I really enjoyed the pier/ship one in Nicodranas in M9. It wasn't intended to be epic, but just looked so damn good. It helped that it was a fairly funny fight.
I remember that being the first time I was truly blown away by the maps. The drawings were always cool and creative, but seeing a town square fully realized like that was just incredible.
I'm in a C1 rewatch myself right now, aiming to finish the Briarwood arc before Legend of Vox Machina drops to have a fresh comparison in mind for it, and I'm right after the K'Varn fight in the Underdark. I've come to realize just how much I missed the simple paper and sharpie maps from back then. Yeah, the Dwarven Forge stuff is fucking sweet, especially when you get the tricked out ones with running water and fog effects and light up props and stuff, but there's a beautiful simplicity to those paper maps that reminds you that this all started as a home game with a bunch of nerdy-ass voice actors just hanging out and having fun with each other.
I think my favorite is the one he never used sorta. C2 and the boats and Taliesin just flips the other boat and Matt just tears up all the sheets he had plannned.
Kings cage. Not as epic as some of the others, but i haven't been as scared for the pc's any other time. Not to mention the badass dungeon crawl that led up to it.
Personally, my favorite was avocados lair(don't remember his real name) I liked it being underground, and underwater. The coral aspect was really nice.
Wanna call out one I haven't seen yet. The stone family menagerie. 1) cause it was so pretty, being set in a jungle and all and 2) because it was a very dynamic map with interesting mechanics. An enemy we a charge attack and objects you DO NOT want broken
While we'd get similar concepts in C2 with the nautical combat here and there, C1's airship map will always stand out in my memory for me as one of the more interesting C1 maps. Especially the realization that they were very high in the air and that if you could get someone overboard, odds are they weren't coming back. That and I just love airships.
In order to not spoil anything, I'll just say that when they fight a BBEG, Matt really goes all out with the set design. The "final boss" fights of C1 and C2, as well as a battle against a particularly firey foe on C1 are good examples.
I’ve always wondered, how many battles are possible for the cast to creatively sidestep when Matt has made these insane dioramas? Seems like pen on a mat is better for allowing all the infinite possibilities of D&D?
I got to say - while some of these sets are pretty to look at, it's not what I like the most in the show. I very much like the hand drawn maps better than fancy expensive set pieces. And not because I think it's edgy or anything, they just feel like they are exactly how Mercer/Dm's in general picture the fight. Such as allowing more flexibility and range to the map. For the same reason I love the personalized mini's he makes for his Boss' battles - they are what he wants him to be. I'm all for having some nice pieces to drop in there - like flickering torches or a nice set of pillars but the Dwarven Forge plastic walls and floors everywhere kinda' boor me. Oh- some nice building to throw down for a city fight is also good.
As I just finished C1E40 (for the second time), at the close of the episode Travis mentions how cool the battle was with the models and Matt casually mentions:
My favorite 2 of Matt's have been mentioned (The C1 finale and C1 episode 51/52 battle in Westrunn), as has my favorite from C2 (the cathedral).
Dimension 20 yet pieces are magnificent. They rarely get love
Undeadwood was such a sweet set up, I loved it. The town felt equal parts deadwood and blazing saddles lol
I loved the Map for Killbox also. Liam definitely deserves that honorable mentions.
I loved the Cathedral in Campaign 2, the one with the stained 'glass' windows.
That entire "dungeon crawl" was my favorite part of C2
was that
That’s my all time favorite it was so pretty
CR1 battle in westrun i enjoyed, an CR2 is difficult most r good
Are you talking about
This is the one that came to mind immediately. All this time later and it's still up there for me.
I really enjoyed the pier/ship one in Nicodranas in M9. It wasn't intended to be epic, but just looked so damn good. It helped that it was a fairly funny fight.
Let Chaos Reign
It all went to shit so fast, I still remember Travis just complaining about how bad they did there lol, one of the greats for sure
In the BBEG fight of C2, I really liked how
The final battle of C2 was pretty badass (I'm talking about the BBEG one)
THAT WAS A GREAT ONE, WHEN YOU MOVE YOUR MAP AROUND TO MAKE A SORT OFN NEW MAP "WELL NOW THIS CHANGES EVEYTHING!"
Everyone freaking out over
For sure. I'd say that's his best if not it's at least top 5.
I actually miss the paper maps. My favourite is probably the map when they were facing
A shame the most epic paper map was from
Which episode was this? I just watched their first interactions with her, is that later when they find her lair?
Probably the final battle with Vecna, just because he incorporated a lot of verticality which isn't terribly common.
Spoilers.
Maybe grog strongjaw vs the tribe in the city. That city square was terrifying
THE KILL BOX!!!
I remember that being the first time I was truly blown away by the maps. The drawings were always cool and creative, but seeing a town square fully realized like that was just incredible.
