Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 jasonD Nov 16, 2014 5:39:39	Hey all!   Just curious how to use the maps in the new adventures? We are new to D&D and not sure. Do we blow them up or just describe them to the players? how do you place miniatures down on them.    thanks!
#2 OrwellianHaggis Nov 16, 2014 6:29:09	It's up to you how to use them. Most people either describe them (called "gridless" play or "theatre of the mind") and treat distances and positioning with less precision. Or they use a physical medium (they draw necessary segments on to a wipe-clean mat or use dungeon tiles, and place models on to same).
#3 Mad_Jack Nov 16, 2014 14:08:05	It's entirely up to the group as to how precise they want to get about measuring distances and who-can-hit-who. Some folks go entirely on verbal descriptions ("there's a table in the corner", "I run forward and swing at the nearest orc.", etc.). Some folks print out the maps and hand them to the group, but otherwise rely on descriptions. Others use descriptions for everything but combat and then break out a map grid (scaled to 1 inch squares = 5 feet) and miniatures to play it out. And some print out scaled maps of everything and always move their minis to indicate everything they're doing.    It's probably best to start out just using basic descriptions and then add in more more detail as necessary for a better gaming experience. It can take a great deal of practice to learn to keep everything straight in your head without some kind of visual reminder or representation. Some folks don't have the imagination, the memory and/or the mental dexterity to keep a visualization of the scene in their head, or are just better/prefer to have a visual representation of what's going on.    So consult the group and experiment to find out what works best for you.   (And if your group decides they like having big gridded maps and minis to represent everything, make sure they're aware that they should be willing to split at least some of the cost of materials with the DM.)