Video Game-y?

Obviously. How is that conducive to a discussion though?

But anyway, OP. I understand your concerns. I’m not an older time. I’ve only been playing for 3 years and DMing for one.

I do think there is too much emphasis on maps. I’m with slyflourish on this. Grid maps can stifle creativity. For harder fight that can be extremely deadly ill use maps but for something easier, or just challenging but not necessarily deadly, I’ll do theater of the mind.

Same things for towns. I just need one simple map and not one for every single building. I do like automation as well but I expect my players to learn their classes. After 30 sessions, they do and I get to ask them questions when I don’t know something.

My best games have been off the rails and a lot of improv that didn’t require planned combat, maps and was just people laughing and role playing. I’ve had tough combat that was theater of the mind that forced the players to think differently as well. It’s kind of crazy to me how much love Critical Role gets and people ignore theater of the mind. Not that I’m a fan so whatever. You do you but I do think what I say can be infinitely more imaginative than what I display to my players.

/r/FoundryVTT Thread Parent