I don't blame you. I just re-watched
I'm in a C1 rewatch myself right now, aiming to finish the Briarwood arc before Legend of Vox Machina drops to have a fresh comparison in mind for it, and I'm right after the K'Varn fight in the Underdark. I've come to realize just how much I missed the simple paper and sharpie maps from back then. Yeah, the Dwarven Forge stuff is fucking sweet, especially when you get the tricked out ones with running water and fog effects and light up props and stuff, but there's a beautiful simplicity to those paper maps that reminds you that this all started as a home game with a bunch of nerdy-ass voice actors just hanging out and having fun with each other.
I think my favorite is the one he never used sorta. C2 and the boats and Taliesin just flips the other boat and Matt just tears up all the sheets he had plannned.
the infamous Tidal Wave... that was such a moment
C2 final battle one was epic and horrifying
Although I'd say the one after the one you are referring to is also pretty good. But yes that fight was so cool
Kings cage. Not as epic as some of the others, but i haven't been as scared for the pc's any other time. Not to mention the badass dungeon crawl that led up to it.
Gotta fully agree with this. It evokes the insanity of Obann’s transformation so well and set the stage for the subsequent escape incredibly
The underwater map with that sunken ship for me. I can imagine Matt going to a petshop, then immediately asking for the aquarium decorations.
ok I have to vote for that burning town with all the knolls for Cp2
Oh yeah, love maps you have to travel through
That was the first one I thought of, too
Personally, my favorite was avocados lair(don't remember his real name) I liked it being underground, and underwater. The coral aspect was really nice.
Vocodo, I think? Yes, his lair was super cool with the flowers and the coral and everything.
No one called out the
Broken spoiler tag. Might be the space after the opening bit.
Isharnai's hut, because we didn't get to see it used.
The best encounters are the ones that don't need a map
Has any one mentioned the folding halls of halas yet? Cause all of that was my favorite!
While not Matt's, the final set piece for EXU was crazy good...
Yo I loved that!! So creepy
True!
C1 Vecna fight
Wanna call out one I haven't seen yet. The stone family menagerie. 1) cause it was so pretty, being set in a jungle and all and 2) because it was a very dynamic map with interesting mechanics. An enemy we a charge attack and objects you DO NOT want broken
It was Cognoza and Lucien as the Neo-Somnovum.
While we'd get similar concepts in C2 with the nautical combat here and there, C1's airship map will always stand out in my memory for me as one of the more interesting C1 maps. Especially the realization that they were very high in the air and that if you could get someone overboard, odds are they weren't coming back. That and I just love airships.
Yeza’s Interrogation room.
The travelercon underwater fight. So cool.
In order to not spoil anything, I'll just say that when they fight a BBEG, Matt really goes all out with the set design. The "final boss" fights of C1 and C2, as well as a battle against a particularly firey foe on C1 are good examples.
The fight with Thordak cause he got to use the Ginormous Red Dragon miniature
His hair.
I’ve always wondered, how many battles are possible for the cast to creatively sidestep when Matt has made these insane dioramas? Seems like pen on a mat is better for allowing all the infinite possibilities of D&D?
As far as I can tell, there is only one boss they've been able to sidestep bc Laura Bailey is a genius.
The killbox from C1 will always be my favorite. I said it before I finished reading the post lol.
Everything Travis used in the Grog one-shot.
is that sharpie on our pepper grinder we got as a wedding gift!?
I think he got one of the enormous Fools Gold 5e Tarrasque "minis"
Himself...!
My favorite was the fight against Kevdak. Just Matt making his own props and being badass.
Those beautiful eyes 😍
The ship when Fjord got attacked any the M9 vs. VM were really cool. Honorable mention to Aabria's cube fight in EXU
Chroma conclave attacking. I still remember not sleeping that night
My brain read that as sex piece and I was shook.
I really loved Spriggs house. Which is made even better by Darin De Paul's utter delight by it.
I got to say - while some of these sets are pretty to look at, it's not what I like the most in the show. I very much like the hand drawn maps better than fancy expensive set pieces. And not because I think it's edgy or anything, they just feel like they are exactly how Mercer/Dm's in general picture the fight. Such as allowing more flexibility and range to the map. For the same reason I love the personalized mini's he makes for his Boss' battles - they are what he wants him to be. I'm all for having some nice pieces to drop in there - like flickering torches or a nice set of pillars but the Dwarven Forge plastic walls and floors everywhere kinda' boor me. Oh- some nice building to throw down for a city fight is also good.
C2 all the maps leading up to the finale were amazing
Some of my favorite: The Killbox town square in Westruun. The square, the fighting ring, the buildings on the sides. Well done.
As I just finished C1E40 (for the second time), at the close of the episode Travis mentions how cool the battle was with the models and Matt casually mentions: