I'm not sure if any other GM's have run into this issue but recently I made a huge jump in my paid and free games. I completely swapped to 3d assets. This includes Monsters, Players, Environments(cities,Boats,encounters). The only thing I don't have a 3d scale for is small little hiccups on the road. Having spent all of this time effort and money into this new style I find myself struggling to immerse myself in my own games.
To be more specific, Ill go to explain an area in detail and offer the given information. Though I feel like the given information is already represented via the 3d representation and it feels like I'm almost restating the environment. I've also noticed that my players ask A LOT fewer questions about the areas we are in. However they seem to be enjoying using their 3d virtual models on the VTT. I personally hate it and I feel as if I've created a problem I can't Undo until my current campaigns are finished.
I'm looking to see if any other GM's have experienced anything similar OR have some tips for maintaining the mystery of the environment for both the players and the DM.
I must admit this has been my experience also both online and in person.
I started in the 90s playing with people in the library or student union bar, and mostly we just used Theatre of The Mind. I stopped playing TTRPGs for a while but yeah, when I came back to the hobby in around 2017-2018 I found that a lot more people kinda expected battlemaps. I actually switched over to pathfinder because of this. It seemed to me to have better applicability to battlemaps than 5e does.
When I moved back to D&D (5e) I found that many of my players were simply inable to think in theatre of the mind. They needed precise images. At first I tried steering them towards drawing their own maps (old school style with grid paper) but few of them wished to do this. Eventually I relented and dropped maps made in Inkarnate into my games. The extra work it creates in having to ensure I've got battlemaps actually makes me as a DM less efficient and less agile. Random encounters kinda aren't any more. Sure I might get players to roll dice, but really they'll be getting a pre-made map and maybe one or two encounter types instead of the truly cast array that Theatre of the Mind allows for. Mostly, I just cut out or montage long distance travel these days - I can't be doing with it if the players always expect battlemaps.
These days I kinda feel like we've lost something with not having theatre of the mind, so I will tend to introduce other systems as theatre of the mind. FATE and Blades in the Dark for example work beautifully for theatre of the mind because the players don't need precise knowledge of everything in map like detail. Both lend themselves so much better to collaborative storytelling than D&D 5e does in my more recent experience.
In all honesty, I wish I had advice for how to help but I don't. All I can say is that yes, I find it very difficult getting my players to mix and match maps and ToTM. Though I only use 2D maps so some imagination is still required...and I kinda feel like that probably would make it far easier for me.
I'm struggling a bit with this too. I made the jump from AD&D 1E in 1984 around a real table, in person, with only graph paper maps (and no minis) to 5E in 2024, completely remotely, using VTT with grids & tokens. I'm enjoying it now, but it's a different experience, and definitely less imagination. I'm curious to try an experiment (and curious to hear of anyone's experience with this), where we still use a VTT and maps, but the DM keeps all the monsters hidden from the players and only describes them, just as if using TOTM. (Showing the player's character tokens might be optional.) This way, the DM can still easily keep track of all the tactical elements, but meanwhile, the players will be using their imaginations instead of staring at enemy tokens.
Its definitely different now (AD&D DM through 3.5-then 5e)
iIn coviid I started 3 new players who had only played online. I have to say I do love VTT’s we’d never be playing still without them as its a Dads DnD game I have a couple more old school players at the table and the comparisons are staggering from RP to theatre of the mind skills
However we play Hybrid. I find im a different DM when Im playing remote to when its in person. (I built a DnD table with a TV for maps) I love playing in person but its hard to get everyone together. When its in person im much more animated. I rely less on the technology. Often times wishing i didnt have the nice TV but had photo copied maps or just a dry erase grid map out.
when I am playing remote. Zoom/discord just gets in the way. Cross talk is more of a distraction so people arent as engaged. They miss out on the more important details. They are often doing other things. Ive learned when I play online I meed a robust vtr for combat (foundry or fantasy grounds) combat is more of a slog.
in person its just more exciting
look DnD is a social game however you do it. Im an 80’s kid so i can slide between technology levels. Im excited for things to come but I also now own a 3d printer and love making a game that has terrain.
i think you need to find balance between not only what you enjoy as a DM but what excites your players. If thats a 3d VTT awesome Id have made the switch but again I got dads and 3 of them have crappy computers without graphics cards. Peoole also learn what they know. Do sone one shots outside the campaign. Try a more story centric Rpg, roll out the dry erase grid map.
anyway i agree the VTT changes things but its a different gamenow since AD&D Ill say it tomb or horrors is a terrible dungeon. Was it awesome then? Yea! Is it still awesome now? yes. But its terrible compared to where this game is evolved to. I’m nit walking around with a 10 foot pole and sacrificing henchmen.
VTT’s. I love em and I hate em but they are here to stay and new players will drawn into the game by them. People told me DnD was a gateway to demon worship. The jury is still out LOL but VTT’s are definitely a gateway drug to RPG’s
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I'm not sure if any other GM's have run into this issue but recently I made a huge jump in my paid and free games. I completely swapped to 3d assets. This includes Monsters, Players, Environments(cities,Boats,encounters). The only thing I don't have a 3d scale for is small little hiccups on the road. Having spent all of this time effort and money into this new style I find myself struggling to immerse myself in my own games.
