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5 months ago ::
Jan 07, 2013 - 2:17PM
#1
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A group of us are wanting to start playing D&D 4 but I have a question about how to use the maps in the senarios. In each of the senarios it has Maps of what an encounter will look like. But I can never seem to find a full size version of the map anywhere in the senario? How are these intended to be used? Is there a book of maps that I was suppose to purchase? Point me in the right direction here. Thanks!
-Jeff
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5 months ago ::
Jan 07, 2013 - 2:19PM
#2
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Date Joined:
Jul 21, 2004
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Yeah, that's an issue. You can buy Dungeon Tiles, which some of the maps are made of, but it's probably better to just draw your own, or use some other existing map in a creative way. You don't have to run the encounters exactly as presented.
Good luck.
[N]o difference is less easily overcome than the difference of opinion about semi-abstract questions. - L. Tolstoy
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5 months ago ::
Jan 07, 2013 - 2:26PM
#3
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Just seems silly to me that they would take time to create the map, then not spend the extra 2 seconds to place a useable one in the book with it. If I could at least just purchase them that would be great too. As much as I want to spend time creating a bunch of stuff, I would rather just pay someone else to do it so I can spend my time playing. =P To each his own I guess.
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5 months ago ::
Jan 07, 2013 - 2:32PM
#4
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I would suggest looking at the various maps in the DMG as a basis, and work from there. Buy a battlemat and wet-erase markers. If you can, draw the map(s) out ahead of time. If you can, get a double-sided battlemat so you can just flip it over.
To me, one of the most frustrating things was that when modules did come with maps, they'd print out the easy, square maps, but leave us to draw up the most convoluted and complicated ones.
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5 months ago ::
Jan 07, 2013 - 2:34PM
#5
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Date Joined:
Jul 21, 2004
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Just seems silly to me that they would take time to create the map, then not spend the extra 2 seconds to place a useable one in the book with it.
I expect it's more to do with the money.
If I could at least just purchase them that would be great too. As much as I want to spend time creating a bunch of stuff, I would rather just pay someone else to do it so I can spend my time playing. =P To each his own I guess.
It takes two seconds to sketch out a map, and probably less time to repurpose an old one. Plenty of games don't even use maps, and with enough trust at the table 4th Edition doesn't require one either.
[N]o difference is less easily overcome than the difference of opinion about semi-abstract questions. - L. Tolstoy
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5 months ago ::
Jan 07, 2013 - 2:43PM
#6
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Hmm, I guess I see what you are saying. I think that part of the appeal of this was being able to play out little battles with minis. Maybe a different game would be closer to what we are looking for.
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5 months ago ::
Jan 07, 2013 - 2:45PM
#7
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Date Joined:
Jul 21, 2004
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Hmm, I guess I see what you are saying. I think that was part of the appeal of this was being able to play out little battles with minis. Maybe a different game would be closer to what we are looking for.
Yes, probably. Besides which, the D&D combat rules are flatly uninteresting compared to dedicated wargames, as they're designed to be a loose framework that allows anything a player can think of, rather than something that covers every option.
[N]o difference is less easily overcome than the difference of opinion about semi-abstract questions. - L. Tolstoy
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5 months ago ::
Jan 07, 2013 - 2:50PM
#8
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Well Thanks for the help. At least I won't be going mad trying to find the correct maps =P I supposed we can give this a shot. The worst that can happen is we hate it! Thanks again.
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5 months ago ::
Jan 07, 2013 - 2:59PM
#9
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Playing 4e without some kind of map is akin to taking a motorcycle, removing the engine, and raplcing it with a chain and foot pedals. It's possible, but completely against its design and purpose. Buying a wet erase board is probably the easiest, but you can print graph paper for free, and spend a few seconds drawing it up. Mini's aren't specifically necessary, but you do want something to represent everything in combat. Again, you can get free print-out paper minis online, or buy a supplement like the MonsterVault which comes with hundreds of monster tokens to use.
FWIW [4e designer] baseline assumption was that roughly 70% of your feats would be put towards combat effectiveness, parties would coordinate, and strikers would do 20/40/60 at-will damage+novas. If your party isn't doing that... well, you are below baseline, so yes, you need to optimize slightly to meet baseline.
-Alcestis
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5 months ago ::
Jan 07, 2013 - 3:03PM
#10
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Date Joined:
Jul 21, 2004
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Playing 4e without some kind of map is akin to taking a motorcycle, removing the engine, and raplcing it with a chain and foot pedals.
It's possible, but completely against its design and purpose.
The design and purpose was to allow players to do cool things without having to clear it with the DM. If players don't mind clearing it with the DM, or the DM gives the players narrative control, and there's a enough trust at the table, not only do you not need a map but you can do something better without a map.
[N]o difference is less easily overcome than the difference of opinion about semi-abstract questions. - L. Tolstoy
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