You REALLY don't need a map. (Even for your VTT)

You REALLY don't need a map. (Even for your VTT) | DM Tips

Рет қаралды 2,384

Күн бұрын

Yeah, grids are an optional rule in D&D 5e, but I think those of us who use Foundry VTT, Roll20 or other VTTs feel like we need to make maps for every encounter. And I mean, while mapmaking is definitely fun, it can also take up that sweet sweet prep time that DM's already don't have enough of.
So here are several reasons for you (and future me) not to make a map for your next D&D campaign session, even if you are using a VTT.
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/ @cantripsmedia
// TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Intro
0:29 Theater of the Mind. Yeah that exists.
1:02 Use a grid!
1:29 More creativity?
2:16 Don't have to prep every encounter
2:30 Save time
2:39 Reduce stress
2:49 Stop fiddling with Token Art
2:57 Don't make maps you NEVER USE
3:22 Some people have a hard time without visuals
3:38 When to use Theater of the Mind
3:54 Use PENNIES!
4:30 Use a combo of Grid and TOTM
5:38 GET STUFF!
// ALL THE WAYS TO CONNECT WITH ME
Website: cantripsmedia.com/
Discord: / discord
Instagram: / cantripsmedia
Facebook: / cantripsmedia
// ABOUT CANTRIPS MEDIA
Cantrips Media creates handmade notebooks, journals, and stationery products for TTRPGs like Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder 2e, and more. It's run by me, Kylie, out of our small studio space near Pittsburgh, PA with the help of my new assistant. I created this channel to help share some of my tips and tricks for D&D 5e as well as how to use some of my creations in your D&D campaigns. Slowly I've started expanding to other TTRPGs and even video games! If you'd like to learn more about me or my business, check out our website cantripsmedia.com
// TOOLS I USE
For Journal Creation:
Levenger Discbound Punch: amzn.to/3q8M5cz
Arc Staples Punch: amzn.to/3wGRzOs
For Videos:
Camera - Canon M50: amzn.to/3ynKwdo
Camera Stand: amzn.to/2WxeG0L
// MUSIC CREDIT
For most livestreams I use this music during my games:
@MichaelGhelfiStudios
michaelghelfistudios.com/
// DISCLOSURE
I only recommend products I would or have used myself and all opinions expressed here are my own. Some links in this description may be affiliate links that at no additional cost to you, may earn me a small commission. Thank you for all your support!

Пікірлер: 77

@CantripsMedia 5 күн бұрын

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: kzfaq.info/love/XwR-xgjuzeaJ4xGY0d9uGgjoin

@nicklikethesoup 5 күн бұрын

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.

@CantripsMedia 5 күн бұрын

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.

@keithulhu 5 күн бұрын

Yes, I do need a map. I'm a very visual person and can't keep track of everything via theater of the mind.

@CantripsMedia 5 күн бұрын

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!

@DaPiffadiddle 5 күн бұрын

Thanks for the reminder! I go down rabbit holes of trying to find the PERFECT map, and I need to chill. 😅

@CantripsMedia 5 күн бұрын

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.

@taragnor 3 күн бұрын

@@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.

@CantripsMedia 3 күн бұрын

💯

@dragoonsunite 4 күн бұрын

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.

@CantripsMedia 3 күн бұрын

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!

@Merlinstergandaldore 5 күн бұрын

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.

@CantripsMedia 5 күн бұрын

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!!

@HappyTokenz 5 күн бұрын

You are so right. Thanks 😊👍

@CantripsMedia 5 күн бұрын

You are so welcome!

@nerdaccount 5 күн бұрын

This is a reminder for me too!! THANK YOU!

@CantripsMedia 5 күн бұрын

No problem! Perhaps we can keep each other accountable 😆

@Metal-Spark 3 күн бұрын

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.

@CantripsMedia 3 күн бұрын

Yes exactly!! I think I mentioned that in a different video but forgot to mention it again here

@mikehallaron 4 күн бұрын

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! 👍🏼

@CantripsMedia 3 күн бұрын

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

@mikehallaron 3 күн бұрын

@@CantripsMedia Yes! The combination can speed up the pace of play. Thanks

@ricebrown1 5 күн бұрын

"A ticket to the theater of the mind costs only your attention."

