Best way to do maps for PbP?


Advice


I've seen google docs spreadsheets, that was nice and simple. What else do people use?


The way I've done it in the past, when I did PbP more was just have a map with Number-Letter coordinates. If it was a dungeon-map, where you wanted some of it to remain hidden, just upload the map each time with more and more filled out as they explore. For Battle Maps, just upload the full battle map with coordinates, and have them reference the coordinates.

Alternatively you could do Theatre of the Mind, but it's up to you. I prefer maps, but if the DM is too busy to make up maps, TotM can work fine; it's not a ton of work, but it can add up, depending on how often combat encounters come up. Personally, I've never found it too much work if you prep the maps ahead of time, but I can recognize that it can be more work than some DMs can afford.


I like ToTM but a lot of players want to make sure they are gettin the most out of certain feat investments that effect AoO's and stuff, so I find it's hard to find many people to go gridless.


One thing I didn't mention, that might be of note, is to make sure both you as the GM and the players write up an OOC description of what they do, like:

Move: A3 to E2 (if it matters for AoOs, Difficult Terrain or the like, you could describe the specific path, like A3-B2-C2-D1-E2)
Standard: Attack Orc #2 [link to roll] vs AC
Swift: If this drops the enemy [do one thing], else [do another]

Because especially if you're using a grid, it's very important to make sure peoples' locations are easy to find. If people have a header where they keep stuff like statuses or HP or such, Location would also go there.


OK that makes sense.

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