just lay out the maps and the miniatures will fit right on them.
#7
falcongk81
Apr 09, 2008 9:19:57
I can't comment on the miniature, but let me just reiterate and perhaps re-explain what LFK was trying to communicate about tiles. The adventure was not designed with any tiles in mind. Instead the adventure is being released with three double-sided poster maps that are appropriately scaled for miniatures. Therefore you do not need tiles. Just lay out the maps and the miniatures will fit right on them.

Oh, I see. Well, while I'd like to have something to use my Tiles for, I'm sure the maps will be excellent.
#8
Chris_Moore
Apr 09, 2008 20:00:46
But I just LOVE the way the Dungeon Tiles work, ever since I got the first tiles at I've been dying to use them. The problem is that I haven't really used them to design my dungeons, I tend to draw the dungeons first. And once I do, I realize that the tiles aren't exactly friendly to what I've designed.

Perhaps you might be interested in trying Dungeon Tiles Mapper for designing your dungeons.

http://jai.hordelings.com/dungeontilesmapper.htm
#9
falcongk81
Apr 10, 2008 13:18:59 Thanks, I'll be checking that out.

In my past I did lots of my own adventure/dungeon designing, but alas I'm not in college anymore, so I have much less freetime. So, I'm going to be running mostly the adventure lines they are publishing (H1, H2, H3, P1...). It sounds like tiles won't be necessary if they are doing full maps for every module.

I'll add some filler adventures if we have any gaps in between, so your tool will be greatly appreciated if I need to do that. Thanks!

