I'm a new Dungeon master and I've only held my sessions online (because of quarantine and I usually play with my online friends). I'm currently running Tomb of Annihilation and have held several, several one-shots. I use Roll20 and resources that I find in many wonderful subject.
But it's starting to look like I might be able to hold a short introduction game to my siblings IRL soon! I'm receiving the D&D Essentials Kit as a gift for my birthday and I will definitely be running the tiny module that comes with it... But I am definitely lacking in certain items like physical battlemaps, miniatures, or anything of that sort https://omegle****/https://xender.vip/.
Does anyone have any tips on how I can accommodate or have substitutes for these things? I'm not someone with a lot of funds and these things are more expensive for me because of where I live. Especially the miniatures because that will definitely be important during combat.
If you're used to playing online, you can still use digital battle maps. One thing I did with my friends was just plug my computer directly into my television and run Roll20 through it, just as a means to show everyone the battle maps easily. Players just went up to the TV and literally pointed on the screen where they wanted to move and who they wanted to target. We also spent some time before the game started just looking up pictures the players wanted to use as their icons for the battle maps, so everyone got more or less working avatars.
You don't have to use maps at all, instead just describing things to your players. This usually ends up being looser on ranges and tactical positioning, but it's fine. (If you need the help tracking stuff, you can sketch out approximate locations on a piece of paper.)
The essentials set may come with maps; I don't know, as I've never used it. If it does, you don't need miniatures, just distinguishable small objects. (Those of us playing a long time often use extra dice, but literally anything could work. If you have old toys lying around, there may be things in there you can scavenge.)
You can also sketch your maps out on a big sheet of paper. (There are also big reusable mats that you can draw on and erase with special markers, but those cost money.)
If you've got a printer, you can probably find (or draw) and print out both maps and paper fold-up miniatures. (Though they may cost money for good ones.)
Set up your digital map as usual and have one of the players cast it to a TV (you have enough to do, let the players manage their own view).
You don't have to use maps at all, instead just describing things to your players. This usually ends up being looser on ranges and tactical positioning, but it's fine. (If you need the help tracking stuff, you can sketch out approximate locations on a piece of paper.)
Follow this device only if you and your players like theater of the mind. Personally, I can't stand theater of the mind as I have a hard time keeping track of things. But go for it if that's what you and your players enjoy. Otherwise, use a map.
Some game stores sell large sheets of laminated graph paper. Combine that with a dry erase marker or two and you can draw your battle maps on them with relative ease. You can use a single sheet of graph paper and draw new battle maps as needed, or if you get multiple sheets, you can draw different maps on each one.
As someone mentioned above, you don't need miniatures, monopoly pieces also work well. That horde of goblins, each one is a monopoly house.
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I'm a new Dungeon master and I've only held my sessions online (because of quarantine and I usually play with my online friends). I'm currently running Tomb of Annihilation and have held several, several one-shots. I use Roll20 and resources that I find in many wonderful subject.
But it's starting to look like I might be able to hold a short introduction game to my siblings IRL soon! I'm receiving the D&D Essentials Kit as a gift for my birthday and I will definitely be running the tiny module that comes with it... But I am definitely lacking in certain items like physical battlemaps, miniatures, or anything of that sort https://omegle****/ https://xender.vip/.
Does anyone have any tips on how I can accommodate or have substitutes for these things? I'm not someone with a lot of funds and these things are more expensive for me because of where I live. Especially the miniatures because that will definitely be important during combat.
Thank you for anyone who replies!
If you're used to playing online, you can still use digital battle maps. One thing I did with my friends was just plug my computer directly into my television and run Roll20 through it, just as a means to show everyone the battle maps easily. Players just went up to the TV and literally pointed on the screen where they wanted to move and who they wanted to target. We also spent some time before the game started just looking up pictures the players wanted to use as their icons for the battle maps, so everyone got more or less working avatars.
Watch Crits for Breakfast, an adults-only RP-Heavy Roll20 Livestream at twitch.tv/afterdisbooty
And now you too can play with the amazing art and assets we use in Roll20 for our campaign at Hazel's Emporium
You don't have to use maps at all, instead just describing things to your players. This usually ends up being looser on ranges and tactical positioning, but it's fine. (If you need the help tracking stuff, you can sketch out approximate locations on a piece of paper.)
The essentials set may come with maps; I don't know, as I've never used it. If it does, you don't need miniatures, just distinguishable small objects. (Those of us playing a long time often use extra dice, but literally anything could work. If you have old toys lying around, there may be things in there you can scavenge.)
You can also sketch your maps out on a big sheet of paper. (There are also big reusable mats that you can draw on and erase with special markers, but those cost money.)
If you've got a printer, you can probably find (or draw) and print out both maps and paper fold-up miniatures. (Though they may cost money for good ones.)
Set up your digital map as usual and have one of the players cast it to a TV (you have enough to do, let the players manage their own view).
Follow this device only if you and your players like theater of the mind. Personally, I can't stand theater of the mind as I have a hard time keeping track of things. But go for it if that's what you and your players enjoy. Otherwise, use a map.
Some game stores sell large sheets of laminated graph paper. Combine that with a dry erase marker or two and you can draw your battle maps on them with relative ease. You can use a single sheet of graph paper and draw new battle maps as needed, or if you get multiple sheets, you can draw different maps on each one.
As someone mentioned above, you don't need miniatures, monopoly pieces also work well. That horde of goblins, each one is a monopoly house.