A very useful tool I've seen used for quick terrain is Jenga blocks. They're a good size for throwing up some walls, a bridge, steps, pillars, tables, etc. Pretty adaptable and easy to store.
The Mark Hulmes shoutout! He is my absolute favorite actual play DM and is the reason I got into running games myself. He is just so good at giving his players a comprehensive and cinematic scene. Glad to see the appreciation ❤
Listen... I play online and when i whipped out a tree covered, carved tree trunk on a forest battle map on it's own camera... My players freaked out... We'd only really run theatre of the mind until that point. I'm also a mom to a teenager, on a very limited budget; it's just me doing the terrain (the partner that lives with me is in the campaign so spoilers) so this was a big deal to them and me. As the old adage goes it's not what you have, but it's how you use it. I will now watch the rest of the video
I use a VTT with an in person game. Saves me a lot of trouble. I can have a bunch of maps and I just have a laptop and a small tv. Good video, good subject!
The clear plastic part of many boxes that dice come in is a great fly riser that sits over medium or smaller size minis and doesn’t take up much more space. Also can be good to stick something on with blutac, such as a shrub of animal to indicate wildshape or stealth.
6:28 Regarding knowing that you lock the players in place - since I usually ask players what they intend to do in the upcoming sessions, I usually have a pretty good feeling for what set pieces will be needed. Occasionally, I cut a session just before an important encounter to prepare this accordingly. Other times, I just throw something together or paint on my whiteboards. Knowing your players well can often lead to the illusion that everything is set in stone, but it is just good communication.
I use the "modular teather like" style, as what really impacts a combat more are the scatter and props on an area, the tables, the chairs, the flasks to be used as improvised weapons, etc. So I spend most of my crafting time creating new interesting scatter terrain thinking how they could be used in combat. I don't dedicate nearly that much time to doing the terrain itself.
Same, ever since Deficient Master did his video where he mentioned adding "toys" to each map, I've been obsessed with this idea. I pick a map I think fits the "toys" I have in mind and start filling in the map with surprises both preplanned and any I get inspiration for from looking at the map. My plan is to let players know ahead of time there are spots of interest, but they make checks once a turn to get a bigger picture idea. If they want to use it differently than what I had planned it's all good too. There are hazards, boons, neutral encounters, changes in the terrain, and even items they could use or save for a later encounter. I think I'll have it to where enemies do checks too but to keep things moving it will just be a group check with flat rolls at the end of the round and if half or more succeed they'll try to make use of 2 random ones during the next round.
@TheMightyBattleSquid i mean why checks tho? Why just dont give all information? Maybe a few less toys so they are not overwhelming but imo doing a check sounds like extra steps? I would like to hear your logic
terrain for me is a double sided sword. I have crafter a huge amount of dwarven forge style foam terrain and accessories. I have a TV I can use on top of my table for maps, I have grasslands and lava mats for my table, etc... but I always revert back to a blank mat and markers. running a game usually has too many unexpected things happen. if prepare a cool map or set of a throne room, and my players want to fall back into a hall to create a choke point this is way easier with a hand drawn map. if my players and I discover a clue to the world that leads them to a safe house basement... but there would rolls it their creativity are what created the opportunity to even know about the safe house it simply takes too long to build with tiles, or it takes me out of the moment to search for a proper TV map. these cool options have their place, and I love setting them up, but having the quick marker and mat option available can't be beat.
I use a lot of different solutions for my encounters... Sometimes it's dry-erase on a battlemap, and that's the easy way - even if I have a few dozens laminated A2 battlemaps for various terrain types (grass, glacier, lava, swamp, rocks, etc.). Other times I add 3D-printed props (trees, rocks, obstacles, etc.), or if I'm setting up a dungeon, I bring up my fully modular 3D-printed dungeon. Then I 3D-printed in clear resin modular risers, as well as flames and spell effects (wall of flame, wall of ice, etc.) which I painted using transparent alcohol-based inks. For my latest map (we're playing next Sunday) I'm setting up both 3D-printed village cottages and papercraft houses by BattleSystems, as well as flickering LEDs inside 3D-printed flames and scale model trees I recently bought on Amazon, all magnetized on a steel sheet covered with a grassy battlemap. ...yeah, I tend to go a bit overboard with my settings LOL 😅😅
I have a magnetic whiteboard with a grid. My scatter props are cut and paste from card, with magnets stuck on the bases. I've been moving as much as possible to modular terrain that can be rearranged on the fly as the party move from one section of the dungeon to another. I also use terrain in exploration not just combat. It helps with visualization as they investigate a room for example.
