DUNGEON MASTER'S GUIDE TO ROLEPLAYING – IT’S ALL IN THE MIND
Maps and minis, or a world of words? We talk chewing the scenery of the theatre of the mind
Words by Richard Jansen-Parkes | Image courtesy of Modiphius
Under one of normal those GMs circumstances, who will turn I’m up at a gaming night laden with boxes of miniatures and sheaves of carefully chosen battlemaps. The mere sight of a well-built dungeon packed with monsters and well-plotted sightlines is enough to bring a smile to my face and diabolical thought to my mind.
However, sometimes even I feel the need to ditch the maps and minis. Instead, we play battles out purely through description and discussion – a process generally known as theatre of the mind.
Often this is a matter of practicality. At time of writing, for example, my games are being run exclusively through online video-chats that pile impracticalities upon the use of props. But even if you aren’t stuck at home, there are plenty of scenarios that don’t lend themselves to a grid, such as a chase through a bustling city street or an aerial duel taking place of the back of giant eagles.