As all the (tactical) maps in the AP (Glassworks, Thistletop...) have the tactical 5foot-grid on it, i thought that i should go for the mappack in hope for gridless "players" maps. But those in the mappack have the grid on them, too. So, whenever i bring up a map, all the players know that a battle is at hand shortly. That's a thing i want to avoid, so: are there any maps of this AP without the grid on them? I don't want to scan, photoshop and print them all, that time i would rather put in a decent preperation of the scenarios...
:D
Won't the simple fact that you are bringing up a map alert them to the fact that something is about to happen, whether a grid is present or not?
Won't the simple fact that you are bringing up a map alert them to the fact that something is about to happen, whether a grid is present or not?
No, not really. I use lots of maps for illustration. The Sandpoint map and Varisia Map are always present, as is an overview of the Sandpoint Hinterlands. Just for detail i use maps for buildings to enhance the imagination. But all those maps don't have a grid. The grid indicates the need to measure distancies - and what do you need those for, if not combat? I hope you see the point.
I'm with Greycloak. I remember seeing a gridded Rusty Dragon map somewhere, for example. Once you've used gridded maps for a couple scenes that don't devolve into a fight, it won't be much of an issue methinks.
The other alternative is not to bring out the combat maps until initiative is rolled ;)
That, and grids are just good for showing scale.
The grid used to bother me, but now I don't care so much.
Well, thanx for all the advice. I checked out the communtiy created stuff, which includes awesome handouts and maps i will use. Gridding all the maps would be possible but i like the smooth look of an ungridded map. Looks more "real". Having that grid is kind of disturbing and the only thing it is useful is in combat. We thought long about using miniatures at all, but after the first encounter we decided to give it a try.
Right now i scanned some maps, marked the grid in PS and faded it a bit, so that it isn't THAT obvious. Additionally, i erased the discribing numbers from it, the party shouldn't know, in what area they're in. And finally, to make it more realistic, i will cut out the rooms and place it on the table in that moment, the room becomes visible and explorable. Some kind of analog maptool, i guess. I will give that a try and see (and report, with pics, of course!).
Thx guys!