I much prefer just drawing on a blank sheet over using intricate terrain. I even prefer it to be gridless. The reason for both is that I find them too restrctive. The more detailed the terrain, the less you can reuse it (and the more time, energy and money you have to spend), and there being squares tend to unconsciously dictate the position possibilities for both GM and player, even if you note they're just meant to help estimate distance by eye. And a drawn map gives just enough clarity on what's where that you can use tactical considerations. I like the tip on using glasses for flying enemies, though. I'll steal that.
First thing to do in a battle map is destory something by a big unit. Makes him look scarey. But also shows ppayers he also should be destorying stuff or can interact that it isnt a video game and in a frozen state
I've been doing terrain for a decade. There are lots of great ways to use it, including building full sets without railroading players into using it. All I do is simply ask them at the end of each session where they want to go & do for the next session. Whatever they decide, that's the adventure I create for them. No railroading needed and I don't waste time building things they won't see.
For printable maps I suggest 11in by 17in. I don't really have the ability to do maps but I love music so I spend a lot of time crafting a detailed playlist for the session
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #60 РОЖДЕНИЕ ЛОЛОЛОШКИ [Финал] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YoR0pAV9FVQ/mqdefault.jpg)
A very useful tool I've seen used for quick terrain is Jenga blocks. They're a good size for throwing up some walls, a bridge, steps, pillars, tables, etc. Pretty adaptable and easy to store.
Jenga and wooden building blocks, best budget terrain system in the world!
The Mark Hulmes shoutout! He is my absolute favorite actual play DM and is the reason I got into running games myself. He is just so good at giving his players a comprehensive and cinematic scene. Glad to see the appreciation ❤
Listen... I play online and when i whipped out a tree covered, carved tree trunk on a forest battle map on it's own camera... My players freaked out... We'd only really run theatre of the mind until that point. I'm also a mom to a teenager, on a very limited budget; it's just me doing the terrain (the partner that lives with me is in the campaign so spoilers) so this was a big deal to them and me.
As the old adage goes it's not what you have, but it's how you use it. I will now watch the rest of the video
I love that you cover less well known (comparatively) dms! Makes me want to go watch their stuff :)
When I was young, I always used pencils to represent walls, erasers to represent doors...
I use a VTT with an in person game. Saves me a lot of trouble. I can have a bunch of maps and I just have a laptop and a small tv. Good video, good subject!
For elevation I just use all my empty chessex dice boxes!
I'm going to hear the word "terrain" echoing in my head all day, now.
Terrain…terrain…terrain
The clear plastic part of many boxes that dice come in is a great fly riser that sits over medium or smaller size minis and doesn’t take up much more space. Also can be good to stick something on with blutac, such as a shrub of animal to indicate wildshape or stealth.
6:28
Regarding knowing that you lock the players in place - since I usually ask players what they intend to do in the upcoming sessions, I usually have a pretty good feeling for what set pieces will be needed. Occasionally, I cut a session just before an important encounter to prepare this accordingly. Other times, I just throw something together or paint on my whiteboards. Knowing your players well can often lead to the illusion that everything is set in stone, but it is just good communication.
With the Loke maps, they actually have stickers of various terrain too you can stick on. Theyre reuseable and very easy to use on their maps
Dont forget, you can make tiles and terrain from foam board.
I use the "modular teather like" style, as what really impacts a combat more are the scatter and props on an area, the tables, the chairs, the flasks to be used as improvised weapons, etc. So I spend most of my crafting time creating new interesting scatter terrain thinking how they could be used in combat. I don't dedicate nearly that much time to doing the terrain itself.
