Posted by: "the_anonymous_dungeonmaster" anonymousjuggalo@...
the_anonymous_dungeonmaster
Date: Mon Jun 29, 2009 5:00 am ((PDT))

A few questions to start off... What's a battle grid, and why do I need
it? I've never used one as a player, is it a strictly DM thing? So far I'm
pretty sure I'm not going to use this tool, but maybe I'm missing something...
Also, what's the deal with NPC's, do I need to fully develop a character before
I insert them into a campaign? Can't I just make up names and write them down,
fill them in as I go?
Appreciate any input.

A battle grid can be of two types, either a 1" square oulined board (sort of
like making a chessboard smaller, and then scaling it up larger). My battle grid
is 2 feet x 3 feet. The second side does the same type of thing, you using a hex
grid, a field of 6-sided hegagrams.
The main purpose is be able to lay out where everyone is, and where stuff is
(trees, boulders, etc.) or the layout of the dungeon room with pillars, so its
easier to tell when someone can and can't shoot or hit someone else. If a
boulder or a pillar is in the way you certainly can't fire an arrow at him.
Is this a requirement? No. but if you get into battles with more than 2 or 3
characters per side it can be really useful. Plus, it makes it easier to
visualize the scene. My mat cost me $40, and was a great dry erase mat. When not
it use its rolled up and stuffed in the back of a closet.

NPC's
Having names ahead of time is very useful. Some NPC's you probably want to
determine several things about ahead of time. The Tavern owner who used to be an
adventurer, who can teach the party things, can give them tips, etc you will
want identified ahead of time - especially if the group will be in an area for a
significant amount of time.

The random characters that they meet once, and don't offer anything more than
'window dressing' - stuff to help set the mood/scene - you don't even need names
for, unless you want to.

I've been playing/Dming for over 30 years, and have found a huge number of tools
online in the last 5 years.

Check out www.roleplayingtips.com and sign up for their newsletter - John Four
has been publishing this newsletter for years. You can download all of his tips
in a zip file too! If you do a google search on "D&D NPC" without the quotes,
you get a lot of good info.

Good luck, have fun, and play/DM your heart out.