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I feel attacked. Map making is session prep. Everything I plan for the session is on the map. They're my cues. But sometimes I don't have time and an image from pinterest works out.
That's fair! Pinterest has tons of good resources. The problem is I spend hours looking on Pinterest, then I pick a map, then I go to set it up, and then I'm like "but I wish this was on there" and thus begins 3 hours of mapmaking hahahahahaha.
I talk about that in the last half of the video and that's also why I recommended a grid because you can still do that too without creating a whole map!
Most of my games are in person, so I simply use my battlemat and washable markers when a grid is necessary. I used to use coins for trees and such, but now I use a small box of small d6s to represent trees and rocks etc. Lots of tricks to the trade! For my one online game, I created a 'random terrain' map, where I have pre-created layers of various terrains that I can cycle through on the fly for random encounters. It's very handy when I need that instant terrain and want SOMETHING visual instead of a white page with just tokens.
The layers of terrain maps is a good idea! I might steal that one. I've been using tiles on my vtt for that too. It also adds a lot. Thanks for sharing!!
We are the same. But WORSE. I'll go through a million maps find one that's close enough, start using it and then decide that I could map one that's better or more appropriate lmao. It's BAD.
@@CantripsMedia The worst scenario is when you waste a lot of time going through other maps, realize none suit your purpose well enough, then decide to make your own after you've already wasted an hour or more.
After some time your group gets better at just... Asking for information! I play on a 3.5 group so, yes, it's a bunch of tryhards. But still! After some time they learn to ask for things like: Distance to X enemy, what was Y's last turn again? Where is the door? How far is my cleric who has to cast a melee buff on me for me to climp that 30 meter tall wall? Etc.
I run my Numenera game entirely theater of the mind. People do INSANE things in it. I’ve also used Professor Dungeon Master’s terrain concept for zoned combat on my VTT and it worked well. And I did a multi-level ship where the party was split between decks. It’s ok fun, but my Numenera table is like my GM vacation.
I've never used a grid in rpg's. I started in AD&D, and we didn't use much more than mini's, or something like them, and at most a rough outline of the terrain drawn up by the DM in the moment. And nearly all my other game experiences have been similar. We used something physical on the table for clarity, but it was mainly TOTM. The only time we used terrain was for Battletech, when my friend built a big table, and we had a lot of minis, metal and plastic. But it wasn't gridded; we just used a tape measure. Good times.
I need a battle map as a dm and as a player, because I love tactics, move into the best position, use the best offensive power for the situation, use attacks of opportunity etc. Without maps that is difficult to achieve. However, as a dm I don't prepare a new map for every encounter, but often standard maps if it is, as an example, just bandits attacking the players on the road.
Baby steps Kylie. Lately, I've been all about "abstract maps". Throw a map on your VTT, but turn the grid off. In person, just print out the map on regular letter sized paper or sketch it out on a napkin, again... no grid. This way, players can get a rough idea of positioning and where everything is, but you're not counting individual squares.
I hate making maps for encounters, but I have aphantasia and dyscalculia, so they're pretty necessary. I make up for this by not making maps for cities and such beyond a world map, if I do need to make a map for a city its usually color-blocked districts with a list of locations written on them. I don't make maps for minor encounters, I just have a dry-erase grid. If its like 3 characters in a pretty much empty 30x30 space, I can do theatre of the mind, but that's REALLY my limit 😅
I agree for encounters, but I feel like maps are very important for dungeons (the ones with 10 ft grids), where the exploration choices matter a lot. I don’t always make them but I take a lot from the giant repository of maps by Dyson Logos provided in his website. My prep time is spent not in finding the exact map needed, but keying in the dungeon rooms and traps, as they are pretty abstract and adjustable to whatever situation you have. When I do draw one, I keep it in a similar black and white basic abstract style and use plenty of generators from DMG which saves on prep time. It doubles up in the vtt very well, your dungeon map can double up as an abstract combat map or theater of the mind visual aid if you zoom in. Most of my games are Dungeon-based games (it’s dungeons and dragons after all) so I end up always having a map available. I agree that those big 5ft encounter battlemaps with lots of colors and a specific theme aren’t very practical in play, and they get expensive. I only use those for encounters outside the dungeon, generic wilderness terrain maps, but I never prep the latter for a session, I just have them ready to pull out and they can be used for any situation.
