Which Comes FIRST? 2 KEY D&D Combat Creation DM Tips

[@somerton4383]

Thanks for the video! I'm a novice DM and am trying to create an adventure at the moment and I feel this was quite reassuring to calm those pre-campaign nerves 😊

[@soMeRandoM670]

Awesome coach!

[@nitehood108]

I have several Loke battle map books, and I really like them. My favorites are square books that come in pairs because they can fit in a backpack (which can't really be said for the Giant books) and fit together really well to make nice, spacious maps. Cool to see they're doing sponsorships now.

[@odinulveson9101]

Yeah those are great! Got the one called Castles, Crypts and Dungeons I think. Perfect even for when autumn comes with all its spookiness

[@mohawkgunsmith7569]

I use Chat GPT to suggest several level appropriate monsters to fight and a fitting side quest. GPT usually gives me 5-7 quests with listed monsters, from there I print and paint the needed minis

[@storytime7408]

I often know where they are (environment), and then I really work on what encounters will be there. Then I narrow down the terrain in my mind. And I'll start looking at pictures. Then I will work out the encounter. nI certainly have lookes at a map or picture, and think "Oooh. I could do something here" and build around that. But I am guilty of putting together encounters based eintirely on monsters, like a krakken, or a roc. I think this is one of the advantages of running 90% TotM, I can always show them the pic if I need help to ground them in the world. Another great video. I really like when you talk about building encounters. Keep up the great work.

[@Death_Wish]

I’ve never thought about this. I’ve always been monster first then map, but I think map first then monster could potentially be incredibly interesting.

[@przemysawjozwiak144]

Hi Coach! The problem with preprepared maps is that they sometime miss obvious elements like toilet in the castle 😉 If I would have a least so many minatures as you I would walk around a room and choose monsters that I want have but finding good map for them could take a lot of time. As I remember one of your self made campaign one time you use your map of dungeon that looks like few boxes with few words conected by few lines that players need to imagine by hearing your amazing description. Simple, fast and unforgettable 🤫

[@MRspider236]

For me when i'm planning an encounter i always start with the players tools ( items, weapons abilities, etc.) and ask myself what tools in the players disposal do i want to emphasize and what tools do i feel like are to relied on by the player, and I go on from there.

[@ReplicatorFifth]

Mechanics are always fun! It’s nice to have a boss monster to have a gimmick that makes it exciting.

[@davidrose7938]

Theater of the mind at my table, but… I still do a rough map sketch for myself so I can keep track of where my party is at. That said, to DC’s question… I do maps before monsters and I don’t have many minis. To help theater of the mind we place minis, or tokens, with no map. It helps bring all the minds together spatially.

[@EmethMatthew]

I feel like I tend to go "mini" monster to map, despite my having more maps and very few minis. I tend to use paper printouts on little holder pieces for my minis and the reason I have so many maps is because I end up with something too specific in mind for the battlefield based on the story, so I'm always trying to find the perfect map that fits, but I tend to fall back on just a sketched map regardless because of there being some issue. Regardless I'm very interested in videos like this for refining the process!

[@odinulveson9101]

As a rookie D.M. I go for a middle approach. Minis and 2d maps. The other variation is 2d maps then minis. The purer approach is minis + 3d terrain in either order or markers/ acryl 2d minis on 2d maps in either orde. The first is most expensive than the latter. Again I compromise with minis + 2d maps/ tiles etc

[@King_Hodop]

Maps 100%. I always start with a map and then build a combat to fit around it. YOOOO I HAVE THAT SAME WEBCAM!!!

[@sleepinggiant4062]

I'm reminded of Ripley fighting the Queen alien. I really like the size of these maps. They also seem hefty enough to stay in place while using them. Mini or map? Neither. I usually start with environment, then randomly generate encounters until I see one I like.

[@milesmatheson1142]

Roll20 for the DM, theatre of the mind for players.

[@Wolvesofthenight]

I tend to start with my many different monster manual type books. The problem is I find a monster that I really want to use for a mini that I don't have. So to kind have to theater of the mind it while placing a placeholder flat plastic mini on a base. Then I usually build up the map afterwards. I have a large battle mat and I have the flat cardboard terrain from a great company called 1984. (Looks very similar to yours) {would make an awesome sponsor} Between drawing out some of the maps and throwing down the terrain it takes a bit of time to work on the big battle maps. So I guess I go monster first and then map.

[@JarlHavi]

I do all three at the same time MUAHAHAHA!! I honestly don't have an order to my madness. I just go with the flow

[@Tysto]

I've started using AI to produce select dungeon chambers. They tend to be big, with staircases and columns and pools of water and hanging braziers and whatnot that I would never build into a room, because they aren't necessary. So starting with something I have to invent a reason for existing gets my creativity flowing, and combats are more interesting in multi-level spaces. Also, I've tried to embrace more ruins. Most dungeons should be under a ruins of some kind, anyway, and they can look amazing. In both cases, I have a picture I can show players and say "This is what you see."

[@1776huckleberry]

Including some of my warhammer models I think I'm up to somewhere between 250-350 minis, not counting the 20 gnolls and 50 skeletons i just picked up. I am just now starting to make some terrain, I have a few laser cut buildings as well! Terrain hits harder than minis in terms of overall experience to the game but has diminishing returns as far as reusing them unless you have modular terrain, though modular usually lacks some character since it has to be flexible.

[@foxunix101]

I do monster first. But now I am thinking……. I do sometimes do maps first. But when I do that it’s because I need a map for where my PCs are

[@MikChaos]

Cannot recommend Loke Battle Maps enough. They are fantastic.

[@bryan__m]

I don't own minis. So... map, by default. Though the question is strange because it presumes I'm just making combat from scratch, which I don't think I've ever really done. It's usually organic out of the story, so the combatant and location are already decided.

[@llamatronian101]

Maps are easy. Throw a packet of dry erase markers on the table and say "the fight takes place in a tavern with a roaring fireplace in the front and a kitchen in the back by the stables." The players draw the map while I get the minis and notes out. I feel like people get too concerned about things looking good.

[@mikeyrambo2742]

The second you said map, or mini you lost me. I only play theater of the mind.

[@artistpoet5253]

It starts when my players are deliberately trying to irritate a NPC because they think being Tik Tok Trolls is 'cool'. We play theater of the mind mostly. The only map that ever shows up in our game is the one they discover while investigating or adventuring.