[RPG] Could a “Fog of war” prop break a game in any way

battle-map

I'm going to run the Pathfinder's Beginners Box scripted adventure that has a dungeon map printed.

This is not only the first time GMing, it's my first time playing an RPG. All of the party are new to RPGs too,

To keep the layout of the dungeon hidden (to keep it mysterious and "unexplored"), I'm going to use crumpled tissue paper to cover rooms of the dungeons until they're explored acting like a fog of war.

If I explain to the players exactly what this tissue paper is for, and lift it as they move through the dungeon, could this have any unintended negative consequences?

Best Answer

Aside from being unwieldly, prone to soda spills, sudden gusts of wind and players taking a peek…?

:-)

Personal opinion: As nice as professionally-printed dungeon maps might be, personally I much prefer sketching the current part of the dungeon on scratch paper as the players advance.

This has several advantages:

  • it is clear to everyone that my sketch is only a rough representation of reality (so players still listen to my descriptions and use their imagination instead of looking at a pretty printing);
  • I don't have problems with inadvertently uncovering unexplored parts ("I won't open the door! I can see there's a dragon on the other side!");
  • players can draw their own positions, sketch tactics etc., without me going "Argh! My map!";
  • frequently, ready-made maps contain GM-only information ("If I look into that corner with the little 'four' printed in it, what do I find?");
  • players are unclear about size and overall layout of the dungeon ("There has to be more in that direction, look at how much still-covered map there is!");
  • I get to chose the size of the map (A3, A4, A5, Post-It), adjusted to the size of the playing area;
  • I can change the layout of the dungeon on the fly if the events demand it;
  • since angles are never perfect, and I remove the paper with the current room(s) regularly to draw the next room on a fresh piece of paper, players can actually get a bit lost. They do have their chalk marks, sure, but they can't really put together a "perfect" map of the surroundings, just like they couldn't in reality.