When we played live before, I never made maps ahead of time, I just described the rooms to the players and they drew the map themselves. But I'm a graphic designer and now that we play dnd online, I love making maps more than anything 😀. But the truth is, we've been talking about it now and we'll probably try the old method again sometime - leave it to the imagination. And by the way - you're cool.
That's me. Former graphic designer/marketing person and once we went online I fell in love with maps too. But yeah try the grid, it's been great for us too. Also might need to roll persuasion for convincing YT I'm actually cool
I feel like I need maps more frequently for published campaigns... it feels like it's more frequent for them to have floor plans that are complex and difficult to narrate. Or maybe I just feel more comfortable keeping homebrew campaign sessions to something like a 5 room dungeon.
A solution I've found is to create terrain themed blank maps. It's essentially the same as just using a grid. There's no detailed information, but I can pick grasslands if the party are camping, wood if they're in a tavern, stone if they're in a castle etc.
Yeah for encounters I totally agree. For over world and city and other maps I like the cartographer approach to unexplored worlds (Obviously only works in certain settings and time periods), and ignorance and no resources in cities, then as things are discovered I go through my assets and place them as appropriate. It has the benefit of not having players feel railroaded while still getting to use the assets I spent substantial time on. Basically go where you want but it's undiscovered territory so what you find there will happen to be what I made and then I place it on the map permanently once they encounter it.
Perfect! I am right there with you as a GM. The game moves faster in a lot of RP and even combat situations without a physical map. We love theater of the mind, unless it’s a bigger complex chamber or area. Then we are mapping! 👍🏼
I am part of the people who can't visualize things in my head (aphantasia) But I also freaking love the creativity present in theater of the mind play as a GM And strongly agree that prep time is much lower without
Yeah, that's why I definitely wanted to mention that some people have a hard time without visuals and to really only use TOTM when there's like only low level or small amounts of enemies. Cause I'm a DM that struggles with keeping track if that in my head. I CAN but it's difficult for me hahaha. But some people are downright amazing at it!
@@CantripsMedia strongly agree and that was a great shout-out for realizing that no one is equal in that way I actually think that huge crowds are easier by using sound or any other sense and not much more to simulate than little groups where more roleplay and interaction is needed which means harder time to visualize the NPCs / enemies you're interacting with I have that problem too, keeping a lot in my head can be quite hard; that's why I have a notebook or my computer next to me when I GM even though I tend to be quite bad at taking notes on the fly I totally agree, I've had some GMs that were like this and that helped quite a lot! But even those who are worse at this usually make up in other areas And the most paramount metric to me is and will always remain the fun my players are having at the table
@@CantripsMedia I feel like past you didn't comment on making maps for videos... so I think you're in the clear. But then again you know past you better than anyone.
I LOVE a great map! BUT, I have found that players will either always expect an upcoming battle to happen or many players will get distracted by a map and not pay as much attention to what's going on. One way I have gotten around this is to use theater of the mind, along with a background art scene. This can be used with both roleplay and TotM combat, if needed. This relates to online play, of course. 🙂
@@TangledLion That's the problem too for me. If I'm going to map a map it's gotta be RIGHT and match the style and theme of my other maps. It's a lot of work for that sometimes. But also can be fun as long as I don't burn myself out on them!
@@CantripsMedia I personally save myself time by going with Premade Adventure Paths, which means its easy to find perfect maps 90% of the time but... When it comes to tokens... Uhhhhh... *Stares at the HOURS I've sometimes spent getting art for a token that looks EXACTLY like the book description even though my players would never know.* yeah
Hahaha luckily for me I don't have the same problem with tokens MOST of the time. But for a boss battle or important NPC it's gotta be PERFECT. And also that's the problem too, I don't use premade modules as much. Or if I do I add side adventures or additional things to it that means more maps hahaha
I just use nijijourney or midjourney to get a background backdrop with some cut outs of the NPCs. The only thing that takes time is the transparent NPC cut outs which is taken care of with an automated script in photoshop to get a transparent cut out of that NPC.