@avengingblowfish9653 5 күн бұрын

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.

@CantripsMedia 5 күн бұрын

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!

@DMTalesTTRPG 5 күн бұрын

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.

@CantripsMedia 5 күн бұрын

I bet they get really creative! Plus not having to do the extra mapmaking work is a dream haha. Thank you for sharing!!

@MemphiStig 3 күн бұрын

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.

@CantripsMedia 15 сағат бұрын

Grids and maps ARE an optional rule and aren't required for a good game, that's for sure. Thanks for sharing!!

@aedemoth 3 күн бұрын

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 😅

@CantripsMedia 3 күн бұрын

That's a good compromise for sure!

@JakubMcJabbo 2 күн бұрын

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.

@CantripsMedia 2 күн бұрын

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

@JazzyBassy 4 күн бұрын

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.

@CantripsMedia 4 күн бұрын

All very useful and perfectly valid alternatives! Thank you for sharing

@stevenstark5797 5 күн бұрын

This changes everything.

@CantripsMedia 5 күн бұрын

As every video I make should. 🤣

@JessicaMorgani 4 күн бұрын

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.

@davefrazier6019 5 күн бұрын

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.

@CantripsMedia 5 күн бұрын

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.

@juauke 4 күн бұрын

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

@CantripsMedia 3 күн бұрын

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!

@juauke 2 күн бұрын

@@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 2 күн бұрын

Absolutely!!! At the end of the day as long as everyone is having fun that's all that matters

@windmark8040 5 күн бұрын

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. 🙂

@CantripsMedia 5 күн бұрын

That's an excellent point! Maps CAN be distracting. I should have added that in. Thank you for sharing!!

@windmark8040 5 күн бұрын

@@CantripsMedia My pleasure!

@Mr_Welch 5 күн бұрын

I just do the Dragon Age 2 method. Use the same map for every encounter

@CantripsMedia 5 күн бұрын

Hahahahaha. That would definitely work!

@oneheart537 5 күн бұрын

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.

@CantripsMedia 5 күн бұрын

Ooof, meanwhile I was on the discord server making maps for next week's video HAHA

@oneheart537 5 күн бұрын

@@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.

@CantripsMedia 5 күн бұрын

You're right! A ~~loophole~~ I mean, a necessary task!

@agilemonk6305 3 күн бұрын

Feeding the YouTune algorithm. You’re cool. ❤

@CantripsMedia 3 күн бұрын

Thank you ❤️

@nelsondossantosmoreira8758 4 күн бұрын

But.... But..... Maps are so pretty 😢. Oh well. In the end you're right. Thank you past kailey 😅

@CantripsMedia 3 күн бұрын

I mean.... Do we HAVE to listen to past me? Hahahaha

@Larlanen 5 күн бұрын

Dear KZfaq, Kylie is cool. There, I said it.

@CantripsMedia 5 күн бұрын

Roll Persuasion.

@keeperoflenneth 4 күн бұрын

You do not need to make a map for that. Just doing as instructed.

@CantripsMedia 3 күн бұрын

Um, I don't wanna say wait until this week's video... But uh... Might involve maps hahahaha

@carllefler5492 5 күн бұрын

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, KZfaq… she’s cool!

@CantripsMedia 5 күн бұрын

Perfect timing then! Also Roll Persuasion to convince KZfaq I'm cool!

@zerolv30000 5 күн бұрын

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.

@CantripsMedia 5 күн бұрын

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

@einheit02 3 күн бұрын

Unless you have neurodivergent/autistic players who really struggle without a visual representation of where they are in game.

@CantripsMedia 3 күн бұрын

Did you watch the whole video? I do mention that towards the end.

@TangledLion 5 күн бұрын

... Pretty map fun tho

@CantripsMedia 5 күн бұрын

Oh you're not wrong. But I def need to cut back on SOME of them hahaha

@TangledLion 5 күн бұрын

@@CantripsMedia Valid! Always Do what works for you, I just get hyper obsessive bout these things.

@CantripsMedia 5 күн бұрын

@@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!

@TangledLion 5 күн бұрын

@@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

@CantripsMedia 5 күн бұрын

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