Same, ever since Deficient Master did his video where he mentioned adding "toys" to each map, I've been obsessed with this idea. I pick a map I think fits the "toys" I have in mind and start filling in the map with surprises both preplanned and any I get inspiration for from looking at the map. My plan is to let players know ahead of time there are spots of interest, but they make checks once a turn to get a bigger picture idea. If they want to use it differently than what I had planned it's all good too. There are hazards, boons, neutral encounters, changes in the terrain, and even items they could use or save for a later encounter. I think I'll have it to where enemies do checks too but to keep things moving it will just be a group check with flat rolls at the end of the round and if half or more succeed they'll try to make use of 2 random ones during the next round.
@TheMightyBattleSquid i mean why checks tho? Why just dont give all information? Maybe a few less toys so they are not overwhelming but imo doing a check sounds like extra steps? I would like to hear your logic
love Loot Studios
terrain for me is a double sided sword.
I have crafter a huge amount of dwarven forge style foam terrain and accessories. I have a TV I can use on top of my table for maps, I have grasslands and lava mats for my table, etc...
but I always revert back to a blank mat and markers.
running a game usually has too many unexpected things happen. if prepare a cool map or set of a throne room, and my players want to fall back into a hall to create a choke point this is way easier with a hand drawn map.
if my players and I discover a clue to the world that leads them to a safe house basement... but there would rolls it their creativity are what created the opportunity to even know about the safe house it simply takes too long to build with tiles, or it takes me out of the moment to search for a proper TV map.
these cool options have their place, and I love setting them up, but having the quick marker and mat option available can't be beat.
I use a lot of different solutions for my encounters...
Sometimes it's dry-erase on a battlemap, and that's the easy way - even if I have a few dozens laminated A2 battlemaps for various terrain types (grass, glacier, lava, swamp, rocks, etc.). Other times I add 3D-printed props (trees, rocks, obstacles, etc.), or if I'm setting up a dungeon, I bring up my fully modular 3D-printed dungeon. Then I 3D-printed in clear resin modular risers, as well as flames and spell effects (wall of flame, wall of ice, etc.) which I painted using transparent alcohol-based inks.
For my latest map (we're playing next Sunday) I'm setting up both 3D-printed village cottages and papercraft houses by BattleSystems, as well as flickering LEDs inside 3D-printed flames and scale model trees I recently bought on Amazon, all magnetized on a steel sheet covered with a grassy battlemap.
...yeah, I tend to go a bit overboard with my settings LOL 😅😅
I have a magnetic whiteboard with a grid. My scatter props are cut and paste from card, with magnets stuck on the bases. I've been moving as much as possible to modular terrain that can be rearranged on the fly as the party move from one section of the dungeon to another.
I also use terrain in exploration not just combat. It helps with visualization as they investigate a room for example.
I much prefer just drawing on a blank sheet over using intricate terrain. I even prefer it to be gridless. The reason for both is that I find them too restrctive. The more detailed the terrain, the less you can reuse it (and the more time, energy and money you have to spend), and there being squares tend to unconsciously dictate the position possibilities for both GM and player, even if you note they're just meant to help estimate distance by eye.
And a drawn map gives just enough clarity on what's where that you can use tactical considerations.
I like the tip on using glasses for flying enemies, though. I'll steal that.
First thing to do in a battle map is destory something by a big unit. Makes him look scarey. But also shows ppayers he also should be destorying stuff or can interact that it isnt a video game and in a frozen state
Having actual terrains and minis makes all the difference in the world 🤘
I've been doing terrain for a decade. There are lots of great ways to use it, including building full sets without railroading players into using it. All I do is simply ask them at the end of each session where they want to go & do for the next session. Whatever they decide, that's the adventure I create for them. No railroading needed and I don't waste time building things they won't see.
For printable maps I suggest 11in by 17in. I don't really have the ability to do maps but I love music so I spend a lot of time crafting a detailed playlist for the session
Caution. Some of the dry erase MATS don't like the RED marker you have. Erase it quickly as possible. Sign my FLGS players.
Have to ask, but any other DMs prefer the hex map setup over just the basic squares?
I've never actually tried hex maps! I should give it a go!
FIRST‼️‼️ great video man!
Unfortunately the VTT will make all of this obsolete
just one long AD