That's an option. I just know that I would spend way too much time trying to generate the right image and then probably be like "well I could design this in dungeondraft and get exactly what I want" hahaha. I have a PROBLEM 😅hahaha
This is great! I’m doing more theater of the mind with close/ near/ far distances since switching to Shadowdark. And it’s working out well. Hey, RUclips… she’s cool!
Your Cantrips Media YT Membership includes all those excess maps that I have never used! (well almost all of them, I'm still working on getting ALL of them on the site and there's a LOT 🤦♀.) Join this channel to get access to members-only perks like maps, monthly chats, discord channel and MORE: ruclips.net/channel/UCXwR-xgjuzeaJ4xGY0d9uGgjoin
I feel attacked. Map making is session prep. Everything I plan for the session is on the map. They're my cues.
But sometimes I don't have time and an image from pinterest works out.
That's fair! Pinterest has tons of good resources. The problem is I spend hours looking on Pinterest, then I pick a map, then I go to set it up, and then I'm like "but I wish this was on there" and thus begins 3 hours of mapmaking hahahahahaha.
Yes, I do need a map. I'm a very visual person and can't keep track of everything via theater of the mind.
I talk about that in the last half of the video and that's also why I recommended a grid because you can still do that too without creating a whole map!
Most of my games are in person, so I simply use my battlemat and washable markers when a grid is necessary. I used to use coins for trees and such, but now I use a small box of small d6s to represent trees and rocks etc. Lots of tricks to the trade!
For my one online game, I created a 'random terrain' map, where I have pre-created layers of various terrains that I can cycle through on the fly for random encounters. It's very handy when I need that instant terrain and want SOMETHING visual instead of a white page with just tokens.
The layers of terrain maps is a good idea! I might steal that one. I've been using tiles on my vtt for that too. It also adds a lot.
Thanks for sharing!!
Thanks for the reminder! I go down rabbit holes of trying to find the PERFECT map, and I need to chill. 😅
We are the same. But WORSE. I'll go through a million maps find one that's close enough, start using it and then decide that I could map one that's better or more appropriate lmao. It's BAD.
@@CantripsMedia The worst scenario is when you waste a lot of time going through other maps, realize none suit your purpose well enough, then decide to make your own after you've already wasted an hour or more.
💯
After some time your group gets better at just... Asking for information!
I play on a 3.5 group so, yes, it's a bunch of tryhards.
But still! After some time they learn to ask for things like:
Distance to X enemy, what was Y's last turn again?
Where is the door?
How far is my cleric who has to cast a melee buff on me for me to climp that 30 meter tall wall?
Etc.
I run my Numenera game entirely theater of the mind. People do INSANE things in it. I’ve also used Professor Dungeon Master’s terrain concept for zoned combat on my VTT and it worked well.
And I did a multi-level ship where the party was split between decks.
It’s ok fun, but my Numenera table is like my GM vacation.
I bet they get really creative! Plus not having to do the extra mapmaking work is a dream haha.
Thank you for sharing!!
"A ticket to the theater of the mind costs only your attention."
ADHD folks: "well, guess we gotta wait outside"
I've never used a grid in rpg's. I started in AD&D, and we didn't use much more than mini's, or something like them, and at most a rough outline of the terrain drawn up by the DM in the moment. And nearly all my other game experiences have been similar. We used something physical on the table for clarity, but it was mainly TOTM. The only time we used terrain was for Battletech, when my friend built a big table, and we had a lot of minis, metal and plastic. But it wasn't gridded; we just used a tape measure. Good times.
Grids and maps ARE an optional rule and aren't required for a good game, that's for sure.
Thanks for sharing!!
I just do the Dragon Age 2 method. Use the same map for every encounter
Hahahahaha. That would definitely work!
I need a battle map as a dm and as a player, because I love tactics, move into the best position, use the best offensive power for the situation, use attacks of opportunity etc. Without maps that is difficult to achieve. However, as a dm I don't prepare a new map for every encounter, but often standard maps if it is, as an example, just bandits attacking the players on the road.
Baby steps Kylie. Lately, I've been all about "abstract maps". Throw a map on your VTT, but turn the grid off. In person, just print out the map on regular letter sized paper or sketch it out on a napkin, again... no grid.
This way, players can get a rough idea of positioning and where everything is, but you're not counting individual squares.
There are lots of systems I've tried lately that do this innately! It's a good way to mix it up too.
Thank you for sharing!
I hate making maps for encounters, but I have aphantasia and dyscalculia, so they're pretty necessary. I make up for this by not making maps for cities and such beyond a world map, if I do need to make a map for a city its usually color-blocked districts with a list of locations written on them. I don't make maps for minor encounters, I just have a dry-erase grid. If its like 3 characters in a pretty much empty 30x30 space, I can do theatre of the mind, but that's REALLY my limit 😅
That's a good compromise for sure!
You do not need to make a map for that. Just doing as instructed.
Um, I don't wanna say wait until this week's video... But uh... Might involve maps hahahaha
I agree for encounters, but I feel like maps are very important for dungeons (the ones with 10 ft grids), where the exploration choices matter a lot. I don’t always make them but I take a lot from the giant repository of maps by Dyson Logos provided in his website. My prep time is spent not in finding the exact map needed, but keying in the dungeon rooms and traps, as they are pretty abstract and adjustable to whatever situation you have. When I do draw one, I keep it in a similar black and white basic abstract style and use plenty of generators from DMG which saves on prep time. It doubles up in the vtt very well, your dungeon map can double up as an abstract combat map or theater of the mind visual aid if you zoom in. Most of my games are Dungeon-based games (it’s dungeons and dragons after all) so I end up always having a map available.
I agree that those big 5ft encounter battlemaps with lots of colors and a specific theme aren’t very practical in play, and they get expensive. I only use those for encounters outside the dungeon, generic wilderness terrain maps, but I never prep the latter for a session, I just have them ready to pull out and they can be used for any situation.
All very useful and perfectly valid alternatives! Thank you for sharing
When we played live before, I never made maps ahead of time, I just described the rooms to the players and they drew the map themselves. But I'm a graphic designer and now that we play dnd online, I love making maps more than anything 😀. But the truth is, we've been talking about it now and we'll probably try the old method again sometime - leave it to the imagination. And by the way - you're cool.
That's me. Former graphic designer/marketing person and once we went online I fell in love with maps too.
But yeah try the grid, it's been great for us too.
Also might need to roll persuasion for convincing YT I'm actually cool
I feel like I need maps more frequently for published campaigns... it feels like it's more frequent for them to have floor plans that are complex and difficult to narrate. Or maybe I just feel more comfortable keeping homebrew campaign sessions to something like a 5 room dungeon.
That's interesting! I guess I kinda agree. That or published adventure maps mess with the scale of the maps making them harder to use.
A solution I've found is to create terrain themed blank maps. It's essentially the same as just using a grid. There's no detailed information, but I can pick grasslands if the party are camping, wood if they're in a tavern, stone if they're in a castle etc.
Yes exactly!! I think I mentioned that in a different video but forgot to mention it again here
But.... But..... Maps are so pretty 😢. Oh well. In the end you're right. Thank you past kailey 😅
I mean.... Do we HAVE to listen to past me? Hahahaha
Sorry, but I don't like TOTM. Gonna stick with maps.
I also mentioned other things outside of TOTM though! But to each their own!
Yeah for encounters I totally agree.
For over world and city and other maps I like the cartographer approach to unexplored worlds (Obviously only works in certain settings and time periods), and ignorance and no resources in cities, then as things are discovered I go through my assets and place them as appropriate.
It has the benefit of not having players feel railroaded while still getting to use the assets I spent substantial time on. Basically go where you want but it's undiscovered territory so what you find there will happen to be what I made and then I place it on the map permanently once they encounter it.
I think world maps are different though to me. Because world maps you make one or two or a handful not one for EVERY session. So totally agree!
Perfect! I am right there with you as a GM. The game moves faster in a lot of RP and even combat situations without a physical map. We love theater of the mind, unless it’s a bigger complex chamber or area. Then we are mapping! 👍🏼
I love a balance, but I also love making maps hahaha. So it's hard for me not to make a map. This is my reminder that TOTM works too hahaha
@@CantripsMedia Yes! The combination can speed up the pace of play. Thanks
Dear RUclips,
Kylie is cool.
