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Over the last couple of session both me and my players have had issues with remaining on top of how the situations in combat develop. In addition, I'm getting tired of having to constantly yell "stances" and telling the players how many opponents remain this turn.

So I am making a prototype game mat:


I'm going to use decorative glass beads (ones with flat bottoms) to represent different sorts of enemies and use different colors for player characters and I guess I could use minis if I'd want to but I don't really want to spend the money.

This way I have an accurate representation and neat kinetic elements for players to get them more engaged.

Anyone else use anything similar?

I use the following stance mat and combat task and role cards:

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/795 ... %20Mat.pdf

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/795 ... 0Cards.pdf

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/795 ... 0Cards.pdf

The stance mat is based of Voidstate's original but amended with my house rules and those additional rules I use from the AC; the combat stance/task cards are similar but use the sexy graphics that Zedturtle created. The combat role cards are recently put together by myself.

As a whole they really help the players and keep things moving along at a fair rate. Also, I do *love* using my collection of miniatures on the Stance Mat; it really helps bring the game to life in a visual way.

NB - I've also done some Journey Task cards, but these are for my house ruled journey mechanics: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/795 ... 0Cards.pdf

Rich H wrote:I use the following stance mat and combat task and role cards:
As a whole they really help the players and keep things moving along at a fair rate. Also, I do *love* using my collection of miniatures on the Stance Mat; it really helps bring the game to life in a visual way.

Those look really nice!

I'd use miniatures if I'd have any, but they're not something I'd spend money on right now.

I thought, what's a few quid for some miniatures and checked the prices - bloody hell. When did they become so expensive. Always knew the plastic Warhammer stuff was shockingly over-inflated but...

Feeling nostalgic now as back in the old days hobbits cost 40p and 60p for a standard miniature. Picking up an adventuring party cost a couple of quid, a fiver if you grabbed a blister pack of common monsters and all in white metal.

Jussi Marttila wrote:

Rich H wrote:I use the following stance mat and combat task and role cards:
As a whole they really help the players and keep things moving along at a fair rate. Also, I do *love* using my collection of miniatures on the Stance Mat; it really helps bring the game to life in a visual way.

Those look really nice!

I'd use miniatures if I'd have any, but they're not something I'd spend money on right now.

I know not everybody here is a fan of board games, but personally I use the miniatures from the War of the Ring; they're not as good as GW ones, but you have more than 200 of them, a good variety of Tolkienian figures (many orcs, goblins, trolls, even spiders and bats with the new expansion) and they're light and easy to carry. For that price I don't think you can get a lot of other miniatures. Plus you get some tokens if you need them (e.g. for Fellowship Pool, Eye Awareness, etc.)

Ofc if you don't have the game it's quite an expense, but if you enjoy board games I think it's one of the best Tolkien adaptations out there (and a good TOR miniature provider).

I have made these Stancecards:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/p6b9gpvwompv0 ... n.pdf?dl=0

The pdf is quite hard to read, but I print and laminate them and I like the outcome.

amajo wrote:Ofc if you don't have the game it's quite an expense, but if you enjoy board games I think it's one of the best Tolkien adaptations out there (and a good TOR miniature provider).

... I just realized I own the game and it's sitting at a friend's house. Thanks for reminding me.

These are great, thank you Hirobumi. I tried to make something similar but I'm hopeless at graphic design. Now we just have to see if my players' eyes are sharp enough to read this in candlelight.

Now we just have to see if my players' eyes are sharp enough to read this in candlelight.

Let me know how it works out for you. Maybe I can make a better version for your purpose, if the cards are too dark for your players. As I wrote, I tested a lot how they look when I print and laminate them and the pdf looks much darker than the finished cards. Just try it and let me know if they work for you.

Jussi Marttila wrote:Those look really nice!

Thanks; they do really help the players out so were worth doing. Printed, backed, and laminated - they look great. I'm pretty pleased with the clear and clean design and readability. I could 'knock up' some RAW versions if you want and you'll get some use out of them?