[rasmusnicolaj]

...but we try to avoid maps as much as possible.

Once upon a time, our GM left the room with a blank map in front of us.

"Make me an ambush."

We all had fun with that one...up until the GM came back to the room. Instead of leaving our minis where we had set them up, he moved us into the area the target was coming in from.

I haven't liked maps quite as much since then, but they really are invaluable for combat taking place in tight, busy areas.

+1 
Brilliant GM.

Rasmus

[Glorthoron]

Honestly, it's not like you need specific gaming miniatures. Or that the miniatures (even the Shadowrun ones) will look like the particular characters in your game anyway. You can use anything to mark the position of the players: other games' miniatures, chess pieces, spare dice, coins, cardboard scraps, paper clips, random odds and ends... whatever's handy.

Initials written in appropriate markers.

Fixed that for you.    Most battle-mats are wet-erase, and a dry erase marker may leave a permanent mark on them.

Yeah, that's why I don't like battle mats.

For Shadowrun, my group doesn't use a map.

That's interesting.  Shadowrun was the first time I ever introduced detailed tactical maps to my group.  We've never gone back.  It suits SR very well, for some reason.