Managing miniatures at the beginning of an encounter

[JackLuminous]

I've been having some problems while DMing with my friends. It's been a minor hindrance so I have no yet addressed it but here it goes...

How do you proceed at the beginning of an encounter whenever your players have to place their miniatures on the grid? Mine always seem to place them pretty much wherever they want, usually implying that they're in an advantageous battle stance with the casters well behind the fighters and such.

[Bandw2]

I have them declare their positioning whenever they move over any measurable distance in a group. when battle starts that's the position they're in.

[Randarak]

A standard marching order is established before any combat. As I use Dwarven Forge stuff to layout my rooms, I build as I go, or build before session, and so miniatures are moved through the set up as the players progress. Once combat is indicated, they are wherever they were before combat started.

For example, if they had just entered the room, then they are all standing by the door. If they are all in the room, doing a variety of activities, then they are wherever they are when combat starts. They don't get to position themselves for combat. That's just not how it works.

If you're walking down the street, and somebody picks a fight with you, you don't get to say to them, "Hold on, I've got to get into a more strategic position." You improvise.

[GeneMemeScene]

Yeah, generally my groups announce their positions as they're walking, considering it's important for unexpected environmental hazards as well as combat.

[Eltacolibre]

Marching order, clearly indicating where they entering from in a room. Still tho, not usual for my players to have a basic formation, casters in the back, melee in the front.

[Claxon]

DAMMIT! Stupid website just ate my very long post.

The abridged version is: Marching order. Don't let them place themselves wherever they want. Don't place enemy tokens until after they have placed themselves.