| Dungeons and Dragons, the table top role playing | | | | from having to create maps by hand or from |
| game, has inspired many wonderful tools available | | | | having to draw maps on the fly with a battle mat. |
| for those of us who play the game. Dungeon tiles | | | | I prefer to save my creativity for the the story |
| are one of the lesser known tools. I'd like to | | | | and the non-player characters, so the tiles are |
| showcase their uses in this article. And remember, | | | | perfect for me. It's as though the tiles can set |
| they don't have to be limited to only actual | | | | the stage and I can populate it with my |
| Dungeons and Dragons gaming. You can use | | | | monsters, allies and strangers. |
| these versatile tiles in many RPGs. | | | | For the players, dungeon tiles give them a |
| The tiles are thick cardboard cut into several | | | | beautiful window into the imaginary world of the |
| sizes. The standard square size for a D&D | | | | game. That is one of the strengths and |
| map is a one-inch square, so these tiles are sized | | | | weaknesses of D&D -- so much of it |
| that way. The average set is going to have some | | | | happens inside each player's head. So having the |
| 8 by 8 tiles, 4 by 4 and 2 by 2. They come in | | | | tiles (along with your miniature figures, of course) |
| various themes -- themes familiar to any role | | | | can ground the player's experience. The players |
| player. You can find forest themes and dungeon | | | | have some nice drawings to help flesh out the |
| themes and sewer themes. Each side of the tile | | | | story. |
| has a different picture. The artwork is generally | | | | The designers do a great job of making sure that |
| top-notch on these and they do a great job of | | | | the terrain is varied and that there are good hiding |
| varying the terrain. So in a forest theme, for | | | | spots. In this way both the game master and the |
| example, you'll have tiles with a few trees and a | | | | players can take full tactical advantage of the tiles |
| few stumps. You'll have tiles with no trees, but a | | | | -- the archer can use a fallen log (to continue with |
| stream and the ruins of a stone wall. Or perhaps | | | | my forest theme) for cover. The game master |
| there will be a few tiles with giant spider webs | | | | can use the spot where two trees grow together |
| (think of the Mirkwood forest scene in "The | | | | as an ambush spot. |
| Hobbit"). | | | | Overall, for the price, dungeon tiles are a great |
| What makes dungeon tiles so awesome for the | | | | tool for a GM to have in his or her toolbox. Pick |
| game master is that they are sturdy and cheap | | | | up a pack of them and let your imagination run |
| (you can get about 30 tiles for $10). It saves you | | | | wild. |