Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 1stLevelSean Dec 16, 2013 7:11:04	We have two campaigns in our group--one uses miniatures for combat, often with very loose grid rules or none at all. The other is run Theater of the Mind, no visual representation or map. I have a clear preference for minis--just to have some visual reference in front of me, plus it keeps me more engaged in the encounter. But that's just me.   What does your group use? What do you prefer as a player? Tips for making TOTM more engaging or miniatures less boardgamey?
#2 Krusk Dec 16, 2013 8:12:07	I prefer minis. Even in games where the abstract is the intent, I'll break out some form of minis just to give an accurate visual measurement. "he is here" is a lot more accurate than "he is near you" "How near" etc. I find it saves a lot of time.
#3 iserith Dec 16, 2013 9:05:10	I prefer TotM in games that support it and grids/minis in games that support more tactical play. I wouldn't play D&D 4e without a grid nor Spirit of the Century with one.
#4 Matyr Dec 16, 2013 10:10:55	iserith wrote:
#5 1stLevelSean Dec 16, 2013 10:42:28	Krusk wrote:
#6 Krusk Dec 16, 2013 14:21:11	Yeah, bottlecaps work well. We also use small D6 as everyone has a ton. Really anything just to get some spacing down so we can visualize it.    A coke can tends to be about the same size as a large/huge official mini was, which is a nice way to show "This dude is way bigger"   When playing 4e use hershey's kisses as minions, and whoever drops it gets it. That was pretty fun.   I'd also recomend just buying like 3-5 large minis and 10-15 medium ones. From there you can run 99% of any combat for any RPG. Who cares if accurate, or scaled right.
#7 Beldak_Serpenthelm Dec 16, 2013 15:36:56	Krusk wrote:
#8 RedSiegfried Dec 16, 2013 20:43:48	I prefer to use maps and minis.  I like 4e tactical grid combat, but even in a game that doesn't use explicit grid based combat, I prefer to use a map and minis just to help visualize the action.  13A is a good example of a game that works well (even benefits from) a battlemap and minis but doesn't require it because movement and positioning is abstracted and played kinda fast and loose, and it works fine that way.   And when you're a loser like me who has a collection of almost 4000 minis, you sometimes just want a reason to play with them.  ;)
#9 Centauri Dec 16, 2013 23:01:42	1stLevelSean wrote:
#10 Beldak_Serpenthelm Dec 17, 2013 6:21:55	Centauri wrote:
#11 Krusk Dec 17, 2013 14:57:14	Practical Visual Representation.    Dynamic Miniature Arrangement.   To-Scale Cinematic Display
#12 1stLevelSean Dec 17, 2013 19:16:12	My main argument for tabletop is that it can help keep players more engaged. They have a visual backup for the moves and actions that are being described verbally, and have the pieces themselves to interact with. Not all players respond to miniatures, but anything that increases the avenues by which players can invest in and participate in the story, is a good thing.
#13 CCS Dec 18, 2013 10:25:38	I play in 3 distinct groups;   Group 1 - we almost never actually use minis/grids for anything technical.  Most often the map will be roughly drawn to show doors/etc.  And each persons mini will be sitting somewhere on it....  Other than that it's all TotM.   Group 2 - Even motre TotM.  The maps only present on the table if the goals actually mapping out an unexplored area.   Only the 3rd group  - playing 1e - makes any real use of minis/maps.  And that's because the DM kinda forced it by being too vague once too often when combat commenced.  So we players put a battlemap onto the table....
#14 crimsyn Dec 18, 2013 14:10:00	I agree with Iserith - it's a question of what systems support and encourage it.  Something like 4e is clearly designed for use with a grid and minis for combat (although, it goes into essentially TotM for skill challenges and various other non-combat interactions, so it's generally not always on the grid), while Dungeon World clearly isn't.   I don't really have a preference for either, so long as we're using a system which supports the right option.  I also think that with the grids, the players need to be reminded from time to time that they aren't necessarily limited to what's on their power cards and what's on the grid.