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 falcongk81 Apr 08, 2008 15:24:34	So, I've been away from D&D for a bit, but the news about 4e has gotten me excited about playing again. I am getting everyone fired up about it, and I'm going to pick up a copy of H1 and start running it ASAP. I don't have any D&D Minis yet, and I have the first version of Dungeon Tiles. I'm thinking about buying some more of the Dungeon Tiles, and getting some minis to run the game with. My question is this: Does anyone know if the H1 (and H2/H3/P1...) was designed with the Dungeon Tiles in mind? Will the maps in the book be Dungeon Tile friendly? I've had experience with mods in the past, and I bought the first set of Tiles, but then found that I just couldn't use them to do everything that I needed, and had to resort to my handy battlemat and markers. I'd love to be able to run the module with Dungeon Tiles, so I'd like to know if it was designed with the Tiles in mind, and if so, if there are specific sets I should look to pick up. Likewise, is there any chance that we can get some tips on what types of D&D Minis to pick up for the monsters? I want to have the D&D minis, as I think they are beautiful, but I haven't been collecting them. So, I figured if I could get a head start ordering the ones that would be needed for the mod, that would be wicked awesome. I understand that this may go a little overboard in the spoiler department, so there may not be any info on this. I don't know if this information is out there, and if it isn't, whether or not a WotC person can even comment on this, but I figured I'd ask. So WotC, if you're out there, I'd love to know how well Dungeon Tiles will work with H1 (and the others), which Tiles I should make sure to have if they were designed with DT in mind, and any info about Minis you can recommend. Thanks!
#2 tragicmagic Apr 08, 2008 19:22:30	I can't say for certain whether the modules were designed specifically for use with the tiles, or vice versa, but I doubt it. My players and I, too, have been using a battlemat and markers, and they've worked well enough. Recently, I picked up the Dundjinni software, and it has helped tremendously with creating a visually striking game. You could use it to recreate battlemat sized wilderness and dungeon maps from those given in the modules. Dunjinni cost 40 bucks, which you could easily spend on just a few sets of dungeon tiles. I also don't know what minis will be appropriate for the new modules, but I've got some advice on this, as well. Miniaturemarket.com sells individual minis from all of the sets, allowing you to buy the ones you need, rather than having to buy booster packs and hope for the best. Their prices are good and delivery is less than a week. And as long as you're spending money like a madman, aleatools.com sells stackable, magnetic markers (1" diameter) of differing colors which make it easier to keep track of conditions. Bloodied (red), ongoing fire damage (orange), ongoing cold (blue), ongoing poison (green), etc. They come with thin metal disks which stick to the bottom of the minis, so they'll stay together in spite of handling and moving, and with a bottle of rubber cement, you can move the metal from mini to mini, as needed. If you're able to buy 'em, they'll be a huge help. Nothing specific, but I hope this helped. And no, I don't work for any of the aforementioned companies or receive any type of kickbacks. Damn lobbyists.
#3 Phobos Apr 08, 2008 19:35:27	Unless DDM 4.0 has changed from 3.5, and I'd bet my soul they have not, this is a futile wish. DDM is RPG friendly, but only in so much as you can use monster x to pretend it's monster y, and "oh ya these 5 [monster name] are really [other monster name]" I buy what I can and often in groups off ebay, but even some of the most common things are just not there. Because they are random and collectable, there is little chance you will normally find what you really need without spending a fortune and still substituting. Now, after all that bashing, understand that I love the DDM, and try very hard to get what I need, but I wanted to give you a realistic approach to them and RPG.
#4 LFK Apr 08, 2008 21:41:31	Tiles: this is a concern for me (I have lots of tiles) but at the same time we don't have to worry. It's coming with three (!) full colour poster maps.
#5 falcongk81 Apr 08, 2008 21:42:56	I've used a Battlemat for a long time, so I fully understand how awesome and user friendly they are. But I just LOVE the way the Dungeon Tiles work, ever since I got the first tiles at I've been dying to use them. The problem is that I haven't really used them to design my dungeons, I tend to draw the dungeons first. And once I do, I realize that the tiles aren't exactly friendly to what I've designed. That is why I'm wondering if the writers of H1 used the Dungeon Tiles as they designed the adventure. It sure would be nice to be able to put these Tiles to use, as I think they are really great looking. So if Mearls, Cordell, or anyone else from WotC knows, I'd really like to know if the adventure was built to use the Tiles, and if so, which sets in particular, because I'm still missing one or two that I'd like to order if they are needed. By far my biggest question is whether or not the adventure modules were designed with Dungeon Tiles in mind. I'd really like that. As far as the D&D minis go, for D&D RPG play they seem more player friendly than DM friendly. Most of the hero miniatures are relatively cheap from various websites (iconic characters like Drizzt and Raistlin and the such aside). I'm more interested in the monsters from a DM aspect, since I plan on running a 4e game starting with H1. In the past I've had many metal minis (Ral Partha and the like), but I just LOVE the way the DDM look, so I'd like to get into them. It would be nice if they could come up with a better entry system for D&D DMs, who just want 10x Goblin, 10x Orc, 10x Skeleton, etc. I'll go to a website and order any of the other monsters that I need as I need them, but it would make my life so much easier if they made a set of the "riff raff" monsters that I could easily get my hands on. Random Boosters works fine in a miniature war game, but not so much for RPG DMs. Thanks for the reality check Phobos, I appreciate it. I guess I was just hoping that maybe WotC could come up with a system that would be more D&D RPG friendly. Also, assuming they are available for purchase (and not exorbitantly expensive) I wouldn't mind ordering up the D&D minis that I'll need for H1. I was wondering if we could maybe get some kind of advance notice on what type of minis would be useful.
#6 splotch Apr 08, 2008 23:13:53	I can't comment on the miniature, but let me just reiterate and perhaps re-explain what LFK was trying to communicate about tiles. The adventure was not designed with any tiles in mind. Instead the adventure is being released with three double-sided poster maps that are appropriately scaled for miniatures. Therefore you do not need tiles. Just lay out the maps and the miniatures will fit right on them.
#7 falcongk81 Apr 09, 2008 9:19:57	I can't comment on the miniature, but let me just reiterate and perhaps re-explain what LFK was trying to communicate about tiles. The adventure was not designed with any tiles in mind. Instead the adventure is being released with three double-sided poster maps that are appropriately scaled for miniatures. Therefore you do not need tiles. Just lay out the maps and the miniatures will fit right on them. Oh, I see. Well, while I'd like to have something to use my Tiles for, I'm sure the maps will be excellent.
#8 Chris_Moore Apr 09, 2008 20:00:46	But I just LOVE the way the Dungeon Tiles work, ever since I got the first tiles at I've been dying to use them. The problem is that I haven't really used them to design my dungeons, I tend to draw the dungeons first. And once I do, I realize that the tiles aren't exactly friendly to what I've designed. Perhaps you might be interested in trying Dungeon Tiles Mapper for designing your dungeons. http://jai.hordelings.com/dungeontilesmapper.htm
#9 falcongk81 Apr 10, 2008 13:18:59	Thanks, I'll be checking that out. In my past I did lots of my own adventure/dungeon designing, but alas I'm not in college anymore, so I have much less freetime. So, I'm going to be running mostly the adventure lines they are publishing (H1, H2, H3, P1...). It sounds like tiles won't be necessary if they are doing full maps for every module. I'll add some filler adventures if we have any gaps in between, so your tool will be greatly appreciated if I need to do that. Thanks!