To be more specific, Ill go to explain an area in detail and offer the given information. Though I feel like the given information is already represented via the 3d representation and it feels like I'm almost restating the environment. I've also noticed that my players ask A LOT fewer questions about the areas we are in. However they seem to be enjoying using their 3d virtual models on the VTT. I personally hate it and I feel as if I've created a problem I can't Undo until my current campaigns are finished.
I'm looking to see if any other GM's have experienced anything similar OR have some tips for maintaining the mystery of the environment for both the players and the DM.
Note: I wish Alchemy had better D&D integration
I must admit this has been my experience also both online and in person.
I started in the 90s playing with people in the library or student union bar, and mostly we just used Theatre of The Mind. I stopped playing TTRPGs for a while but yeah, when I came back to the hobby in around 2017-2018 I found that a lot more people kinda expected battlemaps. I actually switched over to pathfinder because of this. It seemed to me to have better applicability to battlemaps than 5e does.
When I moved back to D&D (5e) I found that many of my players were simply inable to think in theatre of the mind. They needed precise images. At first I tried steering them towards drawing their own maps (old school style with grid paper) but few of them wished to do this. Eventually I relented and dropped maps made in Inkarnate into my games. The extra work it creates in having to ensure I've got battlemaps actually makes me as a DM less efficient and less agile. Random encounters kinda aren't any more. Sure I might get players to roll dice, but really they'll be getting a pre-made map and maybe one or two encounter types instead of the truly cast array that Theatre of the Mind allows for. Mostly, I just cut out or montage long distance travel these days - I can't be doing with it if the players always expect battlemaps.
These days I kinda feel like we've lost something with not having theatre of the mind, so I will tend to introduce other systems as theatre of the mind. FATE and Blades in the Dark for example work beautifully for theatre of the mind because the players don't need precise knowledge of everything in map like detail. Both lend themselves so much better to collaborative storytelling than D&D 5e does in my more recent experience.
In all honesty, I wish I had advice for how to help but I don't. All I can say is that yes, I find it very difficult getting my players to mix and match maps and ToTM. Though I only use 2D maps so some imagination is still required...and I kinda feel like that probably would make it far easier for me.
DM session planning template - My version of maps for 'Lost Mine of Phandelver' - Send your party to The Circus - Other DM Resources - Maps, Tokens, Quests - 'Better' Player Character Injury Tables?
Actor, Writer, Director & Teacher by day - GM/DM in my off hours.
I'm struggling a bit with this too. I made the jump from AD&D 1E in 1984 around a real table, in person, with only graph paper maps (and no minis) to 5E in 2024, completely remotely, using VTT with grids & tokens. I'm enjoying it now, but it's a different experience, and definitely less imagination. I'm curious to try an experiment (and curious to hear of anyone's experience with this), where we still use a VTT and maps, but the DM keeps all the monsters hidden from the players and only describes them, just as if using TOTM. (Showing the player's character tokens might be optional.) This way, the DM can still easily keep track of all the tactical elements, but meanwhile, the players will be using their imaginations instead of staring at enemy tokens.
Its definitely different now (AD&D DM through 3.5-then 5e)
iIn coviid I started 3 new players who had only played online. I have to say I do love VTT’s we’d never be playing still without them as its a Dads DnD game I have a couple more old school players at the table and the comparisons are staggering from RP to theatre of the mind skills
However we play Hybrid. I find im a different DM when Im playing remote to when its in person. (I built a DnD table with a TV for maps) I love playing in person but its hard to get everyone together. When its in person im much more animated. I rely less on the technology. Often times wishing i didnt have the nice TV but had photo copied maps or just a dry erase grid map out.
when I am playing remote. Zoom/discord just gets in the way. Cross talk is more of a distraction so people arent as engaged. They miss out on the more important details. They are often doing other things. Ive learned when I play online I meed a robust vtr for combat (foundry or fantasy grounds) combat is more of a slog.
in person its just more exciting
look DnD is a social game however you do it. Im an 80’s kid so i can slide between technology levels. Im excited for things to come but I also now own a 3d printer and love making a game that has terrain.
i think you need to find balance between not only what you enjoy as a DM but what excites your players. If thats a 3d VTT awesome Id have made the switch but again I got dads and 3 of them have crappy computers without graphics cards. Peoole also learn what they know. Do sone one shots outside the campaign. Try a more story centric Rpg, roll out the dry erase grid map.
anyway i agree the VTT changes things but its a different gamenow since AD&D Ill say it tomb or horrors is a terrible dungeon. Was it awesome then? Yea! Is it still awesome now? yes. But its terrible compared to where this game is evolved to. I’m nit walking around with a 10 foot pole and sacrificing henchmen.
VTT’s. I love em and I hate em but they are here to stay and new players will drawn into the game by them. People told me DnD was a gateway to demon worship. The jury is still out LOL but VTT’s are definitely a gateway drug to RPG’s