10 Terrain and Miniature Mistakes to Avoid in D&D (and What to Do Instead)

1. Waiting Until the Game Starts to Find Your Minis

You’re in the middle of a session. The boss battle looms. And then… the DM starts rummaging through bins, boxes, and bags, looking for just the right miniature.

Don’t do this.

Do this instead:
Prepare your miniatures in advance. Based on the adventure you’ve planned, choose the ones you’re likely to use and set them aside. Also keep a few generic minis on hand to cover unexpected encounters. Your players will thank you—and won’t mutiny in frustration.

2. Not Setting Up Terrain in Advance

Nothing kills the momentum of an epic encounter like a 15-minute terrain setup while the players sit and wait. You spent all that money—don’t let it slow down the game.

Do this instead:
Set up the terrain before the game starts. You can:

• Build the full dungeon and cover parts with cloth or cardboard.
• Assemble key areas on boards or trays you can slide in as needed.
• Draw maps on a battle mat ahead of time and reveal them piece by piece.

Advance setup makes everything smoother and heightens the drama when you reveal a beautiful set piece.

3. Skipping Narrative Description

Just because the terrain is on the table doesn’t mean you should stop describing things. Don’t let your terrain do all the talking.

Do this instead:
Use terrain as a visual aid, not a replacement for narrative. Describe the mood, sounds, smells, and sensations as you reveal areas. Your terrain sets the stage, but your words bring it to life.

4. Placing Monster Minis Too Early

If you plop enemy minis onto the map before finishing your description, your players will stop listening and start strategizing.

Do this instead:
Describe the room first. Then place the monster minis and describe them. Alternatively, if the monsters are already on the map, keep your room description brief until after the encounter starts. This helps keep your players immersed.

5. Only Playing with the “Correct” Minis

You’ll never have every mini for every creature in the game. Trying to is a losing battle (and an expensive one).

Do this instead:
Use minis that are the correct size (medium, large, huge, etc.), and get as close as you can to the intended creature. Then use your descriptions to fill in the rest. Your players will understand—and probably not even notice.

6. Insisting on Painted Minis Only

Let’s be honest—most of us have mountains of unpainted plastic. And in D&D, that’s totally fine.

Do this instead:
Use what you have. Painted or not, your minis still serve their purpose. Nobody’s judging, and if they are, they’re probably in the same boat.

7. Ignoring Game Mechanics for Terrain

So your terrain has trees, rocks, and pits. Great. But do you know what they do?

Do this instead:
Think through how the terrain affects gameplay:

• Does that muck count as difficult terrain?
• What’s the DC to climb that ledge?
• Can enemies be seen through the fog?

Have answers ready, or be comfortable improvising on the spot.

8. Going Overboard on Detail

It’s tempting to create a perfect 3D diorama with real fog and floating twigs. But sometimes, that level of detail clutters the game—and your prep time.

Do this instead:
Keep things functional and readable. Boundaries, hazards, cover, and interactable features are more important than tiny swamp fish. Save the showstopper terrain for the final boss fight—it’ll stand out more when it contrasts with simpler setups.

9. Overthinking Every Piece

You don’t need to perfectly recreate every detail of every room. D&D is a game of imagination, not model perfection.

Do this instead:
Relax. Your terrain and maps are a supplement, not the whole show. Let your players fill in the gaps with their imagination, just like you do with the story and encounters.

10. Feeling Like You Have to Use Minis and Terrain

Some of the best games are run entirely in theater of the mind. If you’re short on funds, space, or time, you can still run amazing games without any physical props.

Do this instead:
Use what you have, and don’t sweat the rest. Minis and terrain are optional tools, not requirements. And if you want tips on how to run theater of the mind combat smoothly, there are plenty of resources (including videos from me!) to help with that.

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