There, I said it.
Roll Persuasion.
Feeding the YouTune algorithm. You’re cool. ❤
Thank you ❤️
This is a reminder for me too!! THANK YOU!
No problem! Perhaps we can keep each other accountable 😆
I am part of the people who can't visualize things in my head (aphantasia)
But I also freaking love the creativity present in theater of the mind play as a GM
And strongly agree that prep time is much lower without
Yeah, that's why I definitely wanted to mention that some people have a hard time without visuals and to really only use TOTM when there's like only low level or small amounts of enemies. Cause I'm a DM that struggles with keeping track if that in my head. I CAN but it's difficult for me hahaha.
But some people are downright amazing at it!
@@CantripsMedia strongly agree and that was a great shout-out for realizing that no one is equal in that way
I actually think that huge crowds are easier by using sound or any other sense and not much more to simulate than little groups where more roleplay and interaction is needed which means harder time to visualize the NPCs / enemies you're interacting with
I have that problem too, keeping a lot in my head can be quite hard; that's why I have a notebook or my computer next to me when I GM even though I tend to be quite bad at taking notes on the fly
I totally agree, I've had some GMs that were like this and that helped quite a lot! But even those who are worse at this usually make up in other areas
And the most paramount metric to me is and will always remain the fun my players are having at the table
Absolutely!!! At the end of the day as long as everyone is having fun that's all that matters
Hey Kylie, your past self made a really awesome video to remind you that present day you (which was future you back then) don't need to make a map.
Ooof, meanwhile I was on the discord server making maps for next week's video HAHA
@@CantripsMedia I feel like past you didn't comment on making maps for videos... so I think you're in the clear. But then again you know past you better than anyone.
You're right! A ~~loophole~~ I mean, a necessary task!
This changes everything.
As every video I make should. 🤣
I LOVE a great map! BUT, I have found that players will either always expect an upcoming battle to happen or many players will get distracted by a map and not pay as much attention to what's going on. One way I have gotten around this is to use theater of the mind, along with a background art scene. This can be used with both roleplay and TotM combat, if needed. This relates to online play, of course. 🙂
That's an excellent point! Maps CAN be distracting. I should have added that in. Thank you for sharing!!
@@CantripsMedia My pleasure!
Background image is a great idea actually, in vtt this would still allow tokens to be on the scene for rolling
... Pretty map fun tho
Oh you're not wrong. But I def need to cut back on SOME of them hahaha
@@CantripsMedia Valid! Always Do what works for you, I just get hyper obsessive bout these things.
@@TangledLion That's the problem too for me. If I'm going to map a map it's gotta be RIGHT and match the style and theme of my other maps. It's a lot of work for that sometimes. But also can be fun as long as I don't burn myself out on them!
@@CantripsMedia I personally save myself time by going with Premade Adventure Paths, which means its easy to find perfect maps 90% of the time but... When it comes to tokens... Uhhhhh... *Stares at the HOURS I've sometimes spent getting art for a token that looks EXACTLY like the book description even though my players would never know.* yeah
Hahaha luckily for me I don't have the same problem with tokens MOST of the time. But for a boss battle or important NPC it's gotta be PERFECT.
And also that's the problem too, I don't use premade modules as much. Or if I do I add side adventures or additional things to it that means more maps hahaha
You are so right. Thanks 😊👍
You are so welcome!
I just use nijijourney or midjourney to get a background backdrop with some cut outs of the NPCs. The only thing that takes time is the transparent NPC cut outs which is taken care of with an automated script in photoshop to get a transparent cut out of that NPC.
That's an option. I just know that I would spend way too much time trying to generate the right image and then probably be like "well I could design this in dungeondraft and get exactly what I want" hahaha. I have a PROBLEM 😅hahaha
This is great! I’m doing more theater of the mind with close/ near/ far distances since switching to Shadowdark. And it’s working out well. Hey, RUclips… she’s cool!
Perfect timing then!
Also Roll Persuasion to convince RUclips I'm cool!