I am sorry if this is old news by now and I am sure it has been discussed, but I have looked and can't really find an answer or explanation. I am about to participate in my 3rd D&D session and my first as a DM. I badly want to use maps but can't decide on an effective way to use them. I'd like to be able to print my maps, but I'm not sure how I will print a large dungeon map with a grid of 1x1 squares. Even if I printed them all, it just seems unwieldy to tape it all together - not only that but I'm not sure how I would cover up all the spaces not yet explored.
So, my question is, what is the point of using maps that are just maps and do not have a grid large enough to be usable for minis? I see a lot of awesome maps that are clearly not usable for minis and I am tempted to go this route, but then what is the point of them? If I have a large dungeon that I print on one piece of paper that I can show my players it would be easier to cover what they have yet to explore, but I'm struggling to understand the exact function of the map at all if things don't fit on it. When combat does happen and I have no grid or map large enough, then what?
I would be more inclined to use a vinyl map grid for combats. You can get them at some gaming stores or order them online. A mat is more versatile and less annoying than printing maps on paper. Use dry erase markers to block in the walls and other obstacles, set the minis out on the freshly customized mat and have the battle.
As to the greater question of the use of maps, they are for you, the DM, first and foremost. They show you the layout of the dungeon. You have to communicate that to the players. How you do so is up to you. I mostly just do so verbally. For the most part, that works out, unless the players want someone in the group to be a "mapper" and that person would try to draw, on blank graph paper, what I am verbally describing. That can slow things down a bit but they get better at it as time goes on.
I use vinyl mats quite a lot when running D&D and have several, with different coloured/printed backdrops (forest one, cave one, town one, generic dirt one) and find they work well with minis, but it does require some time to set-up in advance by drawing on them with the dry erase markers.
I've also just added a grid to some maps and printed them at sufficiently large size for minis.
If you like drawing stuff... use a battlemat. Or large paper with 1inch square grid on it. I do not like this since it can take entire evenings which I rather spend on creating other content.
You can use photoshop, or use google to find other cartography tools, and draw your maps in that. Then simply print it out on as many papers you need. Due to the ink the paper will start to roll up on itself. Its usefull to tape or glue it to a piece of cardboard.
You can go to youtube and visit channels like https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJLqz6kcB1gMPiVnL0XfUDg and make your own modular dungeon tiles and stuff. Might even make it a group activity with your players if they like to help out. You'd have all you need in no time.
I prefer to use Photoshop/Gimp created maps with tokes, or virtual table top programs, and with a beamer project it on a wall. But I still have a battlemat for the smaller improvised encounters which are too complex for theatre of the mind.
Of all the methods I've used, I've found a modular approach is most immersive and exciting for players to explore. Essentially, what I do is draw out each room of the dungeon on a pad of a grid paper - I'm not great at art, but I include as much detail as I can.
Then I'll cut each room out, so I've got a separate piece for each room. Then, as players explore, I can lay out the next room or corridor that they uncover. This is an example from the Redbrand Hideout from Lost Mines of Phandelver:
I find this is the best way to have a map, without having to either cover up bits in advance (which tells players how big the dungeon is... or any secret areas), or having to draw it on the fly, which takes time and means you can't include little details.
The downside is it takes a bit of preparation time to do – but the players appreciate it, and it makes it more enjoyable for all. It can be used with or without minis too, which is a plus.
Hey everyone,
I am sorry if this is old news by now and I am sure it has been discussed, but I have looked and can't really find an answer or explanation. I am about to participate in my 3rd D&D session and my first as a DM. I badly want to use maps but can't decide on an effective way to use them. I'd like to be able to print my maps, but I'm not sure how I will print a large dungeon map with a grid of 1x1 squares. Even if I printed them all, it just seems unwieldy to tape it all together - not only that but I'm not sure how I would cover up all the spaces not yet explored.
So, my question is, what is the point of using maps that are just maps and do not have a grid large enough to be usable for minis? I see a lot of awesome maps that are clearly not usable for minis and I am tempted to go this route, but then what is the point of them? If I have a large dungeon that I print on one piece of paper that I can show my players it would be easier to cover what they have yet to explore, but I'm struggling to understand the exact function of the map at all if things don't fit on it. When combat does happen and I have no grid or map large enough, then what?
I would be more inclined to use a vinyl map grid for combats. You can get them at some gaming stores or order them online. A mat is more versatile and less annoying than printing maps on paper. Use dry erase markers to block in the walls and other obstacles, set the minis out on the freshly customized mat and have the battle.
As to the greater question of the use of maps, they are for you, the DM, first and foremost. They show you the layout of the dungeon. You have to communicate that to the players. How you do so is up to you. I mostly just do so verbally. For the most part, that works out, unless the players want someone in the group to be a "mapper" and that person would try to draw, on blank graph paper, what I am verbally describing. That can slow things down a bit but they get better at it as time goes on.
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D&D Beyond FoundersI use vinyl mats quite a lot when running D&D and have several, with different coloured/printed backdrops (forest one, cave one, town one, generic dirt one) and find they work well with minis, but it does require some time to set-up in advance by drawing on them with the dry erase markers.
I've also just added a grid to some maps and printed them at sufficiently large size for minis.
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I recommend to use battlemat and draw dungeon room by room.
If you like drawing stuff... use a battlemat. Or large paper with 1inch square grid on it. I do not like this since it can take entire evenings which I rather spend on creating other content.
You can use photoshop, or use google to find other cartography tools, and draw your maps in that. Then simply print it out on as many papers you need. Due to the ink the paper will start to roll up on itself. Its usefull to tape or glue it to a piece of cardboard.
You can go to youtube and visit channels like https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJLqz6kcB1gMPiVnL0XfUDg and make your own modular dungeon tiles and stuff. Might even make it a group activity with your players if they like to help out. You'd have all you need in no time.
I prefer to use Photoshop/Gimp created maps with tokes, or virtual table top programs, and with a beamer project it on a wall. But I still have a battlemat for the smaller improvised encounters which are too complex for theatre of the mind.
Of all the methods I've used, I've found a modular approach is most immersive and exciting for players to explore. Essentially, what I do is draw out each room of the dungeon on a pad of a grid paper - I'm not great at art, but I include as much detail as I can.
Then I'll cut each room out, so I've got a separate piece for each room. Then, as players explore, I can lay out the next room or corridor that they uncover. This is an example from the Redbrand Hideout from Lost Mines of Phandelver:
I find this is the best way to have a map, without having to either cover up bits in advance (which tells players how big the dungeon is... or any secret areas), or having to draw it on the fly, which takes time and means you can't include little details.
The downside is it takes a bit of preparation time to do – but the players appreciate it, and it makes it more enjoyable for all. It can be used with or without minis too, which is a plus.