This is a visual way to handle swash buckle-y combat without complex battle mats used by several game systems. The idea is to use an index card for each abstract zone of the scenery with a gameplay feature in it. - ThreadSky

delaneyking.bsky.social • 201 days ago

This is a visual way to handle swash buckle-y combat without complex battle mats used by several game systems.

The idea is to use an index card for each abstract zone of the scenery with a gameplay feature in it.

Comments

bearnadette.bsky.social•201 days ago

ohhhh i was working on building up a similar system to this in my notes somewhere after playing like one session of the electrum archives

delaneyking.bsky.social•201 days ago

The idea is halfway between theatre of the mind and tactical miniatures play.

Characters can move between zones for free, but need to make a run action or dexterity check to cross through a zone.

When inside a zone, they can use any features there, such as cover, sea saws on barrels, ropes etc

delaneyking.bsky.social•201 days ago

By having the space boiled down to features with easy visual reminders, players can use them in their tactics using their imagination to fill in the rest of the space.

It's low mental energy terrain.

delaneyking.bsky.social•201 days ago

In my Star Wars campaign, I made little sketches of the shots the players may see when they are imagining the film in their heads.

delaneyking.bsky.social•201 days ago

Each card is a feature though, so here is the landing gear and ramp of the player's ship... and you bet there was a shoot out here.

delaneyking.bsky.social•201 days ago

I highly recommend Index Card RPG for this method, and also point to D6 RPG, Traveller and FATE for other examples of semi abstracted game spaces.

delaneyking.bsky.social•201 days ago

The point is, give players tools for their imaginations. In exciting combat, that means features. Features are things they can easily imagine using in their strategies.

A feature can be an index card, trading card, prop, post it note etc

lurks-no-more.bsky.social•201 days ago

Oh, that's a very clever idea. And easy to prep for! You could have a whole deck of zone cards, and just whip up random battlefields if you didn't have anything in mind... I'll have to give this a try when/if I'm next GMing something!

guy.dev•201 days ago

I call this theatre of the tabletop. It's a key principle for ICRPG, of course, but also Ultimate Dungeon Terrain.

itserandi.bsky.social•201 days ago

This is really neat.

izombieeu.bsky.social•201 days ago

I like this idea and had been playing with something along those lines somewhere in my brainmeat after having found fate zones abstractness a bit of a stretch for some of my players. I've a regular that needs visuals to work with.

meekbarbarian.com•201 days ago

I bet this system could be done so that a decent number of cards are reusable, too!

Either save them as images (digital/remote play) or keep them in some sort of card box with a name on the back and sort them alphabetically.

meekbarbarian.com•201 days ago

Index cards and abstract zones? This has @slyflourish.com vibes written all over it!

millevitasvixi.bsky.social•200 days ago

This is absolutely amazing.
Thanks for sharing!

nerdypupgames.bsky.social•201 days ago

This slaps! I did something similar a while back for a Star Wars game, but just drew everything as one drawing, adding details as the scene evolves. Separate cards fixes the main issue we had -- answering the question "can I get there on my turn?"