Miniatures?

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The PnP D&D group I'm in has been going for about two and a half years now and originally we started out using miniatures for quite a few things, even just hanging around in a city. Pretty soon after that, we used them only to depict marching order (if necessary) and in combat and we carried on like that for some time. A few months ago, however, we decided to stop using miniatures altogether and leave even combat situations to the imagination only.

Naturally, this has changed a few of the rules, e.g. attacks of opportunity are now close enough to non-existant. Also, certain situations can crop-up in which the DM has one picture in his mind and a player has another, leading to a bit of confusion and disagreement. Obviously the DM's word prevails, but it can be a bit annoying or, at the least, surprising.

However, I think I would say that I definitely prefer not using miniatures now that we've "converted" as it were: it leaves so much more to the imagination and provides for more interesting role-playing. What's everyone else's opinion on using minatures? Do you prefer to play with or without? Also, f your group doesn't use them, what would you say is the best way of avoiding disagreements?

 

The rules were designed for the use of miniatures. The reduction of Attacks of Opportunity is a direct result of tactical thinking. That's normal. Also, if you can pre-draw maps, it speeds up the fighting encounters and reduces disagreements...

 

I love using miniatures and other items (in one game 2 Timbits [doughnut holes] were ogres). For me, it keeps things straight as to where players and monsters are in relation to one another. Spacial perception is not my thing.

 

Computers are the way to go. There's enough good programs out there which the DM can use to reproduce a battlefield and move minitures around it.

 

My Cousin uses Photoshop I believe...